Synthetic Biology Workshop, Davidson, July 2010
Brainstorming for meeting assessment questions and topics for article report
Please place your brainstorming ideas here for both assessment questions(remember that assessment is essential to the final report) and the general goals that should be covered in the report itself.
PROPOSED ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS
(added by Wolyniak/Alvarez 5/14/10)
Participant’s name:___________________________________
Email:____________________________ Phone:__________________
Thank you for volunteering this information for the meeting report being conducted by the participants of the First Faculty Training in Synthetic Biology supported by GCAT.
Institution Background Information
Institution Name: ____________________
Which of the following best describes your institution (circle one): R1, Liberal Arts, Masters, Other__________________
Approximate number of students across the whole institution:_____________________ Approximate % of undergraduate science/mathematics majors:____________________ Approximately what % of your students are undergraduates?:______________________
To what degree do you feel that your institution actively supports its undergraduates undertaking and completing independent research projects?
1 2 3 4 5 no support------------------------------------------------outstanding support
Briefly explain the support your institution provides for these efforts. Include both financial and academic support options:
Personal Background Information
General Area of Expertise (please circle all that apply):
Biology Chemistry Computer Science Physics Engineering Biochemistry Mathematics/Statistics
Specific Area of Expertise:________________________________________________
How many classes do you teach per semester, including lab sections? ______________
What classes do you currently teach?
For each of the following, please give the number of years of experience performing the indicated task and rate your perceived competency level for each:
1 – None, 2 – Beginner, 3 – Intermediate/Average, 4 – Advanced, 5 – Expert.
THIS WILL BE IN 3-COLUMN TABLE FORMAT (didn't translate well to the Wiki):
Task-------------------Number of Years Experience----------------Perceived Competency Level (please circle one)
Working (i.e. as a technician) in a laboratory environment. 1 2 3 4 5
Using standard laboratory equipment (i.e. measuring devices (scales, etc.), pipettes, etc.) 1 2 3 4 5
Working with DNA 1 2 3 4 5
Designing an experiment 1 2 3 4 5
Data analysis 1 2 3 4 5
Teaching 1 2 3 4 5
Collaborating out of your field 1 2 3 4 5
Others:……………………… 1 2 3 4 5
Briefly describe how you have previously engaged in cross-disciplinary collaboration for your personal research or the research of your undergraduate students. What was the nature of the collaboration and what were the ultimate goals?
Perceptions of Synthetic Biology/Personal Goals
1.) What is your current understanding of synthetic biology? What, if anything, makes synthetic biology a unique field?
2.) How comfortable do you currently feel with teaching synthetic biology to undergraduates?
1 2 3 4 5 Not at all--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Totally
Briefly explain:
3.) How comfortable do you currently feel with conducting synthetic biology-based research projects with undergraduates?
1 2 3 4 5 Not at all--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Totally
Briefly explain: 4.) Do you currently feel your undergraduate students are comfortable with the concepts of synthetic biology?
1 2 3 4 5 Not at all--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Totally
Briefly explain:
5.) Do you think that your undergraduate students will be able to master the concepts of synthetic biology? In your opinion, what would be the best ways for your students to obtain mastery of this subject?
6.) How comfortable do you currently feel with working with individuals outside of your discipline in collaborative research?
1 2 3 4 5 Not at all---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Totally
Briefly explain:
7.) How comfortable do you feel in your ability to establish cross-disciplinary collaborations?
1 2 3 4 5 Not at all---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Totally
Briefly explain:
8.) What resources do you feel will be necessary for you to successfully engage in synthetic biology work? Include all possible resources such as financial support, academic support, GCAT support, etc.
9.) How do you envision utilizing synthetic biology in your student-led research? How will this work ultimately be presented?
10.) How much time and effort do you feel you will be able to put into developing the ideas and materials necessary to successfully conduct synthetic biology work with your undergraduates?
1 2 3 4 5
Very little------------------------------------------------------------------------------as much as it takes
11.) Would you feel comfortable with this preparation effort given your current teaching load?
1 2 3 4 5 Not at all---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Totally
Briefly explain:
12.) Briefly describe what you see as the primary benefits of synthetic biology for your undergraduate students.
13.) What are your personal expectations for this workshop?
14.) What are your reservations about this workshop?
Thank you!
PROPOSED REPORT GOALS
(added by Jones/Reyna 5/13/10)
Jones :Some of the questions that have been tossed out ("How do you want to get out of this workshop?" -- Alive, I hope! ;) seem valuable for the workshop organizers, but not for readers of a meeting report. Some of the things I'd want to know if I were reading such an article would be:
1. What *is* this stuff? (see above)
2. Can I do it in *my* classroom with *my* students? (= translatability)
2a. costs
2b. necessary intellectual level/preparation of students
2c. my effort to learn the necessary ideas
2d. my effort to develop materials
2e. how can I fit it into my current teaching load?
3. What are the benefits for my students? For me?
4. What support is available for me?
5. How can I use this in a student research project?
