The biology faculty at Mount Mary College is introducing problem based learning into their curriculum. Specifically, targeted courses include Introductory Biology lower level , Human Physiology intermediate level and Microbiology and Genetics upper level . In each course, students collaborate in small teams to study real-world problem scenarios, which guide them to performing hands-on laboratory investigations that introduce them to modern biotechnology. The result of this student-centered, faculty-facilitated instructional strategy is that women students, at multiple points in the undergraduate curriculum, develop problem-solving skills that pertain to the real world and are guided towards methods of scientific inquiry and critical analysis, thereby preparing them for careers in science and research while developing their proficiency and critical understanding of biotechnology.
