Using Case Studies to Engage General Biology Students
The current trend in science education reform is to move from teacher centered to student centered classrooms with the ultimate goal of developing higher order thinking skills and science literacy in our students (Zoller, 2000). To promote active learning in General Biology classes, I have introduced concept mapping, memory matrices, graphic organizers and critical thinkingexercises to supplement or replace lecture material. The inclusion of active learning in a traditional lecture based course moves in the direction of the guidelines recommended by the National Science Foundation in Shaping the Future, the Massachusetts Science and Technology Curriculum Frameworks, and the Handbook on Teaching Undergraduate Science Courses (Uno, 1997), which recommended:
a. Creating an environment which recognizes that students learn in different ways and
have different abilities;
b. Building into course content opportunities for students to employ inquiry, critical
thinking and the process of science;
c. Devising and using pedagogy that develops students’ skills in communication,
teamwork, critical thinking and life long learning.
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