The areas of cellular/molecular biology and physiology are becoming increasingly difficult to teach because of the rapid advance of knowledge and the technical methodologies they employ. Compounding the already difficult task of instruction is the students' lack of understanding of how to investigate physiological systems. These facts lead to the two main objectives addressed in the present effort to improve instruction in the affected laboratories: (1) To give students experience with suitable equipment in order to develop their understanding the behavior of physiological systems (using an instrument not only develops a student's lab skills; it encourages the development of a sophisticated understanding of the concept or system which can't happen in any other way). (2) To provide the student with a laboratory experience that is investigative in nature. In order to accomplish these objectives, the cellular/molecular and physiology labs are being restructured by developing three different types of labs; Concepts-Skills, Inquiry, and Investigative labs. These facilitate the exploration of topics in the lab which previously could be pursued only in lecture. The above changes are intended to: 1) increase the student' understanding of the conceptual framework upon which a physiological/ cellular/molecular investigation is based; 2) increase the students' ability to work with the type and quality of data gathered in cellular/ molecular and physiological investigations; 3) develop in the students a sense of inquiry, understanding and appreciation of the functional aspects of cellular/molecular biology and physiology; and 4) increase the students' own investigative abilities. The grantee institution is matching the NSF award with an equal sum obtained from non-Federal sources.
