Active Learning Infusion into Introductory Molecular and Cell Biology with professor Manny Ares

Thursday, October 12, 12:00-1:00pm, Biomed 300 Host: Susy Honig and Gabe Mednick

Description: This past spring quarter, a crack team of active learning ninjas helped an aging research active faculty member infuse an introductory biology lecture class with a set of engaging exercises designed to make students manipulate and explain the key concepts of cellular composition, structure, energetics, and gene expression. Some of these exercises could be used in larger courses, or remodeled to address higher level understanding for use in more advanced courses.

Bio: Manny has been practicing the art of teaching college biology since 1987, and could use more practice to be honest. Over the years, he has taught (in whole or part) General Microbiology (Biol 119), General Microbiology Lab (Biol 119L), Cell Biology (110), Biochemistry of Nucleic Acids and Proteins (BMB 100A), The Human Genome (80H), Yeast Molecular Genetics Lab (Biol 109L), and Introductory Molecular and Cell Biology (Biol 20A). At different times, he has received HHMI funding to create and institutionalize research-based laboratory classes. For example running Biol 185L as part of his HHMI Professor program 2002-2006, a research project lab in which small interdisciplinary teams of undergraduates worked on genomics projects related to RNA splicing. Another example, Biol 21L, Phage Genomics lab 2008-2010 with Grant Hartzog, engaged freshman in DNA isolation, genome sequencing, and annotation of a novel bacteriophage from the dirt around campus. Unfortunately neither of these projects have been sustained by the university. Most recently Manny has been assisting with Paul Koch's HHMI funded project to bring active learning to the introductory courses in Chemistry, Biology, and Physics. He is hoping this one is a hit with administrators because if not he will have struck out, and will have to go sit on the bench.