WOWBugs (Melittobia) Educational Materials Development for Undergraduaate Biology

生物科学（61）利用WOWBugs（一种无害的寄生蜂），正在开发四个综合性的、指导性的探究性实验模块，以解决本科生物学教学中的基本概念。WOWBugs表现出独特的特征，包括复杂的求偶仪式，可复制的竞争行为，较短的世代时间，易于测量的遗传特征，以及依赖于发育条件的易于区分的形态形式。这些特点使WOWBugs成为一个有效的有机体，用于说明动物行为、生态学、遗传学和发育生物学的基本概念。在这些概念领域中，以探究为基础的实验室模块以及教学材料正在开发中。正在开发的教学材料包括一本书、一张CD、一盘带有教师指南的广播质量录像带，以及一个专门的WOWBug通讯和网络支持网站。所有材料都在四个不同的机构进行了试点测试，包括佐治亚大学、霍林斯学院、莫尔豪斯学院和当地的社区学院。教学材料将在国家会议、专门讲习班和通过商业分发者分发。为了支持课程开发工作，这个项目有一个重要的研究组成部分，通过这个研究，我们正在开发更好、更简单的生长介质，以支持WOWBugs的课堂传播。课程材料与简单的生长和传播系统相结合，确保易于实施到本科课程中，并为学生提供了一个机会，使许多关键的生物现象可视化，并参与各种创新的、探究式的调查，这些调查在传统的本科实验室中是无法实现的。

Biological Sciences (61)Four comprehensive, guided inquiry, investigative laboratory modules are being developed to address fundamental concepts in undergraduate biology instruction utilizing WOWBugs, Melittobia digitata, a harmless parasitic wasp. WOWBugs exhibit unique characteristics including elaborate courtship rituals, reproducible competitive behaviors, short generation times, easily measured heritable traits, and readily distinguishable morphological forms that are dependant upon on developmental conditions. These features make WOWBugs an effective organism for use in illustrating concepts fundamental to animal behavior, ecology, genetics, and developmental biology. Inquiry-based laboratory modules as well as instructional materials are being developed in each of these concept areas. The instructional materials under development include a book, a CD, a broadcast-quality videotape with accompanying teacher's guide, and a dedicated WOWBug newsletter and web support site. All materials are pilot tested at four diverse institutions including the University of Georgia, Hollins College, Morehouse College, and at local community colleges. The instructional materials will be disseminated at national meetings, in dedicated workshops, and through commercial distributors. In support of the curriculum development work, this project has a significant research component through which better and simpler growth medium is being developed to support classroom propagation of WOWBugs. The curricular materials in conjunction with a simple growth and propagation system ensure easy implementation into the undergraduate curriculum and provide students an opportunity to visualize a number of key biological phenomenon and to participate in a variety of innovative, inquiry-based investigations traditionally unavailable in the undergraduate laboratory.