Dave Stone, University Laboratory High School, Urbana, IL.
Activity 2e, C&I 335, Summer, 1998.
Initial C&I 335 Project Proposal
Project Goals:
1) To delve into the features of two web-based biology resources: Biology WorkBench and The Tree of Life,
2) To develop a series of computer-based activities integrating these resources and 3) integrate those activities into my Field Biology class during Fall, 1998.
Field Biology Course Background:
The Field Biology class currently uses arthropods as a paradigm group for the study of morphological and ecological variations, adaptations, taxonomy and phylogeny within the Animalia . Through weekend collecting trips throughout Illinois, students develop skills in various aquatic and terrestrial collection techniques (e.g. sweeping, Berlese soil arthropod extraction), specimen and slide mount preparation techniques. The course has been very successful up to this point, being the first high school class designated by the Entomological Society of America as an Exemplary Program in Science Using Insects and Insect Materials. The course has been quite popular at University Laboratory High School over the past twelve years, with many of its participants going on to pursue graduate degrees, post-doctoral experiences and careers in entomology throughout the U.S. and abroad.
Integration of Web Resources into the Existing Program:
I hope to use this project to significantly update the current Field Biology course by integrating molecular biology into its current areas of topic coverage through the addition of Biology WorkBench and The Tree of Life. Additionally, I anticipate using Web-based journal articles to supplement current text-based materials. Students will develop skills in accessing existing arthropod DNA and protein databases, learn how to use a number of molecular tools to compare and analyze those sequences, draw phylogenetic evolutionary conclusions based on those analyses and compare their conclusions with those of practicing scientists.
Software Used in this Integration:
MS Office, Netscape Navigator 4.0.
Web-based Resources Used in this Integration:
Biology WorkBench, The Tree of Life and various electronic journal articles (TBA) .
Student Activities (VERY Tentative):
1) Introduction to the Kingdoms
After discussion of biodiversity and a laboratory activity which introduces biodiversity quantification using a biodiversity index, students will be introduced to The Tree of Life. Based on this resource and others (TBA), students will determine the most commonly accepted number of kingdoms (and why scientists differ in their perception of the number of kingdoms that exist), as well as determine specifically how/why organisms in each of the most commonly accepted kingdoms differ. These conclusions will be significantly more detailed than the traditional morphology-based variation conclusions.
2) Biology Workbench Education Tutorial - I will likely modify how students will use the current tutorial.
3) Introduction to Protein/Genetic Databases - I need to develop this, it will likely be Biology WorkBench-based.
4) Comparison of Student-selected Sequences - This will be an individual activity, likely Biology WorkBench-based.
5) Taxonomic Coverage of Arthropod Diversity - The Tree of Life information and electronic journal articles will supplement current text-, field guide- and lecture-based information.
6) Structural Variations Within the Arthropoda - The Tree of Life information and electronic journal articles will supplement current text-, field guide- andlecture-based information.
7) Coverage of Each Order - The Tree of Life information and electronic journal articles will supplement current text-, field guide- and lecture-based information.
Evaluation:
Lab Write-Ups, Computer-based Activity Write-Ups, Brief Reflection Essays, Exams, Arthropod Collection.
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Last updated on June 17, 1998