Active Learning Resources | Biology Course Materials | Teaching Tools | Textbooks and Lab Manuals

Active Learning Resources

Active Learning Web Resources

Active/Cooperative Learning: Results, including lessons plans, on active/cooperative learning strategies from eight engineering coalitions whose research was funded by the NSF.
Active Learning: Web by Design: Links from IUPUI to interactive, educational Web sites that help you incorporate the Internet into your active learning environment.
Active Learning in the College Classroom: Cal State LA provides background on active learning, and suggested exercises to incorporate into the college classroom.
Alternatives to Discussion: Cornell University provides activities that will get students involved in learning.
Creating Successful Group Assignments: The University of Oregon outlines how to create effective group projects.
Facilitating Discussion: A Brief Guide: Cornell University's guide shows how to get students involved in classroom dicussions.
Professional Development Module on Active Learning: annotated websites that include definitions, links to research papers, active learning strategies for use in the college classroom, and examples of active learning activities.
Teaching Tips: Use Active Learning to Enhance Your Class: Cleveland State University xplains how to incorporate active learning into the classroom.
Wikipedia's Active Learning Page


References

Allen D, Tanner K. Infusing active learning into the large-enrollment biology class: Seven strategies, from the simple to complex. Cell Biol Educ [serial online]. 2005;4:262-268. Available at: http://www.lifescied.org/cgi/reprint/4/4/262.pdf

Armstrong N, Chang S, Brickman M. Cooperative learning in industrial-sized biology classes. CBE Life Sci Educ [serial online]. 2007;6:163-171. Available at: http://www.lifescied.org/cgi/reprint/6/2/163.pdf

Freeman S et al. Prescribed active learning increases performance in introductory biology. CBE Life Sci Educ [serial online]. 2007;6:132-139. Available at: http://www.lifescied.org/cgi/reprint/6/2/132.pdf

Klymkowsky M. Teaching without a textbook: Strategies to focus learning on fundamental concepts and scientific process. CBE Life Sci Educ [serial online]. 2007;6:190-193. Available at: http://www.lifescied.org/cgi/reprint/6/3/190.pdf

Knight J, Wood W. Teaching more by lecturing less. Cell Biol Educ [serial online]. 2005;4:298-310. Available at: http://www.lifescied.org/cgi/reprint/4/4/298.pdf

McDaniel C, Lister B, Hanna M, Roy H. Increased learning observed in redesigned introductory biology course that employed Web-enhanced, interactive pedagogy. CBE Life Sci Educ [serial online]. 2007;6:243-249. Available at: http://www.lifescied.org/cgi/reprint/6/3/243.pdf

Wood W, Handelsman J. Meeting Report: The 2004 National Academies Summer Institute on Undergraduate Education in Biology. Cell Biol Educ [serial online]. 2004;3:215-217. Available at: http://www.lifescied.org/cgi/reprint/3/4/215.pdf

Wright R/. Walking the walk. CBE Life Sci Educ [serial online]. 2006;5:311-312. Available at: http://www.lifescied.org/cgi/reprint/5/4/311.pdf

 

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Biology Course Materials

K-12 Materials

Biology in Motion: Dr. Saul's interactive biology learning activities
My Science Box (Genetics): complete lesson plans to teach a 4-6 week middle school science units through activities, projects, and field trips
My Science Box (Physiology): complete lesson plans to teach a 4-6 week middle school science units through activities, projects, and field trips


High School Materials

AP Biology I: National Repository of Online Courses
AP Biology II: National Repository of Online Courses
Biology Binder: interactive quizzes for high school biology
Biology course outline (full year): with Powerpoints and extensive links for 10th grade biology class taught in Maine
Biomedical Research
CellServ: innovative, inexpensive self-contained kits for unique hands-on laboratory experiences and instruction in biology, genetics, cancer, and biotechnology, from Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences, Inc., NIH
Gallant's Biology Stuff: 11th, 12th and AP Biology course outlines, lab materials and graphics from Trevor Gallant, Kennebecasis Valley HS, New Brunswick, Canada
Hippocampus site: AP biology I and II videos; a free, public website for high school and college students that offers NROC multimedia correlated to most major textbooks
Laboratory exercises: for high school biology from Pearson Education, Inc.
Molecular Logic project: supplement for AP Biology High School course
Orange County High School AP Biology: course outline and resources


Undergraduate Materials

Bio 101 course for undergraduates planning on entering teaching: led by Irene Salter, California State University, Chico
General Biology 101: online lab tutorials, Rutgers University
General Biology at UC Berkeley: introduction to cell structure and function, molecular and organism genetics, animal development, form and function (Bio 1A, Bio1AL and Bio1B)
Genetics Course: University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago
Genome Consortium for Active Teaching (GCAT): resource for undergraduate genomics courses from Davidson College
Genomics Course: Davidson College
Genomics methods links: Davidson College
Introduction to Cell & Molecular Biology: led by Dr. George Plopper, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Introductory biology course: from Georgia Tech
Introductory biology lab: led by David R. Caprette, Rice University
MIT biology open course-ware classes
National Repository of Online Courses Non-Majors Biology Course: Contribute to it!


