Converting a Cell Biology Laboratory Course from Cookbook Labs to Guided Inquiry Investigations
Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2016, Volume 37
Jessica Rocheleau
Abstract
To provide cell biology students with opportunities to design experiments and organize their own data, a
guided inquiry experience was designed using only one model organism for the entire semester. Instead of
step by step instructions, students are given a brief introduction to the topic and a research question to be
addressed. Students are also given ‘How-to guides' for techniques that may be useful to them in addressing
the research question. Pairs of students brainstorm experimental designs, identify missing information, and
present their ideas. Students determine the appropriate controls, number of replicates, and the data that
should be collected. This laboratory format is amenable to a variety of model organisms and techniques,
but has been developed using Tetrahymena pyriformis and inspiration from published ABLE labs. The first
two guided-inquiry investigations of the semester are presented here. Students are first asked to determine
if an unknown organism is prokaryotic or eukaryotic by characterizing its size, shape and internal structure.
Then, they determine the doubling time of the organism by growing cells in culture, counting cells, and
quantifying total protein.
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