Promoting Student Independence with Project Based Labs

 

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2013, Volume 34

Dawn Carter

Abstract

Plant Molecular Biology is an upper level elective course available to seniors in RIT's Life Science programs, students who will shortly be in graduate school or employment. Two key skills to future success are troubleshooting and time management key skills. This Project-Based Laboratory course seeks to enable increased independence and problem solving. Teams of 3-4 students are given an outline plan, a list of available reagents and web links to molecular biology protocols. The project involves PCR amplification, cloning and sequencing a gene from Arabidopsis thaliana. Teams produce a project plan and record their progress on the class wiki.

Keywords:  Molecular Biology, Student independence, project-based

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (2012)