Project Title:
Advancing the Incorporation of Research and Technology into MSUM Biochemistry Courses
Project Director and Other Associated Faculty and Staff:
Joseph Provost, Assoc. Professor, Biology Dept., Minnesota State Univ., Moorhead
Contact: provost@mnstate.edu, Tel.: (218)477-5085
Project Design:
Building on a previous CTL grant, this project supported research based learning by creating research experiments to be used in first year Biochemistry laboratories and in Biotechnology courses.
Project Evaluation and Outcomes:
During the 2004-05 academic year, experiments were created and used in the Biochemistry I and II laboratories and in the Biotechnology course. Throughout the project, over 77 students were involved in these courses and research projects. In addition, 3 students worked on individual study projects using the information collected in these classes as basis for further research. The assessment of student attitudes and learning objectives were positive. On a 5 points scale (with 5=a great deal), students generally rated these courses at 4.5-4.8 in relation to understanding concepts and methods, confidence in ability to do Biochemistry and conducting research.
Lessons Learned, Dissemination and Sustainability
An important result of this work is that one NSF grant of $100,000 was awarded due to the work performed in this and the initial CTL grant and the project director is a part of a research team that has submitted a proposal for a $1 million NSF grant.
Dissemination: Faculty and student researchers presented papers on findings of this research at 2005 Experimental Biology National Meeting, the 2005 MSUM Academic Research Conference, and the Regional Tri-Beta Biological Honor Society meeting. The project director also made a presentation at CTL’s 2004 Realizing Student Potential conference.
