Biology curriculum changes at the University of St. Thomas Rosie Rosell Chair and Professor of Biology

Biology Faculty Maia Larios Ruth Ann Bagnall Don Frohlich Larry Nordyke Alex Simmons Albert Ribes-Zamora

Some reasons for change  Curriculum wide inquiry based/active learning approach  Responding to previous assessment data from MFT  Retention of freshman from 1 st to 2 nd semester  Number of hours restrictive  Laboratory experience in sophomore year  Make Biology more exciting!!!  Curriculum wide inquiry based/active learning approach  Responding to previous assessment data from MFT  Retention of freshman from 1 st to 2 nd semester  Number of hours restrictive  Laboratory experience in sophomore year  Make Biology more exciting!!!

Process: 2005 Program Review Major Findings  Redesign General Biology courses and labs  Upper division lab review  emphasize techniques in an investigative and critical thinking format  Paradigm shift from content to application  Need for more faculty, technical assistance and administrative help.  Redesign General Biology courses and labs  Upper division lab review  emphasize techniques in an investigative and critical thinking format  Paradigm shift from content to application  Need for more faculty, technical assistance and administrative help.

 New Hires  Debra Bramblett (F2005)  Maia Larios (F2007)  Alex Simmons (F2009) (replacement)  Technical position to help with labs  New Hires  Debra Bramblett (F2005)  Maia Larios (F2007)  Alex Simmons (F2009) (replacement)  Technical position to help with labs

Designing “New” Curriculum Summer 2007 HHMI grant Summer retreats— Weekly departmental meetings Best practices for teaching biology* Outcomes assessments from last 10 years Summer 2007 HHMI grant Summer retreats— Weekly departmental meetings Best practices for teaching biology* Outcomes assessments from last 10 years *Texas College and Career Readiness Standards *HHMI Scientific Foundations for Future Physicians *NRC Bio 2010

Summer retreat 2008 Developed goals for content, process and ethics For each goal, developed learning objectives Applied across the curriculum Developed goals for content, process and ethics For each goal, developed learning objectives Applied across the curriculum

Results from retreats  Increase flexibility in the degree plans:  Decreased number of hours in BA  Divided courses into 4 areas: Ecosystems, Organisms, Cells and Molecules  Increase flexibility in the degree plans:  Decreased number of hours in BA  Divided courses into 4 areas: Ecosystems, Organisms, Cells and Molecules ECOSYSTEMS BIOL 3330 – Field Biology BIOL 3336 – Environ Toxicology BIOL 3331 – Ecology BIOL 3440 – Plant Physiol Ecology BIOL 3341 – Marine Ecology BIOL 4440 – Microbial Ecology BIOL 4393 –Bahamas Course MOLECULES BIOL 3351/3151 – Molecular Biology & lab BIOL 3310 – Bioinformatics BIOL 3334/3134 – Biochem & Lab BIOL 3461 – Cell Biology & Lab BIOL 4450– Microbial Genetics & Lab

 Redesign General Biology I and II  build from more general to more specific concepts (‘top down instead of bottom up’)  Intro to Population Biology and Evolution  Labs: tutorials instead of wet labs focus on scientific literature, critical reading, thinking and writing  Intro to Cell and Molecular  Labs: wet labs and application of scientific method  Redesign General Biology I and II  build from more general to more specific concepts (‘top down instead of bottom up’)  Intro to Population Biology and Evolution  Labs: tutorials instead of wet labs focus on scientific literature, critical reading, thinking and writing  Intro to Cell and Molecular  Labs: wet labs and application of scientific method

Finalizing New Curriculum  Any change must go to University Curriculum Committee for approval  Paperwork for new programs and new courses  Descriptions, Content, Learning Objectives, Rationale for change, etc….  Completed Nov  Accepted and approved Dec 2010  Any change must go to University Curriculum Committee for approval  Paperwork for new programs and new courses  Descriptions, Content, Learning Objectives, Rationale for change, etc….  Completed Nov  Accepted and approved Dec 2010

“Old” Biology Curriculum  “Traditional” Intro biology sequence  Intro Cell & Molecular  inquiry based lab  Intro to Organisms, Evolution & Ecology  descriptive labs  Genetics (no laboratory)  Lock step through required upper division courses:  “Traditional” Intro biology sequence  Intro Cell & Molecular  inquiry based lab  Intro to Organisms, Evolution & Ecology  descriptive labs  Genetics (no laboratory)  Lock step through required upper division courses:  Track I: Course based  Immunology/Physiology  Track II: Research based  Molecular Techniques  Research hours  Both required  Biology hours  Chemistry, Physics, Statistics and Calculus  Total of credit hours  With Core (60 hours)  Graduation > 130 hours  Track I: Course based  Immunology/Physiology  Track II: Research based  Molecular Techniques  Research hours  Both required  Biology hours  Chemistry, Physics, Statistics and Calculus  Total of credit hours  With Core (60 hours)  Graduation > 130 hours  Ecology  Comp Anatomy & Lab  Molecular Biology  Microbiology & lab  Cell Biology & lab  Jr/Sr seminar  Evolution (capstone)  Ecology  Comp Anatomy & Lab  Molecular Biology  Microbiology & lab  Cell Biology & lab  Jr/Sr seminar  Evolution (capstone)

Approved “New” Biology Curriculum  All students take Biology Core (15 h)  Intro Biology I and II and Labs  Genetics  Jr/Sr Seminar  Evolution  All students take Biology Core (15 h)  Intro Biology I and II and Labs  Genetics  Jr/Sr Seminar  Evolution BA degree  Biology core  Additional 14 h:  one course from each biology area (2 labs)  Math 4 h  Foreign Language 6 h  Electives: h BA degree  Biology core  Additional 14 h:  one course from each biology area (2 labs)  Math 4 h  Foreign Language 6 h  Electives: h BS degree  Biology core hours + Genetics Lab + 2 nd Jr/Sr seminar  Additional 21 h  6 courses: One from each biology areas + 2 in any area (3 labs)  Biology Research Methods course  Math 8 h  Electives: 11 h BS degree  Biology core hours + Genetics Lab + 2 nd Jr/Sr seminar  Additional 21 h  6 courses: One from each biology areas + 2 in any area (3 labs)  Biology Research Methods course  Math 8 h  Electives: 11 h  Chemistry 16 h, Physics 4 h  Core: 46 h  Total hours required for degree: 126  Chemistry 16 h, Physics 4 h  Core: 46 h  Total hours required for degree: 126

Working whiteboards-- When to offer courses?

Major problems  Time—we worked in summers – No extra pay – Taking time away from class prep and research  Facilities  No administrative help – All forms, descriptions, cover letters, correspondence – No light at the end of that tunnel!  Time—we worked in summers – No extra pay – Taking time away from class prep and research  Facilities  No administrative help – All forms, descriptions, cover letters, correspondence – No light at the end of that tunnel!

Summary  We are now in implementation phase  More active learning across curriculum  New perspectives brought by young faculty members  IRACDA post-docs are making significant contributions to new program Will let you know next year how we are doing!  We are now in implementation phase  More active learning across curriculum  New perspectives brought by young faculty members  IRACDA post-docs are making significant contributions to new program Will let you know next year how we are doing!

Summer 2011 Biol 1351 and 1151: Introduction to Population Biology and Evolution Work Group Maia Larios, Alex Simmons, Albert Ribes-Zamora, Shivas Amin and myself