Project Title:
Linking Research Training to Curriculum Enhancement in Molecular Ecology
Project Director and Other Associated Faculty and Staff:
Brian Wisenden, Assoc. Prof. of Biology, MSU-Moorhead, Contact: wisenden@mnstate.edu, Tel.: (218)477-5001
Michelle Malott, Asst. Prof., Biology, MSU-Moorhead, Contact: malottmi@mnstate.edu Tel.: (218)477-2574
Project Design:
Building on a past CTL grant and faculty interest, the project engaged undergraduate students in field and lab research on molecular ecology by implementing following goals: (1) require a presentation of research findings at a local or national academic conference, (2)incorporate molecular ecology into the course curriculum, and (3) seek grants from federal (NSF) and internal sources.
Project Evaluation and Outcomes:
During the 2004-05 academic year, the project director led an group of four MSUM undergraduate to Budd Lake to conduct field research and then analyzed specimens in lab as part of two Biology courses. This research led to presentations by 14 students at MSUM academic conference and 8 poster presentations. Molecular ecology was incorporated into the content of 5 regular courses. The project team submitted 2 NSF grant proposal (currently pending) and one MSUM faculty research grant (approved). Evaluation was conducted through implementing a survey of students involved in molecular ecology projects and on a scale of 1-5 (5=strongly agree), the average score of “5” was assigned to helping to understand scientific method, enriching educational experience, enjoyable, using information in future career and faculty mentors being supportive. An average score of “4.5” was assigned to learning things not taught in other courses, and adequacy of facilities. The only regret students identified was their desire to work on the project longer.
Lessons Learned, Dissemination and Sustainability
The project manager believes the project achieved great success in goals 1 and 3 and are well on our way to fulfilling our goals in #2. None of this would have been possible without the CTL grants. Dissemination of findings has been addressed by presenting at MSU-Moorhead research conferences identified above. The project will be sustained by making molecular ecology part of regular ongoing Biology courses. The project director made presentations at CTL’s Realizing Student Potential conferences in 2004 and 2005.