Graduate Materials

Biology of cancer course: by Dr. Thomas Fondy, Syracuse University (PPT slides)
Cell biology graduate teaching modules: by Gwen Childs, University of Texas Medical Branch
Fundamental and advanced topics in cell biology: for graduate students and highly advanced undergraduates, UC Irvine (PPT slides)
Cell biology handouts: by Gwen Childs, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
iBioSeminars: a freely available library of research seminars by leading scientists
Immunobiology course: by Dr. Thomas Fondy, Syracuse University (PPT slides)
Intro biology course: by M. W. Klymkowsky, PhD, The Bioliteracy Project/Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder
Medical Biochemistry page: by Michael King, Indiana University School of Medicine

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Teaching Tools

K-12 Tools

AAAS educators page: for K-12 science educators
American Physiological Society: educational activities at the K-12, undergraduate, graduate and continuing education levels
Careers in life sciences: for K-12, American Physiological Society
Centre of the Cell: Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK (K-12)
Concerns using case studies in education: offers analyses and many resources, some of which will be useful for K-12, from the University of Buffalo
K-12 cell biology resources
K-12 teaching resources in plant pathology: from the American Phytopathology Association
myDNAi: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory's personalized web page and lesson builder (free registration)
NASA educational website
New York Science Teacher site K-12
NIH Office of Science Education: free curriculum supplements for elementary, middle school and High school levels
Reachout Michigan: K-12 biology lessons
Science NetLinks: lesson plans, tools, resources, and benchmarks for all grade levels
Summer research program: for New York City teachers, K-12 websites
Teachnology.com: cell biology lesson plans


K-8 Tools

Cell biology for elementary school: Cancer Research, UK
Project Micro: microscopy teaching tools for middle schools
Relative sizes of organisms, cells and molecules: Florida State University
Exploring the Cell


9-12 Tools

4Teachers.org: works to help teachers integrate technology into the classroom by offering online tools and resources
Bio-Link: free educational resources and extensive career resources for students
Bioliteracy Project: generates, tests and distributes tools needed to determine whether students are learning what teachers think they are teaching
Biology Project : The University of Arizona
BioScience Educational Network: National Science Digital Library (NSDL) Pathway for biological sciences education
C elegans: teaching resources
Dolan DNA Learning Center: Cold Spring Harbor Labs has a wealth of learning resources and sponsors field trips, summer camps and teacher workshops
Genetics Education Center: University of Kansas site for teachers interested in human genetics and the human genome project
How Cells Divide: mitosis and meiosis from PBS
Human Genome Project: educational resources
Life Sciences dictionary
Molecular Literacy Project: enhancing science teaching in grades 10-14 by developing interactive learning activities appropriate for core science courses and specialized courses teaching biotechnology
National Association of Biology Teachers: more than 9,000 educators have joined to share experiences and expertise with colleagues from around the globe; keep up with trends and developments in the field; and grow professionally
National Association of Health & Science Education Partnerships: devoted to improving pre-college health and science education, has links to colleges and universities across the US that sponsor high school biology field trips and summer learning opportunities for students and teachers
National Health Museum: teaching resources
NIH Curriculum Supplements: for grades 9 - 12
Putting DNA to Work: the National Academy of Sciences Marian Koshland Museum of Science
Science Progress: provides briefings at the cutting edges of science for all those concerned with science education for grades 10 – 14
Top Google Results: for -> Kids and Teens > School Time > Science > Living Things > Cells
Top Google Results: for -> Science > Biology > Cell Biology > Education
Yahoo cell biology directory
zeroBio: online biology quiz and games site by Canadian high school teacher Elliot Kimmel


Undergraduate Tools

American Institute of Biological Sciences: website promoting to promote bioscience literacy
ABLE, Association for Biology Laboratory Education, dedicated to improving the undergraduate biology experience
Advice for new teachers: from Carl Weiman, physics Nobelist
"Beyond Bio 101": describes the remarkable changes taking place in how U.S. college students learn biology
BioQUEST Curriculum Consortium: interested in reform of undergraduate biology education
Genomics and education website: by Sarah Elgin, Washington University, St Louis
Guidebooks for effective college level teaching: University of Wisconsin, Madison
Microbe Library: The American Society for Microbiology
Molecular and cellular biology experiments: for undergraduates and up (free with registration)
Plant pathology: college teaching resources in plant pathology from the American Phytopathology Association
Sea urchin development tutorial: suitable for undergraduates, from Leon Browder, University of Wisconsin

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Textbooks and Lab Manuals

Beginning Molecular Biology Laboratory Manual: University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Cell Biology Laboratory Manual: by Dr. William H. Heidcamp, Gustavus Adolphus College
Kimball's Biology Pages: online biology textbook
Molecular Biology of the Cell (4th ed): by Alberts et al
Molecular Biology Web Book: by Web-books.com
Molecular Cell Biology (6th ed): by Lodish, et al
Online Biology Book: by Michael J. Farabee, Estrella Mountain Community College
Plant Physiology online: A Companion to Plant Physiology, (4th ed): by Lincoln Taiz and Eduardo Zeiger
The Science Creative Quarterly, Cell Biology text book page: The University of British Columbia, Canada

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