Developing Collaborative Lab Experiments across Disciplines through the Identification of Bacteria

 

Brian M. Forster, Emily C. Bilyk, Sarah A. Moss & Joanna K. Huxster

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2017, Volume 38

Abstract

Objectives outlined in Science for All Americans include that students will be exposed to science as a collaborative effort, encompassing different scientific fields. We developed a framework for collaboration between non-science major biology and environmental science lab classes with the central theme of identifying bacteria. In this exercise, the students are tasked with identifying any bacteria that is present in the water using their complimentary skillsets. Limited directions were given in the Student Outline, so group members had to rely on one another’s knowledge in order to complete the assignment. We suggest that such an activity allows students to be exposed to the concept of collaboration in the scientific community, with the goal of addressing a single problem. In this workshop, participants will go through the lab activity to identify bacteria present in a water sample and will learn how to develop their own collaborative lab activities between classes.

Keywords:  collaboration, bacteria, non-science majors, water filtration

University of Houston (2016)