With the increasing world population, it is critical to develop sustainable strategies for food production. This remote first year laboratory exercise for non-biology students provided a hands on approach to small scale plant production. Students created indoor mini-gardens by independently planting either beans or corn seeds under varying conditions to evaluate the claim, ?Corn and beans are easy to grow and fertilizer has little effect on growth.? To carry out their experiments, students received take-home seed kits containing either bean or corn seeds, peat pellets, and fertilizer, accompanied with detailed experimental procedures.Over the semester, students monitored plant growth in the presence or absence of fertilizer, documenting both qualitative and quantitative results, such as size, length and number of leaves. To promote collaboration in an online setting, students were encouraged to compare their results using discussion boards. Overall the majority (87%, n=47) of students felt this laboratory exercise developed a strong appreciation of plants and were motivated (89%, n=47) to continue with their indoor garden.
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