A summary of "why model?" easy paper for students to read.

This article is an intro to modeling systems biology 

Abstract: A culture’s icons are a window onto its soul. Few would disagree that, in the culture of molecular biology that dominated much of the life sciences for the last third of the 20th century, the dominant icon was the double helix. In the present, post-modern, ‘systems biology’ era, however, it is, arguably, the hairball.

This will appear in PRIMUS in a special issue on Interdisciplinary Conversations.  It presents a framework for teaching modeling to undergraduates that allows for better understanding of interdisciplinary approaches and improved collaboration.

What the Best College Students Do
(http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674066649)

This is the second chapter from this book - this talks about deep learning vs shallow learning and the way in which motivation affects the way information is encoded. Disclaimer: This reading made my students mad.

How Learning Works: Seven Research-Based Principles for Smart Teaching
(http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0470484101.html)

Great book - highly recommended! But I give the following summary of the principles from the book to my students to read.