This project integrates microcomputers and spectrophotometers into four introductory biology courses. The Spectronic 20D Spectrophotometer is utilized to construct a standard curve, determine concentrations of bacterial cultures, produce absorption spectra of plant pigments, study the relationship between light intensity and the rate of photosynthesis, and demonstrate enzyme kinetics. The use of the computer enables the students to collect, tabulate, manipulate, and graph data more accurately and effectively, leaving more time to interpret the data, perform statistical anaysies and draw conclusions. Computer-based tutorials which supplement the laboratory material enable the students to study laboratory techniques such as pipetting, plating microorganisms, sterile technique, weighing samples, calculating Rf values, using the spectrophotometer, constructing standard curves, and calculating dilution series. Software, such as that developed by Thornton and bioQUEST for problem-solving, data collection and data analysis, is being used in combination with hands-on experiences. The college is contributing an amount equal to the award.
