Lynn Boyd

lynn.boyd@mtsu.edu

Lynn Boyd

Biology

Discipline specific equipment

SCI 2142, 2150, 2120

N/A

N/A

Updating lab exercises in General Biology: BIOL 1110/1120 The Biology Department has been engaged in the process of course redesign for the freshman series courses: BIOL 1110 and BIOL 1120. These courses enroll approximately 1500 students per academic year. These courses have historically had a high rate of student failure. Faculty who teach in those courses have been engaged in the course redesign efforts at MTSU. Our efforts in increasing student success have mainly focused on the lecture portion of these course. However, faculty involved feel strongly that updating of the laboratory investigations is a critical part of making improvements to these classes. The lab redesign will shift the focus to current biological skills and techniques. In order to update the labs accordingly, more access to equipment by students is required. The updated labs will emphasize measurements, data analysis, and other practical lab skills. Purchase of the proposed equipment will allow us to refocus our labs to provide a learning experience for students that will better compliment the newly redesigned lecture portions of the courses.