This introductory biology course is designed to serve both majors and non-majors, with particular attention to those students preparing to be teachers. Students are involved in collaborative and investigative work in both lecture and laboratory. Students are introduced to concepts in context through seven to fifteen scenarios based on popular issues or current research conducted at OSU. In lecture, students work collaboratively, making observations, formulating hypotheses, answering questions, and solving problems stemming from the scenarios. An extensive set of multimedia materials and demonstrations present and define the scenarios for the students. Newly developed laboratories help students solve or explain the scenarios presented in lecture. Students conduct pre-laboratory activities in a Learning Resources Center and on the WWW allowing the full use of laboratory time for designing and conducting experiments. Computers are used to collect and analyze data and produce team reports in each laboratory. Approximately 900 students will be affected each year, including 150-200 lower division K-12 education majors and a dozen upper-division science-education majors acting as group facilitators. The impact of the course is being examined via the use of test scores, attitude surveys, direct observation of students, and interviews with students and faculty. Data is collected at the beginning, during, and at the end of each semester and about students taking subsequent courses.
