Who could use these problems?
- Instructors of beginning college level biology
- High school biology teachers
- Mathematics instructors for motivating mathematical concepts
Target audience
- Beginning college level biology students, with the usual wide range of mathematical
backgrounds and confidence levels
Why students should do quantitative problems in Biology
- To obtain a deeper understanding of the biological concepts
- To get an appreciation for what biologists need to know about mathematics
- To develop critical thinking in questioning, analyzing data and evaluating assumptions
- To develop written presentation skills and the ability to work with others
Description of the problems and some examples
Using the problems
How we use them
Our course has a 50 minute recitation section each week. A different problem is given to
each group of 4 or 5 students.
After grading, the solutions are posted on a bulletin board. The students can read the
other problems and solutions, as well as see how their own problem was approached by groups
from a different sections.
Other options
- To fill unstructured time after the completion of an experiment
- For extra credit
- To motivate a mathematical concept in a mathematics class
Syllabus for "Concepts of Biology 1 -- Plants"
For further information, contact ...
- Robert W. Keck, Department of Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
e-mail rkeck@iupui.edu
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