We describe a novel, university-level, introductory biology course that uses evolution as a narrative framework. Our course conveys the content in an introductory biology course by telling the story of the evolution of life on Earth. We begin with early Earth environments in which biological molecules and processes evolved and led to the first…

Breadth and depth of curriculum are important for success in science teaching and learning. Curriculum theorists recommend less breadth and more depth than overloaded, superficial science curricula. This study investigates breadth and depth in the official biology syllabi in the seventh to eighth or ninth years in four diverse jurisdictions,…

We evaluate the effectiveness of companion classes designed to support at-risk first-year students in introductory biology and chemistry within the University of California system. Companion classes (co-classes) are optional classes associated with large, gateway biology and chemistry courses (parent classes) and provide three hours of instruction…

Success in undergraduate biology courses relies upon a firm grounding in chemical principles. We sought to raise students' awareness of the connection between these two disciplines and to improve their understanding of each by carrying out a pilot project that integrated the curricula of Principles of Chemistry II (CHEM1212K) and Principles of…

Using a mixed-methods approach the authors compared the associated practices of senior physics teachers (n = 7) and students (n = 53) in a 1:1 laptop environment with those of senior biology teachers (n = 10) and students (n = 125) also in a 1:1 laptop environment, in seven high schools in Sydney, NSW, Australia. They found that the physics…

In recent years the need for ecological literacy and problem solving has increased, but there is no evidence that this need is reflected by increased ecology coverage at institutions of higher education (IHE) across the United States. Because introductory biology courses may serve to direct student interest toward particular biological categories…

We transformed our first-year curriculum in biology with a new course, Biological Inquiry, in which greater than 50% of all incoming, first-year students enroll. The course replaced a traditional, content-driven course that relied on outdated approaches to teaching and learning. We diversified pedagogical practices by adopting guided inquiry in…

This case study analyzes five science courses of a United States virtual charter school. Online quizzes and exams are provided by the corporate partner, while local teachers have selected report topics, virtual labs and at-home labs for students to complete. These assessments were coded for their correlation to the cognitive levels of the revised…

Undergraduate research experiences have been shown to enhance the educational experience and retention of college students, especially those from underrepresented populations. However, many challenges still exist relative to building community among students navigating large institutions. We developed a novel course called "Entering…

Describes a forensic science course designed to give criminal justice students the knowledge and technology of science to solve a crime. The article includes a listing of topic areas, suggestions for the presentation of the content material, and an outline of the content and design. (MA)

Described is the development of science courses for Australian secondary colleges. Included are synopses and course content for all units of physics, chemistry, geology, agriculture, astronomy and biology which have been developed to date. (SL)

Describes the study of electronics as a terminal course in electromagnetism. A lecture-laboratory approach is used with a strong emphasis on practical experience. Outlines the major topics of the lecture program and describes the activities used in the laboratory. (GS)

This syllabus (which is not a teaching syllabus) is intended to be an essential minimum core syllabus in biology for children of all abilities. It consists of: (1) a foreword, which outlines how the syllabus was generated; (2) an introduction, which provides information about the use of the syllabus in biology teaching (for example, the local…

Describes a first-year zoology course at University College Cardiff based on a self-instructional system using printed texts, audiovisual programs, and integrated practical work. (Author/BB)