Biology Education Research Group at University of Maryland College Park, MD
This is the wiki page of the UMD Biology Education Research Group (BERG). It is designed to serve two purposes: to introduce and present ourselves and our research, and to provide a place of networking for the Biology Education Community to brainstorm and communicate on resources, material development, and ideas about education research and learning in biology.
Projects
The Physics of Life: Interdisciplinary Education at the Introductory Level
A project to develop active engagement materials for a principles-based course in Organismal Biology
(NSF-CCLI DUE 09-19816)
National Experiment in Undergraduate Science Education (NEXUS)
A multi-university multi-disciplinary project to develop materials to support reform
in biology education. (HHMI)
Creating a Common Thermodynamics
A project to study student understanding of issues in thermodynamics and statistical mechanics
in physics, chemistry, and biology. (NSF-TUES DUE 11-22818)
Maryland Learning Assistant Program
Based on the Learning Assistant model developed at the University of Colorado at Boulder, we are building an LA program at the University of Maryland and conducting research on our secondary implementation of this program. Through the transformation of large-enrollment science courses, the Maryland Learning Assistant (LA) Program seeks to achieve four goals:
- To recruit and prepare talented science majors for careers in teaching
- To engage science faculty in the recruitment and preparation of future teachers
- To improve the quality of science education for all undergraduates
- To transform departmental cultures to value research-based teaching for ourselves and for our students
The transformation of large-enrollment courses involves creating environments in which students can interact with one another, engage in collaborative problem solving, and articulate and defend their ideas. To accomplish this, undergraduate LAs are hired to facilitate small-group interaction in our large-enrollment courses.
Events
Group Meetings
Conferences
PERG Seminar
Science Education Seminar
Whole Group Research Meetings
Resources
Links to online resources
Documents on Biology Education Reform
IRB Training
Video Database (group members only)
Courses
BSCI 207: Principles of Biology III -- Organismal Biology
PHYS 121/PHYS 122: Fundamentals of Physics
PHYS 131: Fundamentals of Physics for Biologists
BSCI 327H: The Physics of Living Systems
Comments (0)
You don't have permission to comment on this page.