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
    Student-Generated Analogies for Learning about Information Flow
    Using analogies is a standard practice for both teaching and communicating ideas in science. Here we upend the traditional lesson, where the instructor provides a fully constructed analogy and...

    Keywords: critical thinkingcentral dogmaanalogical reasoning

    511

    views

    67

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    An Interrupted Case Study on Urban Prairie Restoration
    Engaging students in meaningful discussions can be a challenging task for science instructors, especially in introductory courses. The story-telling approach used in case studies can increase...

    Keywords: urban ecologyPrescribed fireEcosystem Servicesecological restorationwoody encroachmentrangeland ecology

    356

    views

    50

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Exploring Indigenous Viewpoints in the Undergraduate Biology Classroom: An Environmental Case Study Incorporating Hawaiian Traditional Ecological Knowledge
    Changing science education to foster greater equity and inclusion for Indigenous students will require effort from instructors and institutions. Instructors can help by including Traditional...

    Keywords: ecologycase studyenvironmentsystems thinkingTraditional ecological knowledgeindigenous knowledgehawai'idecolonizing scienceNative knowledgeFish ponds

    1870

    views

    41

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Colorful wings send messages: Why are butterfly wings colorful?
    Red postman butterflies live in tropical rainforests and have a mix of red, yellow, and black on their wings. These bright colors may warn predators or attract mates. Explore whether color alone or...

    Keywords: Quantitative reasoningadaptationpredationfield workEvolution by natural selection and mutation

    222

    views

    61

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Keep It Shrimple: An Adaptable Student-Driven Research Project for the Introductory Biology Laboratory
    A challenge in introductory biology laboratory courses is to provide students with authentic, engaging research opportunities that allow them to take ownership of their experiments. We present a...

    Keywords: hypothesis testingexperimental designanimal behaviorbrine shrimp

    1342

    views

    292

    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

    973

    views

    63

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Causes and consequences of resisting herbivory: How long-lived plants avoid damage from diverse short-lived insect herbivores
    This module guides students through decades-long studies of tropical plant-insect interactions to elucidate the ecology and evolution of plant defenses while encouraging students to consider the...
    849

    views

    69

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Promoting Interleaved and Spaced Practice in Anatomy and Physiology Students
    Students' academic performance in college can be impacted by varying background experiences and skill levels. This article describes a lesson designed for undergraduate Anatomy and Physiology...

    Keywords: Anatomical Terms and DirectionInterleaved PracticeStudy StrategiesSpaced Practice

    405

    views

    49

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Module 3: What on Earth is a Herbarium?
    The goal of this activity is to introduce students to herbarium specimens and why they are an important source of information. The emphasis of this activity is on examining the types of data that...

    Keywords: natural history collectionsherbariumHerbarium digitizationYnez Mexia

    167

    views

    288

    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

    796

    views

    284

    downloads

    0

    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

    Between a rock and a hard place. What can turning rocks tell us about land-use change impacts on animals living in a rock outcrop?
    Unique rock outcrops in the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot in India provide a setting that challenges students to develop a study to assess the impact of land-use change on threatened animals...

    Keywords: conservationagricultureland useamphibianstropicalbiodiversity losslateritic outcropopen natural ecosystemsreptilesrocks

    1608

    views

    168

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Agents of change: Determining effects of pollution on marine environments through data interpretation
    In this lesson, students discuss the effects of disturbance in marine environments with a focus on pollution. They also evaluate the anthropogenic causes and consequences of pollution on a variety...

    Keywords: fishgraph interpretationfmnmarine ecosystemsmarine ecologymicroplastic pollutionEcological Disturbanceintermediate disturbance hypothesisstudent STEM identitypollutionBioGraphIrepresentation in STEMoil spill

    429

    views

    236

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Constructing Phylogenies using Herbarium Specimens
    This lab is intended as an introduction to a plant systematics course. Students work in groups of two to apply what they have learned about plant structures to develop a character matrix based on a...

    Keywords: botanyphylogenyherbariumdistance learningPlant systematicscharacter matrix

    276

    views

    83

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Exploring Coyote Morphology: Introduction to Research and Study Design
    This module is designed as a first foray for freshman-level (novice undergraduate) students into science literacy, research design, and use of museum resources in research activities. The module...

    Keywords: statisticsnatural history museumsdistance learningscience literacyStudy Designintraspecific variation

    256

    views

    383

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Is everything bigger in Texas? Introduction to Statistics with the Rock Pocket Mouse (Chaetodipus intermedius)
    Natural history museums often contain large collections of the same species and therefore, are a resource for studying intraspecific variation. This module uses 172 images of rock pocket mouse...

    Keywords: statisticsnatural history museumsdistance learningStudy Designintraspecific variation

    637

    views

    147

    downloads

    0

    comments

    1

    adaptations

    Observing the Birds of El Paso: Revisiting historical localities online and in the field
    In this set of activities, students are introduced to several features and use cases of museum databases to understand the importance of historical natural history specimens and their data. Using...

    Keywords: databaseBiodiversityOrnithologynatural history museumsspecies distributionsdistance learningField Experiences

    359

    views

    107

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Introduction to Assessing Biodiversity: Bivalves of the Rio Grande Area
    Learning to identify taxa is a key skill gained in many systematics classes. This module aims to introduce students to concepts and resources for identifying organisms and assessing species...

    Keywords: Biodiversityspecies distributionsdistance learninginvertebrate zoologyMuseum databases data literacyidentification

    245

    views

    87

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Introduction to Plant Phenology with Museum Specimens of Desert Prickly Pear (Opuntia phaeacantha)
    Students engage in hands-on exploration of phenology by working with digitized herbarium specimens, particularly focusing on prickly pear specimens from the UTEP herbarium. They learn to identify...

    Keywords: botanyclimate changephenologyherbariumcactus

    741

    views

    94

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Case Study: Genetic Variation and Speciation in the Black Tailed Rattlesnake complex (Crotalus molossus)
    It is important for biology students to understand how genetic variation is related to the formation of species in nature. This module is intended for students to obtain first hand experience with...

    Keywords: phylogeneticscase studySpeciationtree readingsystematicsTree thinkingPhylogeographydistance learninggenetic variation

    499

    views

    59

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Close

    Home

    Search