An Integrated, Instrument Intensive Project-Based Biochemistry Laboratory for Enhanced Student Learning and Research

这个项目正在开发一门创新的为期一年的实验课程，将仪器分析与生物化学实验室相结合。学生将接触到四大类生物分子中的三种，并介绍仪器分析中的许多关键方法。第二学期的一部分是专门为一个扩展的项目集中在一个单一的生物分子，tRNAPhe。这个项目的一个重要组成部分是设计的多学科方法；参与的教师来自化学的所有主要分支学科（分析、无机、有机、物理和生物化学）。此外，学生们以一种渐进的教学方式进行教学，使他们能够发展成为研究科学家。从最初的以技能为基础的实验室到最终设计自己的实验，学生们获得了批判性思维和科学推理的技能，使他们能够解决课程后期遇到的问题，并为独立的生化高级研究项目做好准备。这项工作得到了几台分光光度计、一台荧光仪和一台高效液相色谱自动进样器的支持，这些设备也丰富了该机构的本科生研究项目。在每个学期，学生的学习通过四个阶段进行评估：(1)以技能为基础的学习，向学生介绍新的乐器；(2)以发现为基础的学习，学生应用仪器方法来回答生物化学中有趣的问题；(3)基于问题的学习，学生自己设计和实施实验；(4)科学交流，学生以口头和书面报告的形式分享他们对科学概念的知识。智力优势：该项目旨在通过学生在综合实验生物化学实验室的沉浸和评估来加强STEM教育。使用现代仪器，以及批判性思维和项目设计方面的培训，使学生能够充分参与教师指导的本科研究。这个程序有几个关键资产。首先，教育学是基于经过验证的教学方法。其次，它汇集了化学系全体教员的专业知识，为学生提供了真正的多学科方法。第三，生物化学学生将接触到反映这种多学科方法的广泛仪器。第四，学生在整个实验室中有机会交流实验结果，并参与团队学习练习，以形成和集中开放式实验。更广泛的影响：该项目旨在作为综合生物化学实验室的典范，并适用于提供生物化学专业或专业的广泛大学。这个项目的综合性质也有助于促进与生物学项目的合作。通过这个项目，该机构正在扩大和维持四个领域的STEM教育：(1)与Chemeketa社区学院的化学教师合作，为不同的学生群体提供了以发现为基础、仪器丰富的实验室实验的机会，从而促进了学生向威拉米特这样的四年制大学的过渡。(2)为了让本科化学家更好地为STEM职业和化学、生物化学和化学生物学的研究生课程做好准备，Life Technologies/Invitrogen公司的研究科学家担任外部顾问。这些顾问正在协助改进实验方案、仪器使用和数据分析。(3)为了便于其他高校对模型和材料的适应，我们正在通过美国国家科学基金会资助的生物教育网络（RCN DBI-1039453）——威拉米特谷生物教育网络提供区域教师研讨会。(4)最后，项目结果正在区域和国家ACS会议上传播，并通过《化学教育、生物化学和分子生物学教育》杂志的出版物传播。正在利用网络媒体进一步传播课程、资源和评价报告。

This project is developing an innovative year-long laboratory course that integrates Instrumental Analysis with the Biochemistry Laboratory. Students are exposed to three of the four major classes of biomolecules and are introduced to many key methods in instrumental analysis. A portion of the second semester is dedicated to an extended project centered on a single biomolecule, tRNAPhe. A crucial component of this project is the multidisciplinary approach to the design; participating faculty come from all major subdisciplines of chemistry (analytical, inorganic, organic, physical, and biochemistry). Furthermore, students are taught in a progressive instructional style that allows them to develop as research scientists. From initial skill-based laboratories to the eventual design of their own experiments, students gain skills in critical thinking and scientific reasoning that allow them to solve problems encountered later in the course and prepare them for independent biochemical senior research projects. The effort is supported by the acquisition of several spectrophotometers, a fluorimeter, and an HPLC autosampler, equipment that also enriches the undergraduate research program at the institution. Within each semester, student learning is assessed through four phases: (1) skill-based learning where students are introduced to new instruments; (2) discovery-based learning where students apply instrumental methods to answer intriguing questions in biochemistry; (3) problem-based learning where students design and implement their own experiments; and (4) scientific communication where students share their knowledge of scientific concepts in the form of oral and written reports.Intellectual Merit: This project seeks to strengthen STEM education through the immersion and assessment of students in an Integrated Experimental Biochemistry Laboratory. Access to modern instrumentation, as well as training in critical thinking and project design, prepares students to fully engage in faculty-mentored undergraduate research. This program has several key assets. First, pedagogy is based on proven methods of teaching. Second, it draws on the combined expertise of the entire faculty in the chemistry department and provides students with a truly multidisciplinary approach. Third, biochemistry students are exposed to a broad range of instrumentation that reflects this multidisciplinary approach. Fourth, students are given opportunities throughout the laboratory to communicate experimental results and engage in team learning exercises to shape and focus open-ended experiments.Broader Impacts: The project is designed to serve as a model for integrated biochemistry laboratories and is adaptable at a wide range of universities that offer a biochemistry major or track. The integrated nature of this project lends itself as well to fostering collaboration with biology programs. Through this project the institution is broadening and sustaining STEM education in four areas: (1) A partnership with chemistry faculty at Chemeketa Community College provides a diverse student population access to discovery-based, instrument-rich laboratory experiments and thereby facilitates the transition of students into four year colleges like Willamette. (2) To better prepare undergraduate chemists for STEM careers and graduate programs in chemistry, biochemistry, and chemical biology, research scientists from Life Technologies/Invitrogen Corporation are serving as external consultants. These consultants are assisting in the improvement of the experimental protocols, instrument usage and data analysis. (3) To facilitate adaptation of the model and materials by other colleges and universities, a regional faculty workshop is being offered through the Willamette Valley Biological Education Network, an NSF-funded biological education network (RCN DBI-1039453). (4) Finally, the project results are being disseminated at regional and national ACS conferences and through publications in the Journal of Chemical Education and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education. Web-based media are being used to further disseminate the curriculum, resources and evaluation reports.