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Quantitative Biology at Community Colleges

QBCC Modules Sorted by Biology Content

Some QBCC modules fit into multiple categories. There are currently 13 unique QBCC modules listed multiple times in the following categories. 

List of Biology Categories

1. Anatomy - 1 module
2. Biochemistry - 1 module
3. Botany - 0 modules
4. Cellular and Molecular Biology - 6 modules
5. Ecology - 3 module
6. Evolution - 0 modules
7. Health Science / Medicine - 1 module
8. Microbiology - 5 modules
9. Neuroscience - 0 modules
10. Nutrition / Food Science - 0 modules
11. Organismal  - 0 modules
12. Physiology - 1 module
13. Systems - 0 modules
14. Zoology - 1 module

Modules by Category

1. Anatomy

Why does Blood Flow Change? Investigating the Math of Blood Flow Dynamics

Amy Troyer, Brandi Morgante Handzlik, Mary Phillips

Version: 1.0

This collection of activities explores the relationship between blood flow, pressure, and the factors of resistance through graphs and modeling direct and inverse variation.
Published on 06.2020
514 Views
384 Downloads
0 Adaptations
quant bio, graphing, Ratios, math, assessment, college algebra, undergraduate education, physiology, Anatomy, human biology, variation, Cardiovascular physiology, Anatomy & Physiology, lab activity, OpenStax, qbcc, manipulate equations, Understanding fractions, Choosing models, Understanding rates, Estimating answers, Use elementary functions, Create graphs, Interpret graphs, Rates and Proportions, Solving Equations and Inequalities, introductory, Lab, Teaching material, Undergraduate, Homework, Less than 1 hour

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2. Biochemistry

Exploring Marine Primary Productivity with Descriptive Statistics and Graphing in Excel

Marina McLeod, Jennifer Olson, Wendy Houston

Version: 1.0

In this activity, students use real water chemistry data and descriptive statistics in Excel to examine primary productivity in an urban estuary of the Salish Sea. They will consider how actual data do or do not support expected annual trends.
Published on 09.2021
154 Views
108 Downloads
0 Adaptations
statistics, ecology, data, Excel, graphing, Biochemistry, Oceanography, marine ecosystems, marine ecology, descriptive statistics, long-term datasets, marine, Microsoft Excel, marine biology, plankton, Outliers, Marine Science, qbcc, Using Excel, phytoplankton, Create graphs, Interpret graphs, Concepts in Statistics, large dataset, explaining statistics, using statistics, Pacific Northwest, Salish Sea, primary productivity, water chemistry, estuary, graphing in Excel, formulas in Excel, chlorophyll, time-series plots, ocean, Teaching material, Undergraduate, Dataset, Raw, Cleaned, More than 1 hour, Accessibility, Open Data, Open Educational Resources (OER)

Analysis of Amylase Activity

Allison Carter Burlyn, Christina Fieber, Melanie Lenahan

Version: 1.0

This lab is an exploration of enzyme function and the effects of environmental conditions on the activity of the enzyme amylase. The lab utilizes analytical and graphing skills to assess enzyme activity.
Published on 11.2020
301 Views
219 Downloads
0 Adaptations
data analysis, introductory biology, concentration, graphing, linear equations, Biochemistry, scientific method, standard curve, enzyme function, Microsoft Excel, Interpreting Graphs, enzymes, qbcc, Create graphs, Interpret graphs, Solving Equations and Inequalities, interpret tables, Amylase, Alpha-amylase, Enzyme activity, Maltose, DNS assay, Absorbance, lab report, spectrophotometry, regression line, manipulating equations, line of best fit, graphing by hand, introductory, Lab, Online course, Teaching material, High School, Undergraduate, Faculty, Advanced, Majors, Non-majors, More than 1 hour, Extended Project, Promoting Engagement and Self-Efficacy

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3. Botany
No resources found.

