Laboratory

Introduction: The laboratories that accompany Distance Medical Biology are much the same as laboratories accomplished on any college campus except that students work alone at a distance from campus.  The Laboratories are either Smart Science® labs or Blackboard exercises. 

The main focus of Smart Science labs is a virtual "hands-on" investigatory experience.  The experiences are real, not merely simulated.  The student develops a hypothesis, obtains data to test that hypothesis, and utilizes the results obtained to discuss the implications of the hypothesis.  An emphasis is placed on understanding the concept of the laboratories and the scientific method since today’s healthcare professionals are expected to have a general understanding of how science and the scientific method contribute to their profession.

Blackboard exercises are either (1) short essays in which the student researches and applies a particular biological concept encountered in the lecture portion of the course to a health sciences related situation or (2) online exercises in which the student applies some aspect of the lecture course (predicting hereditary patterns, obtaining and analyzing DNA fingerprints, etc.)

The laboratories are at a level used for introductory level college biology courses for pre-health science majors at challenging institutions.    The UNE online biology faculty member provides an introduction to each laboratory, relating the lab content to the corresponding course lecture and emphasizing the relevance of that content to the Health Sciences.  The labs are thus for pre-medical, dental, PA, DPT, pharmacy and graduate nutrition students.

For more information, click on the following links:

• How Does the Laboratory Work?
• How are laboratories graded?
• What happens if a student messes up an experiment?
• A list of Laboratory Experiments
  
• For more information about LabPaq, please visit Hands-On Labs, Inc

How does the laboratory work? Students are automatically registered with Smart Science® when they enroll in the course.  Following the course instructor’s introduction for the laboratory, the student accesses the appropriate Smart Science® lab from the course site and completes a pre-quiz designed to elucidate common student misconceptions of the lab subject. The student next develops a hypothesis and obtains experimental data relevant to that hypothesis by making measurements in real time. The student then prepares a lab report that presents and analyzes the data obtained, draws conclusions and makes applications. The format of this lab report is open-ended to allow the student to report findings as he/she thinks best. A short quiz concludes the Smart Science lab session.

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How are laboratories graded? The grade for each Smart Science® lab is based mainly on the student’s lab work and lab report; the post-lab quiz is a minor component of each lab grade. For both Smart Science®  lab reports and the Blackboard lab exercises, the course instructor’s evaluation emphasizes how successfully the student’s work shows understanding of the biological concepts considered and ability to apply these concepts to the health sciences.

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What happens if a student messes up an experiment? Smart Science® experimental formats allow students to repeat experiments as necessary.  Technical support is provided by Smart Science®. Clarification regarding lab content is available from the course instructor while the student is conducting the lab as well as throughout the entire course for all course content. The open-ended format for the Smart Science® lab report and for the Blackboard lab exercises encourages independent thought; a student may request feedback from the course instructor and revise lab report and exercise submissions accordingly.

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A list of Laboratory Experiments

Unit 1. The Scientific Method – Blackboard exercise
Unit 2. pH and Photosynthesis – Smart Science lab*
Unit 3. Types of Biochemical Molecules in your Diet -Blackboard exercise
Unit 4. Abnormal Dynien: A Study of Protein Structure and Function – Blackboard Exercise
Unit 5. Osmosis and Diffusion through Membranes – Smart Science lab*
Unit 6. Enzymes and Concentration - Smart Science lab*
Unit 7. Photosynthesis - Smart Science lab*
Unit 8. Cell Respiration - Smart Science lab*
Unit 9. Mitosis - Smart Science lab*
Unit 10. Problems Involving Meiosis – Blackboard exercise
Unit 11. Corn Genetics – Smart Science lab*
Unit 12. Problems in Human Genetics – Blackboard exercise
Unit 13. DNA Fingerprinting (Done after Unit 16)
Unit 14. Synthesis of Normal and of Sickle Cell Hemoglobin – Blackboard exercise
Unit 15. Control of Gene Expression – Blackboard Exercise
Unit 16. Restriction Enzymes / Recombinant DNA – Blackboard Exercise

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