A Test of Effectiveness of Courseware in a College Biology Class

1992 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel More ◽  
Charles L. Ralph
Keyword(s):  
First Year ◽  
State University ◽  
Colorado State University ◽  
College Biology ◽  
Biology Class ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Hands On ◽  
Laboratory Group ◽  
Traditional Approaches ◽  
Biology Laboratory

At Colorado State University we designed an experiment wherein approximately half of a class of 184 students in a semester, first-year biology class was placed in a traditional hands-on, experiential laboratory for two hours per week and the other half was placed in a facility with Macintosh computers to view courseware for the same time period. Computer-presented tutorial and simulation of biology laboratory concepts proved to be as good as or better than traditional approaches in increasing student academic performance. The courseware-using group performed better ( p < 0.05) than the traditional laboratory group in overall lecture examination scores, when the pretest scores of the two groups were factored in. Curiously, attitudes in regard to the use of the courseware showed a striking negative trend in this experiment.

scholarly journals An Economic Analysis of a University Educational Cafeteria Composting Program—Bobcat Blend

2011 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 639-646 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason Sanders ◽  
Tina Marie Waliczek ◽  
Jean-Marc Gandonou
Keyword(s):  
Organic Waste ◽  
First Year ◽  
State University ◽  
Pilot Site ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Hands On ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Set Up ◽  
The University ◽  
Collection Sites

At Texas State University, a cafeteria-composting pilot program was established in which students source-separated their organic waste at one of the food courts while the program educated students on the value of organic waste and compost. Waste sorting bins were set up in a dining hall to direct students to sort trash into recyclables, compostables, and trash. Waste audit results demonstrated the value of the operation to the university in terms of savings in waste hauling expenditures, as well as showed the percent contamination, and percent waste diverted to the university's recycling and composting program. There was a significant difference between pre and post-test waste audits. The pilot site composting program resulted in a net loss of $3741.35 to the university during the first year, but was expected to produce a positive net return of $2585.11 in subsequent years. The pilot test showed the program was most successful when ongoing education at the dining hall occurred. Additionally, the student-run composting program resulted in hands-on training for students in producing a valuable horticultural commodity in an emerging waste management field. Results also indicated opportunities for further diversion such as the incorporation of compostable cups and utensils, as well as through expanding the operation to include more collection locations. With more collection sites and, therefore, more efficiency, the expanded composting program has the potential to become a self-supporting operation.

scholarly journals Investigation of Falsely Reported Resistance of Streptococcus Equi Subsp. Zooepidemicus Isolates from Horses to Trimethoprim–Sulfamethoxazole

2005 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 483-486 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darien J. Feary ◽  
Doreene Hyatt ◽  
Josie Traub-Dargatz ◽  
Susan Roach ◽  
Robert L. Jones ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Susceptibility ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Major Effect ◽  
State University ◽  
Accurate Analysis ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Colorado State University ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Streptococcus Equi

The objective of this study was to investigate the perceived increase in resistance of Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus ( S. zooepidemicus) isolated from the lower respiratory tract of horses to trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole (SXT). The recorded SXT-susceptibility results of 50 S. zooepidemicus isolates from the tracheal wash fluid of equine patients examined at Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital from each of 2 time periods (1987–1990 and 1997–2001) were compared and statistically analyzed using a cross-sectional study design. There was a statistically significant difference between the documented resistance of S. zooepidemicus isolated in the 1987–1990 time period (8%), using quantitative microbroth dilution, and the resistance reported for isolates from the 1997–2001 time period (42%), using Kirby–Bauer agar disk diffusion. Laboratory investigation revealed inadequate quality control of media and subsequent falsely reported resistance of S. zooepidemicus from 1997 to 2001 time period. This study demonstrates how minor deviations from prescribed laboratory-testing guidelines can have a major effect on antimicrobial susceptibility test results. The study also underscores the need for regular surveillance and monitoring of trends in antimicrobial susceptibility to detect and correct such problems. In addition, epidemiologists and others collecting data from laboratories should be cautioned to interact with the laboratory regarding interpretation of results of various testing methods to ensure accurate analysis and conclusions.

scholarly journals Use of a Mock Week as a Novel Tool for Evaluating and Implementing Reformed Medical Curriculum at a Nascent Branch Campus

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Kelp ◽  
Brittni Burgess ◽  
Arun Chandnani ◽  
Gregory Amberg ◽  
Christie Reimer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Curriculum Reform ◽  
Conflict Of Interest ◽  
Medical Curriculum ◽  
Clinical Skills ◽  
Medical Science ◽  
First Year ◽  
State University ◽  
Branch Campus ◽  
Colorado State University ◽  
Working Together

