In 2002 we were awarded a National Science Foundation CCLI grant to teach plant and animal structure/function (in BIO151) and cell/molecular biology (in BIO152) laboratories while adapting computer technology to facilitate scientific inquiry. These two introductory courses introduce the students to all elements of scientific inquiry through investigative exercises and doing independent research. With the $112,000 grant we purchased wireless laptop computers, digital cameras, microscopes with digital recording ability, printers, and charging stations. In addition, statistical and graphing software allow the students to analyze their data from their short-term investigative and long-term independent experiments. By integrating more demanding scientific thinking and critical analysis skills into these laboratories, the students will be prepared to successfully engage in upper-level science courses, independent or honors research, as well as postgraduate schools.

The students in these pictures are working online with a bioinformatics laboratory exercise.