Microbiology
Fundamentals of Microbiology (MCB 229), Summer 2002 (Completed Course Archive)
- Following a sabbatic leave, I've totally reorganized website design, lectures and other materials to follow the organization of a new textbook. Many new graphics and links to replace those eroded by "linkrot" over the past year. I've begun to author in Macromedia Flash in order to provide better interactive multimedia for my students. Here are two projects:
- Aerobic and anaerobic respiration (requires Flash plug-in)
- Phagocytosis and Bacterial Pathogens (requires Flash plug-in)
- Same material as in summer course (above), organized for the 14 week spring semester.
- I've been adding extensive graphic resources to lecture notes, including graphics and animations I've produced (examples: bacterial cell respiration , nitrogen cycle ), and links to many sites around the Web that feature excellent graphics. I've also used the Chime plug-in to make pdb molecular data files available interactively. Lecture notes are revised extensively from prior years to reflect recent developments (example: links to bacterial genome databases in lecture notes on DNA ). I keep learning from my students how to improve things; for example the design of extra credit projects has benefitted from student feedback. Access to grades is now password protected, but all other Web pages are available. Note especially Project TB , in which groups of students researched various aspects of tuberculosis and collectively created a web site devoted to this topic.
General Biology
- My current course for biology majors . We've switched our text from the 5th Edition to the 6th Edition (Biology, by Campbell and Reece). There has been a major reorganization of web-based supplementary materials. The Biology Place website is no longer bundled with purchase of a new text -- instead, many of the relevant materials from TBP have been repurposed, revised or in many places enriched by brand new material. I've spent a lot of time revising lecture notes so students can link to the Campbell website instead of The Biology Place. Another new feature this fall is extensive weekly study guides, and the requirement that students take a weekly online quiz on WebCT based on required reading for that week.
- My most recent completed course for biology majors . I've totally revised the interface and improved site navigation. I've been using the web for over 6 years now, and this is the best interface so far. Explore freely!
I've added lots of my own graphics, especially in introducing biomolecules and chemical concepts (see hydrophic bonds as an example). I've added some Chime graphics (see lecture notes on proteins for example), and I've developed some GIF animations (see mitochondrial respiration as an example.) I've also been writing some interactive Flash animations -- see aerobic and anaerobic respiration as an example, but first be sure you have the most recent flash/shockwave plug-in installed on your browser - go the Macromedia test page, and if you don't see an animation, download the free plugin from Macromedia.
- My current course for non-majors . I won't be involved in this course until the mid October, so have not been developing web materials yet.
- My most recent completed course for non-majors . In the wake of Sept. 11, I've revised coverage somewhat, including a lecture on bioterrorism.
- A recent course for non-majors . I teach half of this course, and my co-teacher also uses the Web. I've been concerned about lower-than-desirable attendance by the non-major students, and had some evidence that making lecture notes available contributed to more frequent absences, so I've introduced a new wrinkle: lecture notes with containing important information. During lecture, I open these boxes and have students fill in important terms in their notes (which are made available as a handout.) If students miss lecture and print out the notes, they still have to go back to the web-based lecture notes in order to access all the terms, adding more time and trouble. Since I've instituted this feature, attendance has gone back up!
We reorganized our lectures sequence, so I'm adding new lectures weekly on topics I haven't taught before, which has forced me to spend some time finding interesing and relevant web materials. See, for example, new lecture material on neurons.
Another feature I've used in many lectures is "checkpoints" that I embed in my web notes, and bring up during class for students to work on in small groups for a few minutes every so often: for examples see a lecture on development.
Other Resources for Educators
This Web site is maintained by Thomas M. Terry, Assoc. Professor, Dept. of Molecular & Cell Biology, The University of Connecticut.
Send comments to me at: thomas.terry@uconn.edu