Andrei L. Barkovskii Associate Professor of Microbiology Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences GCSU

 Inquiry-based approach to Environmental Toxicology and cooperative learning that is used as a bridge between the Biology and Environmental Science programs integrating biological and environmental aspects of the toxicology and focusing on a comprehensive analysis of existing environmental problems.  A problem-solving motif underlying the proposed course, and the skills developed during its track will improve and enhance the performance of students chosen to become K-12 science teachers, and their prospective ability to keep K-12 students in the STEM pipeline.  In addition to lectures and tests, the course includes analytic writing and scientific presentation components.  The performance of the Biology and Environmental Science majors in writing/presentation areas and their final grades for the class will be analyzed and compared, and the resulting recommendations might be used by the program coordinators and their faculty for adjusting those programs.  The helpfulness of previously taken classes for the success in Environmental Toxicology class will be evaluated.

 Demonstrate understanding the principles and theoretical background of the subject in a variety of formats.  Apply these principles in a concise, systematic and informed manner.  Communicate effectively knowledge and understanding of environmental toxicology.  Make clear and appropriate connections between the toxicant’s structure and biological effects.  Demonstrated ability to analyze and understand contemporary environmental toxicology literature.  During the course, students work on a formal literature review.  The review will be prepared using at least 10 contemporary scientific articles published in primary scientific journals.  The final work will be presented to the class as PowerPoint presentation.  The reviews and presentations will be discussed by the class and their topics will be included in the final.

 A survey of BIOL 1107 Principles of Biology 1 students revealed that 24% of them will positively take the Environmental Toxicology course, 65% will likely do it, and 11% may consider it as an option.  A survey of BIOL 4750/5750 students revealed that 40% among both the Biology and Environmental Science majors will positively take it, and 60% will likely do it.  Students’ expectations on their performance in the class and the extent that previously taken classes will help them to meet their goals were surveyed.

 To take the same survey before the final.  To compare expectations and accomplishments.  To evaluate the expectations on helpful courses to their re-evaluation after the class.  To evaluate teaching and learning via comparative analysis of the overall performance by students majoring in two above identified B.S. programs using grades received by students for analyses/presentation of contemporary Environmental Toxicology topics and for the entire class as core data.  To share this information with the departments offering the above courses and professors teaching them.