CourseSource: Resources

Lesson

2066

views

651

downloads

1

comments

Sequence Similarity: An inquiry based and "under the hood" approach for incorporating molecular sequence alignment in introductory undergraduate biology courses

Introductory bioinformatics exercises often walk students through the use of computational tools, but often provide little understanding of what a computational tool does "under the hood." A solid understanding of how a bioinformatics...

Courses: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Bioinformatics Introductory Biology

BLASTmultiple sequence alignmentsequence similarityphylogramZika virusAlgorithmScoring Matrix

Teaching Tools and Strategies

3579

views

1694

downloads

0

comments

A 360˚ View of COVID-19

In March 2020, institutions underwent a massive transition to distance learning as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. With so little time to devise new materials to maximize learning in the new virtual environment, instructors devised a variety of...

Courses: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Bioinformatics Cell Biology Evolution Genetics Immunology Introductory Biology Microbiology Science Process Skills

geneticsImmunologyBiochemistrybioinformaticsmolecular evolutionpublic healthvirusCOVID19

Teaching Tools and Strategies

1647

views

316

downloads

0

comments

SCIENCE/Fiction: Modular Template for Class Design

We present a modular scaffold for designing an introductory seminar using speculative fiction and science papers to welcome university undergraduates to the biology major. A list of twelve possible topics is included, such as Memory, Parasites,...

Courses: Anatomy-Physiology Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Cell Biology Evolution Genetics Introductory Biology Neurobiology

geneticscell biologyneurosciencesystems biologyScience Fiction

Lesson

938

views

178

downloads

1

comments

From Cre/LoxP to Fate Maps: Inclusive and Equitable Approaches for Engaging Developmental Biology Students in Experimental Design

Engaging first generation underrepresented minority students in the process of inquiry in developmental biology is important to increase diversity in future graduate STEM education. One important challenge is how we design curricula to foster...

Courses: Developmental Biology

experimental designC. elegansCre/LoxPFate mapheart developmentheart regenerationmousereporter constructzebrafish

Lesson

3383

views

825

downloads

0

comments

Furry with a chance of evolution: Exploring genetic drift with tuco-tucos

Genetic drift is an important mechanism of evolution, yet undergraduates often fail to understand how it leads to evolutionary change due in part to its random nature. This lesson plan describes a simulation-based activity that allows students to...

Courses: Evolution

EvolutionGenetic DriftBottle neckFounder effectRandom evolutionary processes

Teaching Tools and Strategies

932

views

192

downloads

0

comments

Making toast: Using analogies to explore concepts in bioinformatics

Contemporary biology is moving towards heavy reliance on computational methods to manage, find patterns, and derive meaning from large-scale data, such as genomic sequences. Biology teachers are increasingly compelled to prepare students with...

Courses: Bioinformatics

bioinformaticsworkflowgenome

Teaching Tools and Strategies

2425

views

294

downloads

0

comments

A How to Guide and Template for Designing a Puzzle Based Escape Room Game

Educational games are one active and effective way of engaging students with material while also providing additional motivation to tackle challenging concepts. A particularly popular game concept is the escape room, where students need to work in...

Courses: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Bioinformatics Ecology Ecology Evolution Genetics Science Process Skills

Problem SolvingCollaborative WorkCorrect Misconceptions

Lesson

4669

views

731

downloads

0

comments

Teaching Cancer Biology Through a Lens of Social Justice

The biology classroom is not separate from the greater context of society; social issues can and should be presented in connection with the content. Here we present an example of antiracist teaching using the molecular/cellular biology of cancer...

Courses: Cell Biology

assessmentcancersocial justicePOGILAlignmentPublic ExamPublic

Lesson

1982

views

357

downloads

0

comments

Drawing “Octo-Pines”: Ice-Breaker Active-Learning Activities to Introduce Drawing-to-Learn in Biology

Drawing has been advocated as a technique to develop visual literacy and observational skills in biology students. To increase student motivation and confidence to draw in our course, we developed an introductory active-learning lesson with a...

Courses: Ecology Ecology Evolution

Zoologydrawingdrawing-to-learnice breaker

Lesson

3260

views

609

downloads

0

comments

Predicting and classifying effects of insertion and deletion mutations on protein coding regions

Mutations in genes can affect the encoded proteins in multiple ways, and some of these effects are counterintuitive. As for any other knowledge, students must create their own deep understanding of the Central Dogma. Students may not develop this...

