9451893 Beatty This project is designed for teaching introductory biology to both majors and non-majors in a large course setting. The new course with laboratory is also expected to become the institution's largest-enrollment introductory biology course. Central topics are genetics, evolutionary biology, ecology, and the process of scientific inquiry. Laboratories for the course are designed to use the educational strategies of "conceptual change" teaching and "collaborative group" learning. We also combine computer simulation exercises with experiments involving plants and animals with rapid life-cycles in one laboratory period. Computer stations are established in four laboratories, and the stations are designed for students to work in pairs. In addition, one TA computing station is used to introduce and train students in software. Concepts and processes with graphics and animations can also be illustrated.
