Department of Biology Core Courses for Majors
Bio 114
Bio 124
Bio 214
Bio 224
Organisms
Ecology and Evolution
Cell and Molecular Biology
Genetics and Development
Department of Biology Core Courses for Majors
Bio 114
Bio 124
Bio 214
Bio 224
Organisms
Ecology and Evolution
Cell and Molecular Biology
Genetics and Development
Bio 124
Ecology and Evolution
Laboratory sections
2 hours and 50 minutes per week
Objectives
The information literate student will identify key
journal articles in a given topic to include in a
scientific paper in the format of a journal and to
present a PP presentation in the format of a
national meeting presentation.
Objectives
The information literate student will demonstrate
the ability to select an appropriate data base and
to conduct a search strategy to locate key journal
article or articles.
Scientific Method
1. Observation
2. Question
3. Hypothesis
4. Prediction
5. Experiment
6. Analysis
7. Conclusion
Scientific Method
1. Observation
2. Question
3. Hypothesis
4. Prediction
5. Experiment
6. Analysis
7. Conclusion
Literature review
“Six months in the lab can save you a week in the
library.”
Series of semester-long assignments
•Experiment on plant competition
•Information literacy
Week 2: Assign plant competition reading material
in the laboratory manual. Pre-test information
seeking skills.
Week 3: Setup plant competition experiment and
assign a journal article on the topic.
Week 4: Classroom discussion on assigned
research article; students fill out worksheet
Discuss the parts of a scientific paper, including
keywords.
Week 6: Discuss strategies to search
the research literature
-compare and develop search strategies
for three key databases
-hands on exercise to search for articles
-assignment to search on their own and
bring in a full text article
Week 7: Students bring in full-text article for
approval of instructor.
Week 8: Data collection starts.
Students present the key findings of their
journal article to members of their lab group.
Week 10. Finish data collection.
Week 11. Students turn in results section for
preliminary review.
Week 12. Results section returned, and
discussion of problems with data analysis and
writing.
Week 13. Students turn in lab reports.
Introduction section: summary of
assigned and selected papers.
Discussion: students’ results placed in
context of assigned and selected
papers.
Week 15. PP presentations as a group
assignment.
Assessment: Explore rubric for grading papers
and presentations.
Post-test on information literacy.
Second year courses will reinforce students’
information literacy skills with similar but more
comprehensive exercises.