Courses: Bioinformatics Genetics Science Process Skills

mutationcentral dogmatranslationframeshift

Teaching Tools and Strategies

771

views

136

downloads

0

comments

Graphical Organizers as Course Road Maps: Using a geologic timescale in a history of life course

Both major and non-major biology students lack understanding of important evolutionary events, how they are spaced in time, and how they relate back to the earth system. Graphical organizers like concept maps and timescales are popular tools that...

Courses: Evolution

Evolutionecologyextinctionadaptive radiationdiversification

Lesson

1950

views

337

downloads

1

comments

Interactive Video Vignettes (IVVs) to Help Students Learn Genetics Concepts

Many video resources exist to teach Mendelian genetics, but most consist of passive delivery of information rather than active construction of knowledge by users. We have created two interactive video vignettes (IVVs) that can be used together or...

Courses: Genetics Introductory Biology Science Process Skills

genotypephenotypeallelespedigreedominanceHardy-Weinberg equilibriumInheritance

Lesson

1167

views

552

downloads

0

comments

Understanding Gastric Acid Secretion: An Active Learning Approach

The human digestive system is a diverse network of cells, tissues, and organs that is regulated by systemic (e.g., nervous and endocrine systems) and local factors (e.g., secretions, pH, and the microbiome). Given the volume of content and the...

Courses: Anatomy-Physiology

diseasesignal transductionAcid SecretionAutonomic Nervous SystemEndocrineGastric PhysiologyGPCRHistology of Gastric Pit

Lesson

2228

views

446

downloads

0

comments

A Short Laboratory Module to Help Infuse Metacognition during an Introductory Course-based Research Experience

A core competency identified in Vision and Change for undergraduate biology students is the Ability to Apply the Process of Science. Here, we describe a three-week laboratory module for students in an Introductory Cell and Molecular Biology...

Courses: Science Process Skills

metacognitiongene expressionScientific ProcessExperimenal DesignHypothesis Generationmodel organisms

Lesson

3396

views

1277

downloads

0

comments

A CRISPR/Cas Guide RNA Design In Silico Activity

CRISPR biotechnologies inspired by the Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat RNA-guided nuclease adaptive bacterial immune system have revolutionized biology research and become ubiquitous tools for hypothesis and...

Courses: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Bioinformatics Cell Biology Genetics

bioinformaticsgene expressiongenetic basis of diseaseCRISPR/Cas9genetic engineeringin silico

Lesson

952

views

71

downloads

0

comments

Glycolysis Can Be Fun: Rediscovering Glycolysis as a Problem-Solving Introduction to Metabolism

A thorough understanding of glycolysis forms a foundation for students to analyze subsequent topics in metabolism, a core competency recognized by multiple national societies for biology and biochemistry. However, when confronted with the names of...

Courses: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Cell Biology

Problem based learningPOGILenzymesGlycolysisMetabolismFermentationchemical reactionsCard sorting activityCofactors

Teaching Tools and Strategies

1179

views

129

downloads

0

comments

Undergraduates Learn Evolution Through Teaching Kindergartners About Blind Mexican Cavefish

The development and implementation of a scientific outreach activity comes with a number of challenges. A successful outreach event must match the sophistication of content to the audience, be engaging, expand the knowledge base for participants,...

Courses: Ecology Ecology Evolution Genetics Introductory Biology

Evolutionecologymorphologysensory biologycave biologycomparative biologyenvironmental differencesregressive lossstructure and function

Lesson

3486

views

261

downloads

0

comments

SEAS CURE: Exploring Coral Biology Across Scales

Complex biological concepts (like symbiosis and coral biology) that span multiple scales and cross disciplinary boundaries are often difficult for students to understand. This complexity is compounded by the challenges inherent to teaching and...

Courses: Anatomy-Physiology Cell Biology Ecology Ecology Introductory Biology Science Process Skills

microscopyAnatomySymbiosisMetabolismbleachinginvertebratedinoflagellate

Lesson

1194

views

175

downloads

0

comments

Simulating Cortical Rotation, Axis Induction, and Experimental Embryology in Amphibian Embryos Using Clay Models

The study of development requires learners to understand spatially complex concepts like embryo anatomy. Embryo anatomy is dynamic over time, and it is often manipulated by researchers in experiments that are fundamental to the field. This spatial...

Courses: Developmental Biology

developmentXenopusfertilizationEmbryologyinductionSymmetry breakingOrganizerCortical rotationPatterning

Lesson

114

views

3

downloads

0

comments

Osmosis Through the Lens of Sexual Health

Osmosis contributes to a range of biological phenomena, from functioning of nephrons in animals to stomatal opening and closing in plants; yet, scientifically simple ideas about osmosis are common. These ideas limit learners’ comprehension...

Courses: Anatomy-Physiology Cell Biology Introductory Biology Science Process Skills