Two Short Courses Offered by ABLE Members

Integrating Inquiry and Technology into a Biology Laboratory for the Non-major Student

Phyllis S. Laine and Cynthia H. Geer
Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH

June 19-21, 2002 in Cincinnati, OH

Note: This course will be offered at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. Applications should be sent to the DAY Field Center. Optional reduced rate lodging will be available.

Since publication of the National Science Education Standards in 1996, there has been an emphasis on inquiry method in the teaching of science. The inquiry approach places students in activities that develop knowledge and an understanding of how scientists study the natural world. It requires that students identify assumptions, use critical thinking, and consider alternative explanations. This course exemplifies the changing emphasis for professional development standards as outlined in the National Science Education Standards, p. 72, (1996), National Academy Press, Washington, D.C.

This course demonstrates how to incorporate inquiry method and computer technology in a multi-sectional biology lab course for non-majors. Participants will be able to experience several of the laboratory activities and decision-making process used to develop "Discovering Life Science." The laboratory is equipped with computers and computer technology is used to enhance the ability to conduct inquiry and understand science. Participants will use a variety of computer skills in the lab, including basic word processing; Microsoft Excel; Inspiration software for concept mapping; use of a flatbed scanner; use of a digital camera to document evidence; use of a document camera for presentations; and digital microscopy. Discussions in the course will focus on "the nuts and bolts" of implementing inquiry for the non-major student.

Discovering Life Science is divided into three phases: Introduction (Students experience inquiry investigations). Practice (Students practice an inquiry investigation). Application (Students perform an inquiry investigation). In such an inquiry-based lab, undergraduates work as research teams. Student instructions and team lab notebooks (TLNB) are on-line. The computer serves as the laboratory notebook. At the end of each phase, teams are required to submit a completed science journal article to a class journal, called the Journal of Undergraduate Biological Inquiry (JUBI). This course was developed as a two-year project that was partially funded by NSF under the Course, Curriculum and Laboratory Improvement Program DUE 99-50373.

For college teachers of: introductory biology and science education. Prerequisites: none.

Dr. Laine is a molecular biologist on the faculty at Xavier University. She has received two university awards for improving the quality of undergraduate education. From 1994 to 1998 she was the Science Educator for the Southwest Region of Ohio for Project Discovery, an NSF statewide project on inquiry teaching.

Dr. Geer is an assistant professor in science educator at Xavier University. She has been in involved in science education and technology training for the past twenty-one years. She is one of two faculty members who are a part of Xavier University’s Center for Excellence in Education (X-CEED). The center focuses on improving science, mathematics, and technology education through professional development.

Developmental Biology Teaching Workshop

Leland Johnson, Augstana College, Sioux Falls SD

June 26-29, 2002

Leland Johnson, a long-time ABLE member, will be conducting a workshop on the Developmental Biology Teaching Laboratory, at the Darling Marine Center, University of Maine, June 26-29, 2002. This workshop, which has been offered regularly since 1992, is designed to provide college and university faculty, postdocs, and graduate students with basic hands-on experience in working with organisms commonly studied in developmental biology teaching laboratories. The course will be useful both for experienced developmental biology teachers who wish to diversify their laboratory work and for new faculty whose training is outside the field, but who are assigned to teach developmental biology. Work will include teaching lab applications on sea urchins and sand dollars, chick embryos, protists, sponges, Hydra, planaria, fresh water oligochaetes, ferns, and flowering plants. The sea urchin/sand dollar work will include a recently developed and simplified lab experience on localized enzyme differentiation in developing larvae. We also expect that Eric Cole from St. Olaf College (MN) who was a past workshop participant will lead a half-day session on fluorescence microscopy techniques in the Developmental Biology teaching lab, with particular applications to study of sea urchin and sand dollar development. We intend as well to spend time exploring some of the many Web sites, videos, and CD-ROMs that are helpful in teaching Developmental Biology. In addition to the organized lab sessions, there will be time for sharing of techniques and ideas among the participants as well as some time for informal socializing, including a traditional New England lobster picnic dinner. While the workshop focus is on Developmental Biology, there would be many potential applications of this material for general biology labs, and instructors in other courses are very welcome as participants. A number of ABLE members have been included among the approximately eighty five colleagues from across the U.S. and Canada who have participated in past workshop sessions.

The Darling Marine Center, a marine laboratory of the University of Maine, is located in a beautiful setting on the scenic Damariscotta River estuary on midcoastal Maine, about 60 miles northeast of Portland. The Center is approximately six miles from exposed, open-ocean habitats of the Gulf of Maine. It is close to major shopping areas (e.g. Freeport), and is two hours from Acadia National Park. Workshop participants will be using the Darling Center's newly completed water-front conference facilities.

For further information contact:

Tim Miller, Course Coordinator
Darling Marine Center
University of Maine
193 Clark's Cove Road,
Walpole, ME 04573.
Phone 207-563-3146 ext. 218
e-mail: temiller@maine.maine.edu
website: HTTP://server.DMC.Maine.edu

OR

Leland Johnson (605) 274-4714
e-mail: johnson@inst.augie.edu