Investigating Critical Periods in Bean Beetle Development: Incorporating Guided Inquiry Research into a Developmental Biology Laboratory Course

 

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2018, Volume 39

Kathryn L. Lipson

Abstract

A guided inquiry of the teratogenic effects of ethanol on developing organisms was incorporated into an upper level developmental biology laboratory course containing 20 students. During this semester-long research project, students work in pairs to design and perform experiments to answer questions about developmental critical periods. As a class, students discuss data collection, and identify the different potential variables. Each student pair typically designs a different experiment so that as a class, we can address as many variables as possible. Students submit detailed research plans to be edited by the instructor before beginning the experiments. The projects require time outside of class meetings, and reinforce the importance of proper experimental planning and routine. This format is useful for instructors wishing to incorporate multiple semi-independent research projects into undergraduate laboratory curricula.

Keywords:  bean beetle, developmental biology, Inquiry-based learning, teratogen

University of Wisconsin, Madison (2017)