TRANSMISSION OF GENETIC INFORMATION:
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY THROUGH INQUIRY

BISC 567-910

COURSE GOALS & OBJECTIVES:
  • To model the teaching of some major concepts in modern biology through inquiry, both in the laboratory and the classroom. 
  • To connect the teaching of molecular genetics to the Delaware Science Standards and high school Performance Indicators. 
  • To identify for the teacher the advantages and barriers to doing collaborative learning activities in the classroom and to model ways of addressing the barriers. 
  • To provide a forum for instructor-to teacher and teacher-to-teacher reflective discussion about the question, "How do I best address the teaching of genetics in the context of science throughout the year?"
COURSE INSTRUCTORS:
  • Deborah Allen, Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware 
  • Harry Dillner, Education Specialist, Science Van Project, Department of Education 
  • Richard Donham, Senior Science Education Specialist, Mathematics & Science Education Resource Center, University of Delaware 
  • Kathy Melvin, Education Specialist, Science Van Project, Department of Education 
  • Florence Schmieg, Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware 
  • Gwyneth Sharp, Science Coalition Specialist, Department of Education
  • Pat Sine, Director, Office of Educational Technology, University of Delaware
DATES & LOCATION:
  • August 2-6: 9 a.m.-4 p.m., 317 Gore Hall (classroom), 021 McKinly Lab (laboratory facilities) & 006 Pearson Hall (computer lab) on the Newark campus. 
  • Fall evening meetings will be 5-8 p.m., on dates and at location to be determined during the summer course meetings. 
RESOURCES:
  • Time, Love, Memory: A Great Biologist and His Quest for the Origins of Behavior *
  • Biological Science: A Molecular Approach (BSCS Blue Version, 7th Edition)*
Supplementary Course Materials*
  • Course Web Page: http://www.udel.edu/mserc/inqbiosci* With associated links to useful sites. 
  • Teachers' Desk Reference (Delaware Content Standards and Performance Indicators, Grades 9-12)**
*Course materials provided by the University of Delaware, and an NSF DUE Grant #9653203
**Teachers should bring their copies

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES:
 
Monday, August 2
9-10:45 a.m.:  Welcome & Introduction to course
  Icebreaker Activity: “Mom Always Liked You Better” In 317 Gore (Richard Donham) 
10:45 a.m Break
11:00-12:00 Set Up for DNA Extraction: Size of the Genome In 317 Gore (Kathy Melvin)
noon–1:00 p.m.: Lunch
1:00-3:30 p.m. DNA Extraction/Spooling (banana, kiwi, wheat germ, liver, E. coli) In 021 McKinly, (Deborah Allen, Florence Schmieg) 
3:30-4:00 p.m. Connections to Delaware Standards and Performance Indicators, objectives and how would you assess? In 021 McKinly, (Richard Donham, Gwyneth Sharp)
Tuesday, August 3
9:00-10:30 a.m. Bacterial Transformation PreLab Activities from “The Entangled Web” (Video, Station 4). In 317 Gore, Florence Schmieg, Harry Dillner.
10:30 a.m. Break
10:45-12:30 How to Search the Web: Strategies and Evaluation Techniques In 006 Pearson, Pat Sine
12:30-1:30 p.m. Lunch
1:30-3:30 p.m. Bacterial Transformation Laboratory In 021 McKinly, Florence Schmieg. 
3:30-4:00 p.m. Wrap-up for the day, resolution of outstanding questions. How is this applicable to your students? In 021 McKinly (Gwyneth Sharp).
Wednesday, August 4
9-10:30a.m. Completion of Bacterial Transformation Laboratory. In 021 McKinly (Florence Schmieg).
10:30 a.m. Break
10:45-12:00 Prelab for The Crooked Cell In 317 Gore (Harry Dillner, Richard Donham)
NOON – 1 p.m. Lunch
1:00-3:30 p.m. The Crooked Cell, In 021 McKinly (Florence Schmieg, Deborah Allen). 
3:30-4:00 p.m. Wrap up for the day, resolution of outstanding questions, homework assignment. Reflections on connections to Performance Indicators & Standards. In 021 McKinly (Richard Donham)
Thursday, August 5
9-9:30 a.m. Homework assignment from yesterday: assessment items for Bacterial Transformation or The Crooked Cell. In 317 Gore (Florence Schmieg, Richard Donham)
9:30-10:30 a.m. Time, Love, Memory Class Discussion, In 317 Gore (Harry Dillner)
10:15 a.m. Break
10:30-12:00 PBL-Experience it yourself. In 317 Gore (Deborah Allen,Florence Schmieg)
NOON – 1 p.m. Lunch
1:00-2:00 p.m. PBL continued
2:00-4:00 p.m. Web Activities, Directories, Finding your own Web resources, In 006 Pearson (Pat Sine and Kathy Melvin)
Friday, August 6
9:00-9:30 Scheduling, planning for future meetings of course
9:30-12:00 Work on your Class Activity for presentation to class.
NOON – 1 p.m. Lunch
1 – 2 p.m. Science Van Project presentation.
2:00 p.m. Oral presentation of your plans for a molecular genetics activity in your class. Submission of an outline of your project.

This page is part of the course materials for BISC 567: Transmission of Genetic Information: Molecular Biology through Inquiry, taught August 2 to 6, 1999 at the University of Delaware. Please send any comments to Richard Donham (donham@udel.edu).