While there are many strategies for increasing the inclusiveness of anatomy and physiology courses, increasing course structure is a strategy that can not only close achievement gaps for first generation and underrepresented minority students, but also increase performance for all students. High structure courses are characterized by clear…

We developed and implemented the Galapagos Volcanology Field Camp, a 3 week, 3 credit hour course for upper-level university students with a major course of study in geology. The course is offered by the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, is open to any student, and is usually populated by students from many universities across the U.S.…

International students outperform U.S. students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), while U.S. students increasingly leave these high-demand areas. To improve STEM education, it is imperative to determine the most effective and efficient instructional and organizational practices in these courses. This article identifies…

Our paper describes a solution we found to a still existing need to develop mathematical modeling courses for undergraduate biology majors. Some challenges of such courses are: (i) relatively limited exposure of biology students to higher-level mathematical and computational concepts; (ii) availability of texts that can give a flavor of how…

Because of shrinking budgets and computerized virtual dissection programs, many large and small institutions are closing the door on traditional and expensive cadaver dissection classes. However, many health-care educators would argue there is still a place for cadaver dissection in higher education, so the continuing challenge is to provide the…

These authors relate the ways in which curriculum integration is explored in 2 university middle grades programs. In these settings, curriculum integration is encountered both in the design and pedagogy of courses and as a discrete content area for preservice and inservice teachers. Background information about the courses, the application of…

It is now widely known that interactive engagement (IE) teaching methods are the most effective methods of teaching physics. As physics instructors, we now have a variety of methods and models to choose from to make courses interactive. Included in these are methods that function as interactive adaptations to the traditional structure of physics…

This article reports on a one-semester Advanced Cell Biology course that endeavors to bridge the gap between gaining basic textbook knowledge about cell biology and learning to think and work as a researcher. The key elements of this course are 1) learning to work with primary articles in order to get acquainted with the field of choice, to learn…

Develops a course which would give students a chance to think critically, be exposed to recent developments including applications to other fields, and be exposed to the general field of the philosophy of science. Provides a course outline, required and referenced textbooks, and selected journal articles. (YP)

Describes a first-year course in General Chemistry that incorporates the principles of active engagement and the learning cycle paradigm. Recommends student small-group instruction and guided-inquiry laboratory investigations. (WRM)

Presents results of a study regarding the status of the teaching of ethics in American higher education. Five general goals are proposed in the report for the teaching of ethics and recommendations are made for the introduction of new courses in ethics. (CS)

Describes the spectrum of process design problems. Suggests a methodology for teaching some concepts used in design, including the types of processes considered and their designs, new tools useful in conceptual design, and a strategy for developing conceptual designs. (YP)

This article describes the curriculum for a highly student-centered human biology course constructed around a series of themes that enables the integration of the same basic paradigms found in a traditional survey lecture course without sacrificing essential content. The theme-based model enhances student interest, ability to integrate knowledge,…

This study reports on the courses in biological sciences offered in public high schools, enrollments in the course in general biology, number of teachers of general biology, organization of the course, nature of the laboratory work, laboratory and supplementary facilities, the equipment used in teaching the course, appropriations for equipment and…

The proposed changes and plans for a new science methods course in an elementary teacher education program at Utah State University are discussed in this paper. The course uses a hands-on individualized curriculum which emphasizes an interactive student and teacher problem solving and helping relationship. Information presented in this paper…