Describes the pioneering development of flexible learning courseware in the teaching and learning of cell biology. Uses a novel optical-disk-based technology for the storage and retrieval of photographic images. Discusses new interactive technologies that are available to the teacher. Presents the results of a trial and evaluation of the PhotoCD…

Describes the use of biographical stories to promote student interest in plant biology. Discusses plant hunters of various time periods, including ancient, middle ages, renaissance, colonial Americas, and 18th and 19th centuries; women plant hunters of the 1800s and early 1900s; and modern plant hunters. Discusses classroom strategies for the…

Reports on an interview with John Maynard Smith, one of the most important evolutionary biologists since Darwin. (JRH)

Presents investigations of leaf surface wetness that provide ideal opportunities for students to explore the relationships between leaf form and function, to study surface conditions of leaves and plant physiology, and to make predictions about plant adaptation in different environments. Describes simple procedures for exploring questions related…

Describes the preparation of a simple microbiological medium using inexpensive materials routinely available in any supermarket. Discusses inoculation of the medium and colony examination. (JRH)

Describes a strategy to make chi-square calculations and interpretations more understandable by presenting the theory behind the test to the students in a visual manner. Involves using dihybrid corn to generate a large sample of chi-squares followed by plotting a frequency distribution to get at the meaning behind the chi-square table. (JRH)

Discusses methods for plotting rates of photosynthesis as a function of light quantity. Presents evidence that suggests that empirically derived conversion factors, which are used to convert foot candles to photon fluence rates, should be used with extreme caution. Suggests how rate data are best plotted when any kind of light meter is not…

Describes three models that provide a concrete experience of abstract concepts such as DNA replication, RNA synthesis, and protein synthesis. Explains their hands-on use and notes their advantages for teaching and learning. (JRH)

Describes the topics and teaching strategies employed in an Issues in Biology course. Discusses flowers, plant breeding, potatoes and tomatoes, the chocolate tree, weeds, Arabidopis, gene transfers, and plant genes/human genes. Contains 22 references. (JRH)

Describes the Anatomical Computer (CD-ROM) that was designed as a self-study aid for undergraduate and graduate students in anatomy. Provides text with illustrations, definitions along with summary charts, and more than a thousand test questions. Provides a valuable resource for human gross anatomy review. (JRH)

Presents a brief legal history of the evolution/creationism controversy as a means of highlighting the issues involved in the controversy. Argues that understanding this legal history has many benefits to student understanding. Contains 46 references. (DDR)

Argues that active learning is the way to engage students in learning biology. Discusses the use of constructivism in biology instruction, resistance to cooperative learning, creating constructivist-based activities, and grading cooperative activities. Contains 18 references. (DDR)

Presents a set of criteria for constructing a fair and realistic understanding of sex. Recognizes the impact that science can have on social policies and values and recommends that the definitions of sex and gender be carefully crafted. (DDR)

Explains a way to grow fern gametophytes and describes the use of these gametophytes to enable students to grasp the concept of alternation of generations. (DDR)

Presents a quick and simple exercise that demonstrates what is meant by the term "statistically insignificant." Demonstrates the bell curve distribution, the relationship of a sample to the population it is supposed to estimate, and the t-test. (DDR)