Project Title:
Incorporation of Web Based Teaching Technology to Enhance Freshman Cell Biology Laboratory
Project Director and Other Associated Faculty and Staff:
Mark Wallert, Professor of Biology, Minnesota State University Moorhead, Contact: wallert@mnstate.edu, Tel.: (218)477-5007
Project Design:
An important driving force today in science education is to integrate research into undergraduate education. The MSUM Biology Dept. has endorsed this goal and this project promoted research by (1) creating an online cell Biology laboratory manual so students will not need to purchase a manual, (2) taking the online manual beyond instructions and web links to include presentations prepared using Tegrity WebLearner so the students can review a technique at their own pace from any computer. (3) initiating the development of a online quiz and evaluation system.
Project Evaluation and Outcomes:
During 2004-05 academic year, the project director prepared the online laboratory manual and used it in freshman level Biology course serving 258 students Fall semester. The manual included lecture worksheets, lab handouts, practice quizzes, etc. In addition, Tegrity Web Learner was used to provide online videos of lectures.
Lessons Learned, Dissemination and Sustainability
The use of Desire2Learn for the online manual presented substantial challenges because it would frequently crash and the students could not access the material. However, these challenges were overcome later in the term and the project director is looking forward to updating and renovating this material on D2L. The Tegrity Web Learner was very effective in providing video and PowerPoint presentations online. While students voiced substantial frustration with D2L, their response to the Tegrity modules was overwhelmingly positive. The materials developed through this project were presented at several different venues. The first was the Problem-Based Learning Workshop presented at Mayville (ND) State University. In addition, this material will be used as part of an invited presentation that will be given at the National Meeting of the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in April, 2006. The project director also made a presentation at CTL’s Realizing Student Potential Conference in March 2005.
