New Intro Bio Approach
Meeting Notes
Draft Objectives
What are the learning objectives for the course?
1) Describe the big ideas of biology and relate them to examples at multiple levels of organization.
2) Apply general principles to new case studies.
3) Analyze data that students have not seen before.
4) Design a well controlled experiment to test an hypothesis.
5) Evaluate statements by using specific examples and data to support or refute the statements.
6) Use mathematics to explain biological concepts or specific examples.
7) Formulate an opinion about a biologically-related topic which is supported by data.
What are the objectives for the assessment?
1) Compare the retention of content for students in this course as well as traditional courses.
2a) Assess the ability of students to extract biological information from data.
2b) Judge the capacity of students to ask testable questions and design well controlled experiments.
3) Appraise how students perceive biology as a discipline, and science in general.
4) Determine whether students take more biology courses than traditional students do/did.
To Do Lists
Malcolm:
- Ask Dave and Jennifer if they are willing to participate at different levels of assessment (clicker daily, weekly, etc.)
- Bio111 faculty need to Agree on all 3 assessment objectives. I will ask about general principles first, and details as they take shape. We will write and assess all tools.
- Talk to Kevin about getting 4 color versions of my chapters in 3 hole versions.
Everyone:
- Edit the list of objectives above.
Time Line
End of March: agree upon objectives for course and assessment
By Graduation: agree on experimental design and assessment tools
By June 15: submit HSIRB form for approval.
By June 30: draft assessment tools
In July: test assessment tools and get student feedback; revise tools.
