The College of Mount St. Vincent is seeking to enrich teaching and learning in the biology laboratory through the addition of Macintosh microcomputers. In many courses in biology, the mastery of content has taken precedence over enhanced competence in critical thinking and integration. Laboratories are highly structured, with little opportunity for independent investigation and analytical thinking by the students. Compounding these problems, students display a decline in the level of preparedness for learning biology, and possess a variety of learning modes that render traditional instructional methods less effective. In an attempt to overcome these shortcomings, we seek to introduce contemporary computers and multimedia software into biology laboratory education. The initial focus will be on the Physiology laboratory, with use of the laboratory stations by students in several other laboratory courses as well. Several laboratory exercises in Physiology will be interfaced with the Macintosh microcomputer for sophisticated data collection and analysis, with additional simulations to allow students to extend and reinforce the knowledge obtained through their hands-on work. Computer-based learning materials will be used to help students develop problem-solving skills as well as content mastery. Multimedia software programs will be used to help the student to organize information, and to form cognitive links between various content areas explored in lecture and laboratory.
