31st Annual ABLE Conference

12:00 noon - 1:45pm

Allen, Debora, & Linnea Fletcher. Writing More Effective Proposals for NSF's Course, Curriculum & Laboratory Improvement Program. Division of Undergraduate Education, National Science Foundation.
The National Science Foundation's Course, Curriculum & Laboratory Improvement (CCLI) Program seeks to improve the quality of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education for all undergraduate students. It especially welcomes proposals that have the potential to transform undergraduate education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) for all students. This workshop is designed to foster an understanding of the features of the new CCLI program solicitation in order to assist interested participants in developing their ideas for projects and proposal preparation. Following an overview of the major elements of the program, including the new project types, a sample funded proposal will be used to launch discussion of the features of an effective proposal. Additional discussion will center on strategies for developing a good idea into a project and a proposal, and on how to effectively partner with other institutions, including two-year colleges. The session will conclude with a brief look at additional funding opportunities offered by the NSF in support of undergraduate biology education.

12:00 noon - 1:00 pm

Schleiniger, Gilberto. Curricular Innovation at the University of Delaware: Math Meets Biology.
Two curricular changes leading to closer interaction between math and biology were introduced at the University of Delaware. These were: 1. A first semester calculus section dedicated to life science students was designed and implemented; and 2. a new bachelor of science, the BS in Quantitative Biology, was started at UD. The new major is an interdisciplinary program offered in close collaboration between the Departments of Biological Sciences and Mathematical Sciences. The bio-calculus section has the same syllabus as the main calculus sequence for math, science and engineering students, but with examples extracted mainly from the life sciences. Those two initiatives will be described, and their current status and progress will be discussed.

1:00pm - 2:00pm

Hyde, Paul. Create a Podcast Post Card from the University of Delaware (Continuation of the Podcast Major Workshop, Group A).
This session will expand upon the exercises and techniques presented in the session, "Podcasts in Biology Laboratory Education." Participants will use pictures, audio, and print materials they have gathered throughout the conference to build their own original podcast. This podcast could be designed to report to others who could not attend or to try out a new teaching idea based on the conference agenda.

2pm - 3pm

Hyde, Paul. Create a Podcast Post Card from the University of Delaware (Continuation of the Podcast Major Workshop, Group B).
Same as Session III.