The problem is to help the over 900 first and second-year students in the Introductory Biology and Cell Biology courses at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls develop the critical thinking skills used by scientific investigators. Hypermedia software to be developed enables introductory students to simulate actual experimental investigations in cell biology and biotechnology, including patch clamp studies of ion channels in cell membranes and the micromanipulation of transgenic embryos used to create animal models for AIDS research. Students can generate data and make inferences from these data. The simulations are planned to: (1) complement existing laboratories in Introductory Biology with experimental procedures that are otherwise not feasible in this course, (2) enrich and expand those Cell Biology laboratories which do give students hands-on experience with at least some of the simulated procedures, (3) prepare students for the advanced Molecular Biology course which includes the actual manipulation of embryos used in transgenic animal production, and (4) serve as a recruitment tool for the Biology major and also for the new interdisciplinary Biotechnology major at UW-River Falls. A controlled statistical study will evaluate the long-term impact of this project and results will be disseminated via workshops and presentations to educational organizations.