The University of Colorado School of Medicine is implementing comprehensive curricular reform designed to produce physicians with a life-long dedication to leadership, curiosity, and commitment. The new longitudinally integrated and case-based curriculum interweaves content on basic/medical sciences, clinical skills, and health systems content such as bioethics, interprofessional skills, and social determinants of health. Simultaneously, the school is forming a branch campus in partnership with nearby Colorado State University. The newly formed branch campus faculty team wanted to test delivery of the novel curriculum, practice working together as a team, and examine the practical logistics of human and physical resources at the branch campus. Herein, we describe our approach for running a Mock Week of first year of the new curriculum. This innovative methodology involved teaching a week’s worth of the new content and garnering feedback from clinician educators, medical science faculty, and students. Our observations highlight practical insights for implementing an integrated curriculum at an inaugural branch campus. Finally, we provide recommendations for using a Mock Week as a feasible and robust tool for improving and enhancing various facets of medical education. Conflict of Interest statement: The authors declare no conflict of interest. Keywords: Curriculum reform, New branch campus, Mock Week

scholarly journals Plant-Derived Drug Discovery in an Introductory Biology Laboratory Course

2021 ◽  
Vol 83 (4) ◽  
pp. 214-221
Author(s):  
Tatiana Kuzmenko ◽  
Ashwarya Sharma ◽  
Demian A. Willette
Keyword(s):  
Drug Discovery ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Plant Biology ◽  
First Year ◽  
Laboratory Activity ◽  
Research Areas ◽  
Hands On ◽  
Changing Attitudes ◽  
Biology Laboratory

Hands-on, inquiry-based laboratory activities are excellent opportunities to introduce first-year undergraduate students to the lab environment and to catalyze new interest in topics they may not yet know or be as enthusiastic about studying. We describe a multisession introductory laboratory activity that couples the research areas of medicinal drug discovery and plant biology. Selecting from a diversity of native California plants and broadly recognized medicinal plants, students learn and apply an assortment of basic phytochemical assays, analyze preliminary data, and then formulate hypothesis-driven follow-up experiments. Working in small groups, students develop shared project management and collaboration skills, and present activity results to peers in multiple modalities. Furthermore, we summarize findings from 163 student experiments using 29 plant species into an Instructor’s Resource Table to facilitate guiding students through their preliminary and follow-up experiments. Lastly, we include student responses from pre- and post-activity surveys on their changing attitudes toward plant biology.

The Instructional SEM Laboratory at Iowa State University

1996 ◽  
Vol 54 ◽  
pp. 396-397
Author(s):  
L. S. Chumbley ◽  
M. Meyer ◽  
K. Fredrickson ◽  
F.C. Laabs
Keyword(s):  
Materials Science ◽  
Computer Network ◽  
Energy Dispersive Spectrometer ◽  
Computer Control ◽  
State University ◽  
Iowa State University ◽  
Internet Server ◽  
Schematic Layout ◽  
Hands On ◽  
Improve Instruction

The Materials Science Department at Iowa State University has developed a laboratory designed to improve instruction in the use of the scanning electron microscope (SEM). The laboratory makes use of a computer network and a series of remote workstations in a classroom setting to provide students with increased hands-on access to the SEM. The laboratory has also been equipped such that distance learning via the internet can be achieved.A view of the laboratory is shown in Figure 1. The laboratory consists of a JEOL 6100 SEM, a Macintosh Quadra computer that acts as a server for the network and controls the energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), four Macintosh computers that act as remote workstations, and a fifth Macintosh that acts as an internet server. A schematic layout of the classroom is shown in Figure 2. The workstations are connected directly to the SEM to allow joystick and computer control of the microscope. An ethernet connection between the Quadra and the workstations allows students seated there to operate the EDS. Control of the microscope and joystick is passed between the workstations by a switch-box assembly that resides at the microscope console. When the switch-box assembly is activated a direct serial line is established between the specified workstation and the microscope via the SEM’s RS-232.

A MODEL FOR DEVELOPING HIGH-QUALITY ONLINE COURSES: INTEGRATING A SYSTEMS APPROACH WITH LEARNING THEORY

2008 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Jean Puzziferro ◽  
Kaye Shelton
Keyword(s):  
Online Education ◽  
Design Theory ◽  
Systems Approach ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Process Models ◽  
State University ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Colorado State University ◽  
Online Instructional Design ◽  
Online Course Development

As the demand for online education continues to increase, institutions are faced with developing process models for efficient, high-quality online course development. This paper describes a systems, team-based, approach that centers on an online instructional design theory (Active Mastery Learning) implemented at Colorado State University-Global Campus.

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