Biol 201 Agenda for Day 1 Instructor: Ken Marr

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Biol 201 Agenda for Day 1Instructor Ken Marr

• Before sitting down pick up.
• Biology 201 syllabus (skim through it!)
• Brief Introduction to Course
• Form Groups
• Groups will work together daily (for the entire
  quarter?)
• Group activities for today
• Introduction to the Scientific Method
• Night Light Case Study
• Due before the end of class tomorrow!

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Introduction to Class

• Class meeting days and times (page 3 of syllabus)
• Sections A B in SC-240
• Monday and Tuesday 800 - 950 a.m.
• Friday 800 - 850 a.m.
• Lab in SC-243
• Section A Wednesdays 800 - 950 a.m.
• Section B Thursdays 800 - 950 a.m.
• Course Prerequisites (page 1 of syllabus)
• Modes of instructionActive Learning with little
  lecturing (page 1 of syllabus)

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Why Use Collaborative and Active Learning
Little Lecturing?
From data collected at the National Training
Laboratories (NTL) Bethel, Maine, USA
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Why Use Collaborative and Active Learning
Little Lecturing?

• You dont really understand something until you
  canexplain it to your grandmother (Albert
  Einstein)
• Class time in Biology 201 is structured so you
  can teach and learn from others.

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Intended Outcomes of Collaborative Learning

• Enhance your learning and the retention of
  concepts learned via peer-to-peer teaching and
  helping others
• Students in collaboratively taught classes
  out-perform those in the same course where
  lecturing is the major means of instruction.
• Enhance the quality of work submitted
• Help catch and reduce the number mistakes and
  misconceptions people tend to make when working
  on their own
• Identify difficulties within groups and then
  bring to the full class for discussion and
  clarification
• Facilitate the Development of good study habits
• Develop your skills working with others in a
  group
• Foster the development of responsibility for the
  learning of others as well as your own
• Facilitate the use of study groups outside of
  class

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Introduction to Class

• Textbook and required materials (page 1 of
  syllabus)
• Lab Manual and Active Learning Exercises
• Not Required ? return for 100 refund!
• Handouts will be provided in class!
• Office Hours (page 1 of syllabus)
• Mondays 1100 - 1150 in SC-323 or SC-214
  (office)
• Wednesdays 1100 - 1150 in SC-323 or SC-214
  (office)
• Thursdays 215 - 315 in SC-214 (office)
  
• Fridays 900 - 1000 in SC-240 or
  SC-214 (office) 1100 - 1200 in
  SC-323 or SC-214 (office)
• And by mutual arrangement
• Topics and Chapters Covered in Biol 201 (page 2
  of syllabus)
• Tentative Schedule (Page 12 of syllabus)
• Brief Introduction to the Scientific Method.

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The Process of Science

• Observe the natural world
• Ask a scientific question (or questions) based on
  ones observations
• Construct a testable hypothesis to answer the
  question
• Write as an If .... , then .... statement
• Test the hypothesis via controlled experiments or
  pertinent observations
• Draw conclusions Evaluate the hypothesis based
  on the data resulting from the experimentsrevise
  hypothesis if necessary
• Communicate results to your peers Publish
  results in a scientific journal

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Todays Team Activities

• Use Grouper to select teams
• Your team will work together the entire quarter
• Determine each persons role for today and
  tomorrows sessions
• Work on the following Activities with your Team
• Introduction to The Scientific Method
• Carefully read the instructions and
• Night Light Case Study
• Part 1 Night lights no comfort for children's
  eyes
• Part 2 New light on night lights
• Your team will be given part 2 after completing
  part 1
• General Instructions
• Record your responses on your handout
• Recorder records your teams responses on the
  Recorders Report
• Each Teams Recorders Report is due tomorrow
  before the end of class.

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(No Transcript)
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The Process of Science in Action

• Good News for Nightlights (Morning Edition,
  3/10/00)
• NPR's Vicky Que reports that according to a
  new study in Nature magazine leaving a nightlight
  in a toddlers room does not appear to lead to
  myopia later in life. This latest report
  contradicts an earlier finding that found a link
  between myopia and nighttime lighting in children
  younger than 2 years old. (325)
  http//www.npr.org/ramfiles/me/20000309.me.04.ram

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Whats a Scientific Question?

• Scientific Questions are...
• Testable
• Definable
• Measurable
• Controllable
• Is the following a scientific question?
• Does Hormone replacement therapy decrease the
  risk of heart disease and osteoporosis in women?

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The Process of Science in Action

1. Estrogen and Cardiac Health (NPRs All Things
   Considered, 4/5/00) Women who've reached
   menopause face a big decision ... whether to take
   replacement hormones touted as being able to
   reduce the risk of heart disease and
   osteoporosis. But several recent studies have
   suggested that hormones may slightly increase the
   risk of heart disease. And now federal
   researchers are sending letters to women in a
   large trial saying that there does seem to be an
   initial increase in heart attacks and strokes.
   But the final word isnt in ... early data
   suggested that after two years, the extra risk
   may go away. (400) http//www.npr.org/ramfiles/at
   c/20000405.atc.08.rmm

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Controlling Variables is a Major Challenge!

• Variables to consider
• Independent variable,
• Dependent variables and
• Controlled variables
• Independent variable
• The thing (variable) tested or manipulated to see
  what impact it has on the dependent variable.
• What is the Indep. Var. in the HRT study?
• The independent variable is the factor that
  causes the dependent variable to change.
• An experiment should have only one independent
  variable! Why?

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Dependent Variables Controlled Variables

• Dependent variables (e.g. in HRT study?)
• The thing(s) measured, counted, or observed in an
  experiment. (examples??)
• The independent variable is the factor that
  causes the dependent variable(s) to change.
• Controlled Variables (e.g. in HRT study?)
• The variables that are kept constant during an
  experiment.
• We assume that independent variable is the only
  factor affecting the dependent variable.
• This can only be true if all other variables are
  controlled (i.e. Held constant)

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Group Activity

• Say hello and introduce yourselves.
• Discuss why each of you is taking the class.
• Select a recorder by finding the person in your
  group whose birthday is closest to todays date.
• Record the following on a sheet of paper
• Your group number at the top of a sheet of paper.
• 1st and last names of all group members
• Next to each name college major, long-term
  educational and professional goals, how this
  class is related to these goals
• After reviewing the course syllabus write 2-3
  questions that your group has about the course,
  your instructor, course policies , etc.