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
    Distances in the Universe: An Inquiry Lab Sequence Taught in West Africa and North America
    Astronomy evokes deep curiosity for many people, making it a beautiful topic for supporting students to learn scientific practices and develop as scientists. We present an inquiry-based lab...

    Keywords: InquiryAstronomy labParallaxInverse-square law for lightCosmic distance ladderAsking investigable questions

    2376

    views

    380

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Using Synthetic Biology and pClone Red for Authentic Research on Promoter Function: Genetics (analyzing mutant promoters)
    Students often memorize the definition of a transcriptional promoter but fail to fully understand the critical role promoters play in gene expression.  This laboratory lesson allows students...

    Keywords: bacteriasynthetic biologygene regulationtranscriptionstudent researchcentral dogmacloningpromoterreporter gene/protein

    2857

    views

    670

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Coevolution or not? Crossbills, squirrels and pinecones
    This case reinforces the concept of coevolution as a reciprocal change in genetic structure between or among two or more populations, by having students analyze and interpret data, build a...

    Keywords: fitnessCoevolutionCo-adaptation

    2732

    views

    887

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Learning the Landscape: An Active and Applied Lesson on Landscape Ecology for General Ecology Courses
    Landscape ecology is an important subtopic of ecology. As a field, it is inherently interdisciplinary and provides opportunities to teach not only content, but transferable ecological and...

    Keywords: landscape ecologyspatial scaleecosystem managementHabitat fragmentation

    561

    views

    12

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Using Musical Instruments to Model Negative Feedback in the Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Target Gland Axes
    Homeostasis and negative feedback are crucial, yet difficult, concepts for undergraduates, particularly in the context of the hypothalamo-pituitary axes. This interactive activity was designed to...

    Keywords: cell-cell communicationhomeostasisnegative feedback

    1041

    views

    146

    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

    2546

    views

    207

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Teaching the Central Dogma Using a Case Study of Genetic Variation in Cystic Fibrosis
    The central dogma of biology is a foundational concept that is traditionally included in genetics curricula at all academic levels. Despite its ubiquitous presence throughout genetics education,...

    Keywords: transcriptioncentral dogmatranslationsequence analysisDNA replicationgenetic variants

    4521

    views

    1086

    downloads

    1

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Investigating Enzyme Structure and Function Through Model-Building and Peer Teaching in an Introductory Biology Course
    A foundational knowledge of the relationship between structure and function is critical to understanding how enzymes work. The seemingly invisible nature of these molecular interactions makes it...

    Keywords: structure-functionEnzymeallosteric regulationcompetitive inhibitionfeedback inhibitionnoncompetitive inhibitionproductsubstrate

    4543

    views

    597

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Unwrapping Enzyme Kinetics
    Enzyme rates and kinetics are key components used by biochemists to understand how enzymes function. However, students often find it difficult to understand how these experiments are performed and...

    Keywords: kineticsstructure-functionenzymescatalysis

    2480

    views

    701

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Grow the Gradient: An interactive countercurrent multiplier game
    The countercurrent multiplier of the loop of Henle in a mammalian kidney is a challenging concept for instructors to teach and for students to learn. We developed an interactive game to support...

    Keywords: countercurrent multiplierexcretory systemkidneyloop of Henlemembrane transport

    1347

    views

    467

    downloads

    1

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Marsh Madness: Using Video Games and a Case Study to Explore Food Webs and Ecosystem Services in Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve
    As the complexity and interconnectedness of our world increases, we are continually expected to be capable of complex, non-linear thinking in order to successfully tackle and solve the challenges...

    Keywords: food webssystems thinkingGame Based LearningEcosystem Servicessocio-ecological networks

    6039

    views

    250

    downloads

    1

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Starting Conversations About Discrimination Against Women in STEM
    Many scientists know about — and experience — discrimination against women. In this professional development lesson, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, faculty, and other career...

    Keywords: identityracismGender discriminationIntersectionalityMicroagressionsSexismSexual assaultSexual harassmentTrolling

    1312

    views

    122

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Understanding the Importance of Microtubules in Normal Cell Division: Chemotherapy Connection
    In introductory courses, students learn about microtubules as important structures but may not engage in a hands-on experience to localize microtubules themselves or to learn about their connection...

    Keywords: cancerCell DivisionimmunofluorescenceMicrotubulesAntibodies

    974

    views

    64

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Good Drug, Bad Practice: Tackling the Ivermectin Fiasco
    Throughout history, biomedical advancements have alleviated suffering worldwide and significantly advanced human well-being. As researchers and educators, we are well-familiar with the...

    Keywords: Peer reviewCOVID19fraudtherapeutic drugIvermectin

    1867

    views

    300

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Honoring the Complexity of Genetics: Exploring the Role of Genes and the Environment Using Real World Examples
    Historically, undergraduate genetics courses have disproportionately focused on the impact of genes on phenotypes, rather than multifactorial concepts which consider how a combination of genes, the...

    Keywords: genesenvironmentMendelQuantitative traitsMultifactorialGene by environment interactions

    2513

    views

    373

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Engaging Undergraduates in Mechanisms of Tubular Reabsorption and Secretion in the Mammalian Kidney
    If students fail to see the connections among physiological systems, they can become overwhelmed with the amount of information they need to learn. Some students have particular difficulty with the...

    Keywords: OsmosisActive transportMass flowRenal reabsorptionRenal secretionTransport across membranes

    1846

    views

    338

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Vitamin C for Colds? Writing LETTERS to Synthesize and Communicate Results from Multiple Studies
    Interpreting experimental results is a key part of evidence-based reasoning. However, it is challenging for students to synthesize data from multiple sources to reach their own conclusions. As...

    Keywords: pre-healthphysiologyScience Communicationscientific literacyScientific Processconventional wisdomscientific methods

    1878

    views

    332

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Mice, Acorns, and Lyme Disease: a Case Study to Teach the Ecology of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
    Ebola, Zika, the recall of contaminated lettuce - these are just a few recent outbreaks making headlines. Students should be able to connect what they learn in their biology courses to explain...

    Keywords: epidemiologyEcological changeInfectious disease ecologyReservoirsTransmission cycle

    1233

    views

    348

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Does it pose a threat? Investigating the impact of Bt corn on monarch butterflies
    Aspiring scientists know that a hallmark of science is that experiments are repeatable and testable.  However, students do not often get opportunities to explore the replicability of...

    Keywords: ecologyCommunity EcologyBt cornGenetic modificationMonarch butterflies

    1737

    views

    413

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Fostering Student to Student Collaboration Across Institutions in a Protein Centric CURE
    Collaboration is an essential component of research because it allows scientists to share expertise and tackle difficult scientific questions. While many undergraduate science courses include...

    Keywords: communicationBiochemistrycollaborationCUREhypothesisStudent to StudentInter institutionalProtein CentricAssignments

    930

    views

    305

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Close

    Home

    Search