Describes a strategy that uses the analysis of movie plots to reveal the importance of biological issues to students. Concludes that pointing out the role of biology in familiar and popular cultural phenomena proved effective in reaching students who might otherwise have been intimidated by or prejudiced against science. (JRH)

Discusses the use of Post-it Notes as effective teaching devices. Presents activities that use Post-it Notes including concept mapping, molecular modeling, group activities illustrating multi-step biological processes, and genetics activities. Highlights the use of the constructivist approach. (JRH)

Discusses the ethical implications of research and the need for educating people to evaluate the impact of any research project. Describes a course at the University of Arizona which aims to ensure that students become knowledgeable and conversant about the many ethical, social, and legal dilemmas raised by current research in biology. Contains 16…

Discusses strategies to duplicate current research protocols using biochemical methods of analysis. Describes the use of the Silver Sequence kit that provides a technically simple and relatively inexpensive DNA sequencing exercise. (JRH)

Discusses strategies that enable students to learn ideas and concepts in the context of how modern communication technology is designed and operates. Describes a course that integrates the study of math, science, and technology into topics that are engaging to students. Presents an activity that introduces students to digital coding and compares…

Reports on the Review of Undergraduate Education from the Committee for the Review to the National Science Foundation Directorate for Education and Human Resources, October 1996. Highlights recommendations for action in shaping the future of undergraduate education in the sciences by institutions of higher education; businesses, industry, and the…

Describes a course that uses current environmental quandaries to teach students how to think, analyze, research, question, argue, evaluate, write, and solve problems. Develops skills required for active, project-oriented learning and covers principles of critical thinking and rudimentary risk literacy. (JRH)

Examines the place of associate degree programs in the education and training of environmental health professionals. Discusses components of associate degree curriculums in environmental health sciences and the potential roles of associate degree recipients. Presents recommendations to improve associate degree programs and to attract more students…

Describes student-designed laboratories that promote higher-level thinking skills through scientific reasoning, analysis, and evaluation. Discusses development of course objectives, course format and pedagogical assessment, examples of laboratories designed by students, and student response to the laboratory. Contains 13 references. (JRH)

Describes an approach to incorporating cooperative learning into the anatomy laboratory without diminishing the quality of instruction of the subject matter. Discusses the background, organization of groups and group tasks, evaluation of the approach, and potential disadvantages of cooperative learning. Contains 11 references. (JRH)

Describes an approach that uses an electronic bulletin board in a large class to promote cooperation and interactivity among students both inside and outside the classroom. Concludes that this approach facilitated student-student and student-professor interactions, improved the quality of instruction, and produced a more learning-friendly…

Describes a project where students use the Internet as a research tool. Discusses using e-mail to access molecular biology databases and identify proteins using amino acid sequences, obtaining complete amino acid sequences using the world wide web, using telnet to access library resources on the Internet, and various stages of protein analysis…

Highlights glucosinolates-a family of secondary metabolites from plants of high culinary and nutritional value. Describes experiments that demonstrate the enzymatic degradation of glucosinolates. Teaches students about the distribution, variation, chemistry, and function of a family of natural products important in plant protection, food spicing,…

Suggests that teaching and research should not be antithetical in the undergraduate science classroom. Describes an approach to teaching human nutrition as a distance education class via interactive television (ITV). Reports on a survey that explored similarities and differences in demographics, learning, and/or behavioral change between ITV and…

Argues that the disposition to change is essential to the college component of the reform movement for without it, the status quo is preserved and the continuity of purpose across grade levels is compromised. Discusses various aspects of the change process and encourages educators to be agents of change at their institutions. (JRH)