Research Deconstruction: Building Knowledge and Self-Efficacy by Demystifying Sophisticated Science with Professor Grant Hartzog

Thursday, December 8th 12:00-1:00pm, Biomed 300 Host: Professor Manny Ares

Description: I will discuss Biol88: Research Deconstruction, MCD Biology, which was taught for the first time last year. This course aims to provide beginning undergraduates with the tools and self-confidence necessary to succeed in both their course work and the lab by “deconstructing” a sophisticated research seminar. I will describe the course’s structure, successes and failures in its first offering and my plans for the future.

Grant’s Bio: I have been a member of the MCD Biology department since 1998. Prior to joining UCSC, I was a post-doctoral fellow at Harvard Medical School and a Graduate student at UCSF. In addition to my research program in chromatin and transcription, I have taught many different courses over the years. I was introduced to the concepts of active learning through two experiences at UCSC: participation in the PDP program, and along with Manny Ares, teaching an HHMI sponsored lab course in which students are introduced to molecular biology by participation in an authentic research project. Since these experiences, I have incorporated active learning principles into my lecture and lab courses. The class I will discuss in this seminar represents my latest experiment in encouraging students to become active participants in their education.