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4. Cellular and Molecular Biology

The Perfect Brew: An Activity Demonstrating Cell Counting and Hemocytometer Use

Bridgette Kirkpatrick

Version: 1.0 Adapted From: The Perfect Brew: An Activity Demonstrating Cell Counting and Hemocytometer Use v1.0

In this activity, students will explore the use of a hemocytometer for counting cells, demonstrate the relationship between the grid seen in the microscope with volume of liquid in suspension and count cells to determine concentration.
Published on 06.2021
109 Views
39 Downloads
0 Adaptations
Measurement, Ratios, microbiology, qbcc, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Understanding fractions, converting units, changing scales, measurements, introductory, Lab, Online course, Teaching material, Undergraduate

Sizes, Scales and Specialization: Adapted to add scientific notation review

Andrea Huntoon

Version: 1.0 Adapted From: Sizes, Scales and Specialization: Using Relative Proportions and Scientific Notation to Highlight the Diversity of Cell Types v2.0

This module explores how cell size and shape varies across cell types in the human body by having students calculate relative proportions of numbers in scientific notation. The adaptation has added a review of scientific notation.
Published on 05.2021
133 Views
71 Downloads
0 Adaptations
Exponents, Ratios, Scientific Notation, cell type, qbcc, manipulate equations, Cellular and Molecular Biology, converting units, changing scales, introductory, Teaching material, Undergraduate

Students examine the diversity of human cell sizes and number using scientific notation

Kimberly McClure

Version: 1.0

In this powerpoint, several of the resources from the published module 'Sizes, Scales and Specialization' are used to create a mini-module that has students examine the size and abundance of different human cell types using scientific notation.
Published on 05.2021
109 Views
30 Downloads
0 Adaptations
Exponents, Ratios, qbcc, manipulate equations, Cellular and Molecular Biology, converting units, changing scales, introductory, Teaching material, Lecture, Undergraduate, Majors, Non-majors, Less than 1 hour

Sizes, Scales and Specialization: Using Relative Proportions and Scientific Notation to Highlight the Diversity of Cell Types

Heather Seitz, Jillian Marie Miller, Joseph Esquibel

Version: 2.0

This module explores how cell size and shape varies across cell types in the human body by having students calculate relative proportions of numbers in scientific notation.
Published on 04.2021
2.1K Views
136 Downloads
1 Adaptations
Exponents, Ratios, Cells, qbcc, manipulate equations, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Visual Accommodations, converting units, changing scales, introductory, Article, Lab, Teaching material, Lecture, High School, Reference material, Undergraduate, Publication, Majors, Non-majors, 1 Hour, More than 1 hour, Accessibility

Graphing bacterial growth rates: semi-log graphs v linear graphs

Adam Marschall Jaros, Adronisha Frazier, Beth Alford, Brandy Williams

Version: 1.0

In this activity, students will explore the concept of binary fission, generation time, and bacterial growth curves, with an emphasis on the log phase. Students will use semi-log graphs and linear graphs to plot bacterial cell growth.
Published on 02.2021
377 Views
275 Downloads
0 Adaptations
graphing, exponential growth, Microbiology Education, microbiology, bacteria, growth rate, Undergraduate STEM education, Community College Education, qbcc, manipulate equations, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Create graphs, Interpret graphs, binary fission, semi-log graph, linear graph, growth curve, creating graphs, introductory, Lab, Online course, Teaching material, Lecture, Reference material, Undergraduate, Homework, Majors, Non-majors, More than 1 hour, Open Educational Resources (OER)

Why Cells Change Weight: Demonstrating Linear Regression Through an Osmosis Experiment

Ashley Lamb Galloway, Stefanie L Holmes, Ashley Morgan, Mary Ann Sexton

Version: 1.0

In this activity, students will perform an experiment utilizing dialysis tubing to create cellular models to demonstrate the linear relationship between cell weight and time in varying tonicities. Videos and data sets (of faculty results) are provided for
Published on 02.2021
334 Views
227 Downloads
0 Adaptations
graphing, qbcc, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Interpret graphs, Concepts in Statistics, introductory, Teaching material, Undergraduate, Majors, Non-majors, Promoting Engagement and Self-Efficacy

