Transcript Proposing to overhaul a course incorporating an interactive format

Proposing to overhaul a
course incorporating an
interactive format
An Animal Biology Course as a
Case Study
Keep the same learning objectives while
incorporating bioinformatic skills.
Confessions of an innovator
• Questions and Concerns :
Faculty support issues?
Resentment if the changes in the class are
successful
Support if there is initial chaos to stick to
the plan
Students move to higher level classes and
want to see innovative approaches
Student issues
• Adoption of the technology
• Will this prepare me for the MCAT; the next
course?
• Group Skills: Bad Attitudes (law of mass
action)
Question: Do myoglobin
sequences of amniote tetrapods
parallel the newest ideas on
evolutionary relationships?
• Learning Outcome: To gain an appreciation for
the origins of similarities: Convergence and
Divergence in myoglobin genes
Implementation Issues
• Culture: Religious beliefs
• Other issues?
• Process:
• Acquire genomic sequences for comparison
between the following groups: White Crowned
Sparrow, Alligator, Water Snake, Mouse, and Bass
(Outgroup) using BLAST
• Logistics and Technology (are there enough
computers?)
Compare (align) sequences using CLUSTAL
Identify and record sequence differences
Group Issues (assembling teams of students)
• Visually compare 3-d protein structures using
Swiss-pdb Viewer to examine mammals and birds
versus birds and alligators
• Use amino acid changes as synapomorphs and
using MacClade generate cladograms,
• And compare to the “tree of life” cladograms.
•
• Additional topics for examining
convergence and divergence:
• Is this an issue? The shark approach or the
hand-holding approach to explore new
directions.
• Student Assessment
• Course Assessment