Instruction Working Title: Practical Problem-Solving with Punnett Squares
Topic
This instructional design will enable students with a basic prior introduction to the
key terminology of heredity to accurately determine genotypes of offspring as
part of the foundational study of genetics by utilizing a tool known as the Punnett
Square.
Learning Theory
The design of this activity is based on the cognitive learning theory. The learners
will utilize previously-studied terminology and apply the concepts to a real-world
application. Throughout the lesson, learners will be required to synthesize
knowledge and use it in a practical, problem-solving way. In addition, the
exercises will involve collaboration with peers to arrive at solutions to the
problems being presented.
Problem
Many freshmen students struggle with the fundamental concepts of genetics
because of their mentality that the subject must be too complex for them to
master, based on the newly-introduced terminology involved. This results in
students having great fear of even attempting to solve genetics problems, due to
their inability to determine how to organize the information in a manner that will
allow them to solve the problem in a simple manner.
Audience
The audience for this exercise is freshmen-level students in a high school setting.
Genetics is a required component of biology, which is one of the core science
areas that all students must study and ultimately pass proficiency tests in order to
graduate with a high school diploma at the end of their secondary educational
journeys.
Purpose
The intention of this instructional design activity is to simplify the seemingly
complex problem of determining the offspring of a genetic cross between two
living things. Upon completion of the tutorial, students should have the core
foundation to accurately predict the outcome of sexual reproduction by analyzing
probabilities of the resulting genotypes after constructing a Punnett Square for
the basis of this analysis.
Format
In this design exercise, learners will understand how to effectively create a
Punnett Square using only instructions presented in the form of visual imagery.
Students will not have access to any supplemental text or audio to aid them in
completing the task.
General Learning Expectations
The learner will be able to construct a Punnett Square to predict all possible
genotypes of the offspring of a monohybrid trait cross.
Learning Goals and Objectives
At the end of this instruction students will be able to successfully:
G.1. Construct a Punnett Square and analyze the data included.
O.1. Students will be able to identify genotypes of parents.
O.2. Students will be able to arrange the genotypes of
parents around the framework of a Punnett Square.
O.3. Students will be able to work down columns and rows to
“cross” the genes of each parent.
O.4. Students will be able to determine the possible genetic
combinations, or genotypes, of offspring.
Learning Activities and Assessment
1. The learners will begin the assignment by locating their partners that have
been assigned by the teacher. Students will work in pairs to complete the
assignment.
2. The learners will then use the provided visual images for reviewing the
basic concepts and examples associated with the problems to be solved.
3. The learners will use the provided visual cues as instructions and
supportive background information to construct a Punnett Square that
incorporates all the information needed to solve the task.
4. The alleles of parents will be represented using color-coded symbols,
rather than letters. After constructing the Punnett Square, students will
analyze the results to predict genotypes of offspring.
5. Upon completion, students will summarize their findings using only colorcoded symbols to represent offspring possibilities and present those to the
instructor. A checkmark from the instructor will indicate an accurate
analysis, and an “X” will mean students have arrived at an incorrect
conclusion.
6. If learners successfully solved the problem on the initial attempt, the team
will move on to the second genetics problem to solve. If not, the team will
retrace their steps and attempt to solve the problem again and resubmit to
the instructor for feedback.
7. Students must create at least three Punnett Squares and successfully
analyze the results to receive full credit for the assignment and exhibit
mastery of the concept.
Completion Outcomes
The primary outcomes of the instruction include:
1. Distinction between dominant and recessive traits
2. Successful construction of a Punnett Square
3. Accurate analysis of a Punnett Square to solve a problem
4. The ability to correct any mistakes made in the initial attempt and to repeat
the problem-solving technique twice, indicating mastery
Final Product: Submitted Problem Solutions
Students will submit the three completed Punnett Squares with offspring
analyses indicated by color-coded symbols recorded on notebook paper.
Technology required
Learners will have access to computers and/or mobile devices to view the visual
aids for the assignment.
Learners will have access to an internet connection to access the image cues.
Learners will have paper, colored pencils, and writing utensils to record results.
Timeline
Students will have 5 minutes to locate their assigned partner and gather supplies.
Students will then study the background example diagrams for 10 minutes,
discussing the sample information together for better understanding. After
reviewing the background information, completion of the exercises and
analysis/feedback of the problem-solving process should take no more than 10
minutes per Punnett Square creation/problem-solving attempt. The total time for
gathering supplies, reviewing example information, solving problems, and
receiving teacher feedback should be 45 minutes.
Assessment
Rubric
Rubric for Practical Problem-Solving with Punnett Squares Exercise
Design, Process, Feedback
Students:
Students demonstrate proper design of each Punnett Square.
Total
/15
Students correctly identify and label the genotypes of the parents being crossed with the proper colorcoded symbols above the columns and to the left of the rows of each Punnett Square.
/10
Students accurately record the possible genetic combinations of the offspring resulting from the cross of
the parents with the proper color-coded symbols in the correct columns/rows of each Punnett Square.
/20
Students work collaboratively to successfully determine the possible genotypes of the offspring,
analyzing information from the Punnett Squares.
/15
Students present the solutions to the instructor using only color-coded symbols for feedback on the
analysis of the Punnett Squares.
/10
Students complete at least three Punnett Squares, reworking their solutions as needed, until receiving
confirmation of the correct solutions to each problem from the instructor.
/20
Students submit completed Punnett Squares and analyses to instructor on notebook paper.
/10
Bonus: Students successfully solve all problems correctly on the first attempt.
/5
Total points
General feedback:
/100
Evaluation
Self-Assessment
Do you feel you learned how to successfully construct a Punnett Square?
Did you find using the Punnett Square as a problem-solving tool simplified the
process of determining the genotypes of the offspring?
Team Assessment
Do both members of your team feel that you learned and accomplished the
objectives by working together in a productive way?
Were the visual instructions clear enough to help you determine the layout of a
Punnett Square on the first attempt?
What could have been added to the instructions that may have made it a more
simple process to complete and aid in your understanding of the tasks involved in
the activity?