SYLLABUS

Biological Communication Skills

  Biology 3920  

  Schedule

 Fall 2009

  Class Schedule

Course Information

Course Description: 

• Biological Communications is a web-assisted interactive undergraduate course designed to provide the student with basic knowledge in formulating and completing scientific research, and in communicating research results by writing scientific manuscripts and experiencing formal platform presentations in the biological sciences.
• Participants will exercise skills in both scientific writing and platform presentations using information gained in independent experimental research.
• Emphasis will be placed on developing intellectual and practical skills including inquiry, critical and creative thinking, quantitative and information literacy, and teamwork; providing the tools needed to learn, process information, solve problems, and decision making.   
• Assignments, platform presentations, and written manuscripts will be posted on student WebPages for peer review.

Objectives:  

• Objectives of Biological Communications are to provide the tools and resources needed by the student to communicate effectively in the biological sciences; to instill the knowledge needed to effectively design and complete scientific research, to write a scientific manuscripts, and to give formal presentations. 

• In meeting the objectives of the web-assisted interactive course participants will be required to design and carry out independent experimental research following the Scientific Method approach that will generate adequate data in support of formal scientific presentations of research results. 

• Representative student activities include:

1.) Class and computer laboratory participation;

2.) Writing and presenting a formal research proposal;

3.) Design and completion of independent research based upon the Scientific Method and Hypotheses Tests;

4.) Developing a scientific ethics statement;

5.) Data processing and interpretations;

6.) Tables, figures, graphics, and slide preparations;

7.) Developing a professional resume;

8.) Writing a RFP/RFA;

9.) Writing a Progress Report of research completed to date;

10.) Presenting research results in a formal written Scientific Manuscript;

11.) Presenting research results in a Poster and Platform presentations using PC-Proxima projections before peers; and,

12.) Use of individually designed webpage in posting course assignments and research manuscripts for critical reviews by peers.

           Hartman, J.L.J., and E.A. LeMay. 2001. Presentation Success: A Step-by-step Approach, South-Western Publ., Ohio.

           Booth,W.C., G.Colomb, and J.Williams. 1995. The Craft of Research, Univ. of Chicago Press, Chicago (optional).

           Meador,R. 1985. Guidelines for Preparing Proposals. Lewis Publishers, Inc.Mich. (optional).