Biological Science (61) This project addresses the need for engaging, lab-based science courses for non-majors, particularly underrepresented minorities, and the need to provide these students with opportunities to explore a wide variety of scientific issues. Through these courses, students broaden their knowledge base in science and improve their scientific literacy. The new course offerings increase the number of existing laboratory-based courses within the curriculum, support National Science Teachers Association Standards (Krockover, 2001), and model best practices in science education for teaching non-science majors by incorporating an inquiry-based and hands-on approach to the study of science.
Two NSF-supported projects serve as the general model for course development. These are "Theme-Centered Laboratory Courses for Non-Science Majors" (Berlinrood, Ithaca College, NSF DUE #9156197) and "Enhanced Scientific Literacy Using Project-Based Biology Laboratory Exercises" (Morrison-Shetlar, Georgia Southern University, NSF DUE # 0127066). The new course offering, "Sustainable Ecology," also adapts and incorporates materials from Georgia Southern University project. Two other new courses, "Disease Detectives" and "The Six Senses", are modeled after research publications from a book titled Exploring the Biomedical Revolution published by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. The new entomology course, "Barry's Bugs - Insect Appreciation", is modeled after a course designed by Dr. B. N. Danforth at Cornell University ("The Alien Empire: Bizarre Biology of Bugs") and a course developed by Dr. F. T. Turpin at Purdue University ("Insect Friend or Foe").