The Perfect Brew: An Activity Demonstrating Cell Counting and Hemocytometer Use

Angela Consani, Duane Doyle, David L Jones, Bara Sarraj, Heather Seitz

Version: 1.0

In this activity, students will explore the use of a hemocytometer for counting cells, demonstrate the relationship between the grid seen in the microscope with volume of liquid in suspension and count cells to determine concentration.
Published on 09.2020
602 Views
272 Downloads
1 Adaptations
Measurement, Ratios, microbiology, qbcc, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Understanding fractions, converting units, changing scales, measurements, introductory, Lab, Online course, Teaching material, Undergraduate

Why are Cells Small? Surface Area to Volume Ratio

John Howard Starnes, Christianne Baucom Nieuwsma, Jennifer Glee Buntz, Sondra Marie LoRe, Vedham Karpakakunjaram

Version: 1.0

This module explores surface area to volume ratios in a cube and sphere in relation to cell size.
Published on 04.2020
835 Views
340 Downloads
0 Adaptations
introductory biology, graphing, Ratios, OpenStax, qbcc, manipulate equations, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Use elementary functions, Create graphs, Interpret graphs, Rates and Proportions, Solving Equations and Inequalities, interpret tables, introductory, Lab, Teaching material, Lecture, High School, Reference material, Undergraduate, Homework, Non-majors, 1 Hour, More than 1 hour

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5. Ecology

Exploring Marine Primary Productivity with Descriptive Statistics and Graphing in Excel

Marina McLeod, Jennifer Olson, Wendy Houston

Version: 1.0

In this activity, students use real water chemistry data and descriptive statistics in Excel to examine primary productivity in an urban estuary of the Salish Sea. They will consider how actual data do or do not support expected annual trends.
Published on 09.2021
154 Views
108 Downloads
0 Adaptations
statistics, ecology, data, Excel, graphing, Biochemistry, Oceanography, marine ecosystems, marine ecology, descriptive statistics, long-term datasets, marine, Microsoft Excel, marine biology, plankton, Outliers, Marine Science, qbcc, Using Excel, phytoplankton, Create graphs, Interpret graphs, Concepts in Statistics, large dataset, explaining statistics, using statistics, Pacific Northwest, Salish Sea, primary productivity, water chemistry, estuary, graphing in Excel, formulas in Excel, chlorophyll, time-series plots, ocean, Teaching material, Undergraduate, Dataset, Raw, Cleaned, More than 1 hour, Accessibility, Open Data, Open Educational Resources (OER)

Using Linear Regression Adaptation: Exploring Vector-borne diseases in an online classroom

Darcy Ernst

Version: 1.0 Adapted From: Using Linear Regression to Explore Environmental Factors Affecting Vector-borne Diseases v1.0

In this adaptation students in online classrooms will use linear regression at home and in synchronous online time to analyze real data on vector-borne diseases and explore how environmental factors affect disease transmission.
Published on 08.2021
99 Views
121 Downloads
0 Adaptations
ecology, graphing, microbiology, qbcc, Understanding rates, Create graphs, Interpret graphs, interpret tables, Concepts in Statistics, introductory, Lab, Online course, Teaching material, Lecture, Undergraduate, Majors, Non-majors

Grassy Narrows and Muskrat Falls Dam: Hypothesis Testing and t-Tests

Alida Janmaat, Pete Kaslik, Randall LaRue Moser Jr, Kevin David Simpson, Heather Susanne Zimbler-DeLorenzo

Version: 1.0

Students are introduced to concepts of hypothesis testing using elementary hypothesis tests, t-tests, and p-values as they compare a given fish population for methylmercury levels (using real and hypothetical data) against real-world mercury standards.
Published on 07.2021
164 Views
74 Downloads
0 Adaptations
statistics, mathematics, biostatistics, ecology, biology, graphing, p-values, t-tests, hypothesis testing, in-class activity, Zoology, mercury biogeochemistry, biostatistics - general, fish population, qbcc, Biogeochemical cycles, Interpret graphs, Solving Equations and Inequalities, Concepts in Statistics, Elementary Hypothesis Testing, Methylmercury, dams, Bioaccumulation, traditional diets, mercury, mercury poisoning, native people, indigenous population, Canada, hydroelectric, explaining statistics, using statistics, introductory, Lab, Online course, Teaching material, Lecture, High School, Undergraduate, Homework, Advanced, Majors, Non-majors, 1 Hour, Less than 1 hour, More than 1 hour, Extended Project, Developing Self-awareness, Developing Empathy, Classroom Climate, Fostering a Sense of Belonging, Open Science, Open Education, Open Educational Resources (OER)

