Blended learning to enhance an undergraduate Biology laboratory course

TitleBlended learning to enhance an undergraduate Biology laboratory course
Faculty/College/UnitScience
StatusCompleted
Duration2 Year
Initiation04/01/2016
Completion03/31/2019
Project Summary

The Biology 140 blended learning project will enhance the learning experience of a large number of students in first year biology, many of whom are taking a biology lab course for the first time. Students struggle with essential transferrable skills such as a sound understanding of the fundamental elements of scientific enquiry, and the ability to communicate clearly and logically. Also, undergraduate students are unaware of world-leading research conducted on campus. To this end, the proposed project will capitalize on blended learning to 1) develop and incorporate appropriate scaffolding resources and opportunities to practice and connect the fundamental elements of scientific inquiry/investigation and communication and 2) raise student motivation and perceptions of the relevance of their lab activities by making explicit connections to current research at UBC. The project will result in broadly applicable instructional resources, and success will be characterized by measuring student learning and motivation.

Funding Details
Year 1: Project TitleBlended learning to enhance student learning experience in a large undergraduate Biology laboratory course
Year 1: Project YearYear 1
Year 1: Funding Year2016/2017
Year 1: Project TypeLarge TLEF
Year 1: Principal InvestigatorPamela Kalas
Year 1: Funded Amount97,922
Year 1: Team Members

Pamela Kalas, Instructor, Zoology and Botany, Faculty of Science
Kathy Nomme, Senior Instructor / Course Coordinator, Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science
Trish Schulte, Professor / Chair, Biology Curriculum Committee / Director, Carl Wieman Science Education Initiative
Shona Ellis, Professor of Teaching / Associate Head, Biology, Botany, Faculty of Science

Year 2: Project YearYear 2
Year 2: Funding Year2017/2018
Year 2: Project TypeLarge TLEF
Year 2: Principal InvestigatorPamela Kalas
Year 2: Funded Amount94,577
Year 2: Team Members

Pamela Kalas, Instructor, Zoology and Botany, Faculty of Science
Kathy Nomme, Senior Instructor / Course Coordinator, Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science
Trish Schulte, Professor / Chair, Biology Curriculum Committee / Director, Carl Wieman Science Education Initiative
Shona Ellis, Professor of Teaching / Associate Head, Biology, Botany, Faculty of Science

Year 2: TLEF ShowcaseYear 2: TLEF Showcase
Project Report2017-TLEF-Final-Kalas-WEB1.pdf