This article features Science Education for New Civic Engagements and Responsibilities (SENCER; www.sencer.net) Summer Institute. The SENCER program, which began formally in 2001, was the vision of David Burns; Karen Oates, currently Peterson Family Dean of Arts and Sciences at Worcester Polytechnic Institute; and Ric Wiebl, currently director of…

Biology majors often take introductory biology, chemistry, and physics courses during their first two years of college. The various and sometimes conflicting discourse about and explanations of matter and energy in these courses may contribute to confusion and alternative conceptions (those that differ from scientific consensus) in biology…

On many campuses throughout the country, undergraduate biology education is in serious need of an upgrade. During the past few decades, the body of biological knowledge has grown exponentially, and as a research endeavor, the practice of biology has evolved. Education research has also made great strides, revealing many new insights into how…

The Diagnostic Question Cluster (DQC) project integrates education research and faculty development to articulate a model for the effective transformation of introductory biology and ecology teaching. Over three years, faculty members from a wide range of institutions used active teaching and DQCs, a type of concept inventory, as pre- and…

Students at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, can now take an innovative biology course in which an integrated, interdisciplinary, problem-based approach is used--one that the scientific community itself is promoting. The first course in a four-semester sequence, Biology 123--The Living World: Concepts and Connections--explores real-world…

Undergraduate theses and other capstone research projects are standard features of many science curricula, but participation has typically been limited to only the most advanced and highly motivated students. With the recent push to engage more undergraduates in research, some faculty are finding that their typical approach to working with thesis…

The idea that children's books must present biological information accurately and in an effective manner that invites children to consider biology as a career is discussed. The reasons why biology books are so well represented among children's science books and how teachers use science trade books in the classroom are described. (KR)

Develops some guidelines for the integrated use of computers throughout a college biology department and determines when and how computers can best be used to enhance biological teaching. (JR)

Describes a laboratory exercise in ethology that has proven to be successful in teaching the analytical power of biological observation to students at the University of Wisconsin. (JR)

Reports the recommendations of the annual American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) meeting at the University of Georgia. Suggests that biologists should become more involved in land use planning and resource allocation in the Southeast. Presents a seven-step process for land-use decision-making. (MA)

Examined is the uniformity of curricula and instructional methods used in college biology education in the United States. Areas of special focus include curricula, introductory courses, laboratories, field experiences, faculty roles, undergraduate research, textbooks, ethics and values, encouraging underrepresented groups, capstone experiences,…

Described are modifications made in a traditional introductory biology course and the resulting improvement in student achievement and attitude. The use of cooperative learning groups is stressed. (CW)