Using Linear Regression to Explore Environmental Factors Affecting Vector-borne Diseases

Andy Adams, Jessica A Adams, John J. Bray, Tami Imbierowicz, Suzanne Lenhart, Breonna Martin

Version: 1.0

In this activity students will use linear regression to analyze real data on vector-borne diseases and explore how environmental factors such as climate change or population density influence the transmission of these diseases.
Published on 09.2020
1.3K Views
1.6K Downloads
1 Adaptations
ecology, graphing, microbiology, qbcc, Understanding rates, Create graphs, Interpret graphs, interpret tables, Concepts in Statistics, introductory, Lab, Online course, Teaching material, Lecture, Undergraduate, Majors, Non-majors

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6. Evolution
No resources found.

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7. Health Science / Medicine

Choosing healthy data for healthy relationships: how to use 5-point summaries, box and whisker plots, and correlation to understand global health trends.

Andrea Huntoon, John Doudna, Pallavi Bhale, Thalita Abrahão, Alys Hugo, Jennifer Lyon Adler

Version: 1.0

This module utilizes a user-friendly database exploring data selection, box-and-whisker plot, and correlation analysis. It also guides students on how to make a poster of their data and conclusions.
Published on 06.2021
1.4K Views
243 Downloads
0 Adaptations
Querying databases, graphing, Ratios, data types, statistical learning, correlation, Box Plots, qbcc, health sciences education research, nutrition & food science, Understanding rates, Create graphs, Interpret graphs, interpret tables, Health Science, Concepts in Statistics, explaining statistics, using statistics, Tutorial, introductory, Study guide, Poster, Online course, Teaching material, Lecture, Reference material, Manual, Undergraduate, Homework, Majors, Non-majors, More than 1 hour, Extended Project, Workshop material, Promoting Engagement and Self-Efficacy, Accessibility, Open Data, Open Educational Resources (OER)

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8. Microbiology

Using Linear Regression Adaptation: Exploring Vector-borne diseases in an online classroom

Darcy Ernst

Version: 1.0 Adapted From: Using Linear Regression to Explore Environmental Factors Affecting Vector-borne Diseases v1.0

In this adaptation students in online classrooms will use linear regression at home and in synchronous online time to analyze real data on vector-borne diseases and explore how environmental factors affect disease transmission.
Published on 08.2021
99 Views
121 Downloads
0 Adaptations
ecology, graphing, microbiology, qbcc, Understanding rates, Create graphs, Interpret graphs, interpret tables, Concepts in Statistics, introductory, Lab, Online course, Teaching material, Lecture, Undergraduate, Majors, Non-majors

The Perfect Brew: An Activity Demonstrating Cell Counting and Hemocytometer Use

Bridgette Kirkpatrick

Version: 1.0 Adapted From: The Perfect Brew: An Activity Demonstrating Cell Counting and Hemocytometer Use v1.0

In this activity, students will explore the use of a hemocytometer for counting cells, demonstrate the relationship between the grid seen in the microscope with volume of liquid in suspension and count cells to determine concentration.
Published on 06.2021
109 Views
39 Downloads
0 Adaptations
Measurement, Ratios, microbiology, qbcc, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Understanding fractions, converting units, changing scales, measurements, introductory, Lab, Online course, Teaching material, Undergraduate

Graphing bacterial growth rates: semi-log graphs v linear graphs

Adam Marschall Jaros, Adronisha Frazier, Beth Alford, Brandy Williams

Version: 1.0

In this activity, students will explore the concept of binary fission, generation time, and bacterial growth curves, with an emphasis on the log phase. Students will use semi-log graphs and linear graphs to plot bacterial cell growth.
Published on 02.2021
377 Views
275 Downloads
0 Adaptations
graphing, exponential growth, Microbiology Education, microbiology, bacteria, growth rate, Undergraduate STEM education, Community College Education, qbcc, manipulate equations, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Create graphs, Interpret graphs, binary fission, semi-log graph, linear graph, growth curve, creating graphs, introductory, Lab, Online course, Teaching material, Lecture, Reference material, Undergraduate, Homework, Majors, Non-majors, More than 1 hour, Open Educational Resources (OER)

