You are here: Home / Resources / Browse Resources

Open. Adaptable. Free.

Resources created by our members and partners.

The QUBES platform hosts hundreds of teaching materials, reference materials, and cloud-based software free to use and adapt using open Creative Commons licenses.

Text Search:
Applied Filters
    Learning R for Biologists: A Mini Course Grab-Bag for Instructors
    As biology becomes more data driven, teaching students data literacy skills has become central to biology curriculum. Despite a wealth of online resources that teach researchers how to use R, there...

    Keywords: Rdata analysisRStudio

    2003

    views

    265

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Is Earth Currently Undergoing a Sixth Mass Extinction?
    The five Phanerozoic mass extinctions were central in shaping biodiversity on Earth today. Due to increasing biodiversity losses, there is debate about whether we are currently undergoing a sixth...

    Keywords: conservationBiodiversityextinctionMass ExtinctionDeep Time

    3668

    views

    393

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Nanoparticles and Shrimp: An Interdisciplinary Lab Series in Chemistry and Biology for Undergraduate Engineering Students
    The parallels between engineering and science are vast, as both disciplines apply theory and inquiry to solve complex problems. In order to prepare students for interdisciplinary careers in STEM,...

    Keywords: microscopychemistry applications in biologytoxicity

    1551

    views

    169

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Follow the Sulfur: Using Yeast Mutants to Study a Metabolic Pathway
    Students are frequently overwhelmed by the complexity of metabolic pathways and they think they have "learned" the pathway when they have memorized the individual reactions.  This...

    Keywords: SelectionyeastMetabolismcysteinemediamethioninemutantPathwaysulfur

    2394

    views

    585

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    A Simple Method for Predicting a Molecule's Biological Properties From Its Polarity
    The distinction between very polar and less polar substances is a foundation of biochemistry, cell biology, and physiology; it surfaces in multiple concept inventories and elaborations of...

    Keywords: Diffusionsolubilitycovalent bondshydrophilichydrophobicpartition coefficientplasma membranepolarity

    1759

    views

    451

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Integrating Community Ecology Into the Study of Parasites: Exploring the Effect of Host Behavior on Parasite Transmission Rates
    Organismal life cycles are often presented as a set of facts to memorize in undergraduate biology courses. This approach is cognitively demanding for students and fails to convey how central life...

    Keywords: statisticsspecies interactionsQuantitative reasoninggraphsCommunity EcologyParasitologyfood webs

    2577

    views

    212

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Role of Crop Genetic Diversity on Pathogen Impact: The Tale of Two Pathogens
    Introductory genetics courses are part of the core curriculum in many different fields, including plant breeding, animal science, biology, microbiology, and natural resource management. Concepts...

    Keywords: plant pathologygenetic diversityDisease TriangleModes of Reproduction

    2542

    views

    215

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Using the Cell Engineer/Detective Approach to Explore Cell Structure and Function
    As instructors of introductory biology courses for majors and non-majors, we have struggled with teaching the concept of cell structure and function in an engaging way.  However, this is a...

    Keywords: cell functionCell StructureCellular diversityDynamic cellular functionOrganelle function

    3132

    views

    1259

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Bringing Pasteur Back to Life: Studying the Biochemistry of Yeast Fermentation Through Discussion Groups and an At-Home Lab
    This hands-on, student-centered biochemistry lesson introduces beginner biochemistry students to the techniques of effectively reading and discussing primary literature, identifying fundamental...

    Keywords: primary literatureexperimentationyeastMetabolismFermentationRespirationequilibrium

    3315

    views

    225

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    A Student-Led Hearing on the Use of HeLa Cells in Research
    In this role-playing case study, students will learn about the HeLa cell line and its origins while examining multiple perspectives surrounding the cell line and its uses. The goal of this case...

    Keywords: bioethicsscience policycell culturedebateHeLa cellsinformed consentrole playsocial justice issues

    3008

    views

    509

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Ain't No Mountain Pine Enough: A Case Study of How Mountain Pine Beetles are Affecting Ecosystem Processes
    This case study engages students in generating hypotheses and predictions, analyzing and interpreting data, critically evaluating contrasting results in science, and thinking about feedbacks...

    Keywords: population biologycarbon cyclingSpecies-habitat interactions

    1598

    views

    448

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Diversifying and Humanizing Scientist Role Models Through Interviews and Constructing Slide Decks on Researchers’ Research and Life Experiences
    To maintain recruitment and retention, biology teachers face the challenge of finding relatable role models for their students. Our ever-increasing scientific knowledge has been facilitated by...

    Keywords: researchdiversityinclusionScientific ProcessRepresentationScientistRole Models

    2030

    views

    206

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    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...

    Keywords: mutationcentral dogmatranslationframeshift

    3111

    views

    569

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    You and Your Oral Microflora: Introducing non-biology majors to their “forgotten organ”
    With limited time available for laboratory activities, introductory science courses for non-science majors typically use the laboratory period to reinforce material that was previously presented...

    Keywords: bacteriamicrobiomeBLASTmicrobesDNA replicationPolymerase chain reaction (PCR)

    2214

    views

    274

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Exploration of the Human Genome by Investigation of Personalized SNPs
    Students often shy away from tedious bioinformatics approaches to exploring their genomes. However, in our expanding digital world these skills are some of the most relevant and valuable. To...

    Keywords: UCSC genome browsersingle nucleotide polymorphismGenome wide association studiesGenomic organization

    1888

    views

    846

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Using Aquatic Macroinvertebrates in Stream Bioassessment
    Bioassessment is an evaluation of the biological condition of a waterbody using biological surveys and other direct measurements of resident living organisms. Aquatic macroinvertebrates are...

    Keywords: toleranceMacroinvertebratesRiver Field Studies Networkbioindicatorbioassessmentstream health

    403

    views

    275

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Snail Races: An Inquiry-Based Approach to Learn Invasive Species Ecology
    Inquiry-based lessons allow learning that is hands-on and student-driven, fostering engagement and retention of knowledge in any discipline. Here, we use this learning framework to engage students...

    Keywords: ecologyenvironmentInvasive SpeciesScience CommunicationScientific InquiryDispersal

    1616

    views

    99

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    VISABLI - an RCN-UBE for Visualizations, Interactive Simulations, and Animations for Biology Learning & Instruction (RCN-UBE Introduction)
    Our network improves instructional multimedia design for biology education by fostering communication and collaboration among members of three communities: undergraduate biology instructors,...

    Keywords: RCN-UBE Introduction

    239

    views

    68

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Discovery and Invention: A Reflection on Representation in Science
    Despite increased awareness of the lack of equity and inclusion in the STEMM classroom, lessons on DEI topics are treated as separate to the scientific curriculum being taught. Rarely are...

    Keywords: EquityDiversity and Inclusionantiracism

    719

    views

    76

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    A Customizable Inquiry-Based Statistics Teaching Application for Introductory Biology Students
    Building strong quantitative skills prepares undergraduate biology students for successful careers in science and medicine. While math and statistics anxiety can negatively impact student learning...

    Keywords: introductory biologyQuantitative reasoningInclusive teachingauthentic inquiryInferential statisticsInstructional scaffolding

    832

    views

    290

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Close

    Home

    Search