The Perfect Brew: An Activity Demonstrating Cell Counting and Hemocytometer Use

Angela Consani, Duane Doyle, David L Jones, Bara Sarraj, Heather Seitz

Version: 1.0

In this activity, students will explore the use of a hemocytometer for counting cells, demonstrate the relationship between the grid seen in the microscope with volume of liquid in suspension and count cells to determine concentration.
Published on 09.2020
602 Views
272 Downloads
1 Adaptations
Measurement, Ratios, microbiology, qbcc, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Understanding fractions, converting units, changing scales, measurements, introductory, Lab, Online course, Teaching material, Undergraduate

Using Linear Regression to Explore Environmental Factors Affecting Vector-borne Diseases

Andy Adams, Jessica A Adams, John J. Bray, Tami Imbierowicz, Suzanne Lenhart, Breonna Martin

Version: 1.0

In this activity students will use linear regression to analyze real data on vector-borne diseases and explore how environmental factors such as climate change or population density influence the transmission of these diseases.
Published on 09.2020
1.3K Views
1.6K Downloads
1 Adaptations
ecology, graphing, microbiology, qbcc, Understanding rates, Create graphs, Interpret graphs, interpret tables, Concepts in Statistics, introductory, Lab, Online course, Teaching material, Lecture, Undergraduate, Majors, Non-majors

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9. Neuroscience
No resources found.

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10. Nutrition / Food Science
No resources found.

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11. Organismal 
No resources found.

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12. Physiology

Why does Blood Flow Change? Investigating the Math of Blood Flow Dynamics

Amy Troyer, Brandi Morgante Handzlik, Mary Phillips

Version: 1.0

This collection of activities explores the relationship between blood flow, pressure, and the factors of resistance through graphs and modeling direct and inverse variation.
Published on 06.2020
514 Views
384 Downloads
0 Adaptations
quant bio, graphing, Ratios, math, assessment, college algebra, undergraduate education, physiology, Anatomy, human biology, variation, Cardiovascular physiology, Anatomy & Physiology, lab activity, OpenStax, qbcc, manipulate equations, Understanding fractions, Choosing models, Understanding rates, Estimating answers, Use elementary functions, Create graphs, Interpret graphs, Rates and Proportions, Solving Equations and Inequalities, introductory, Lab, Teaching material, Undergraduate, Homework, Less than 1 hour

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13. Systems
No resources found.

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14. Zoology

Grassy Narrows and Muskrat Falls Dam: Hypothesis Testing and t-Tests

Alida Janmaat, Pete Kaslik, Randall LaRue Moser Jr, Kevin David Simpson, Heather Susanne Zimbler-DeLorenzo

Version: 1.0

Students are introduced to concepts of hypothesis testing using elementary hypothesis tests, t-tests, and p-values as they compare a given fish population for methylmercury levels (using real and hypothetical data) against real-world mercury standards.
Published on 07.2021
164 Views
74 Downloads
0 Adaptations
statistics, mathematics, biostatistics, ecology, biology, graphing, p-values, t-tests, hypothesis testing, in-class activity, Zoology, mercury biogeochemistry, biostatistics - general, fish population, qbcc, Biogeochemical cycles, Interpret graphs, Solving Equations and Inequalities, Concepts in Statistics, Elementary Hypothesis Testing, Methylmercury, dams, Bioaccumulation, traditional diets, mercury, mercury poisoning, native people, indigenous population, Canada, hydroelectric, explaining statistics, using statistics, introductory, Lab, Online course, Teaching material, Lecture, High School, Undergraduate, Homework, Advanced, Majors, Non-majors, 1 Hour, Less than 1 hour, More than 1 hour, Extended Project, Developing Self-awareness, Developing Empathy, Classroom Climate, Fostering a Sense of Belonging, Open Science, Open Education, Open Educational Resources (OER)

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