PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF THE CELL
Quote: "Individual commitment to a group effort:
this is what makes a team work, a
company work, a society work, and a civilization work."
Vince Lombardi
Former Coach, Green Bay Packers
Philosophy
Recent advances in educational reseach substantiate the effectiveness of student-interactive approaches to education. One of the best has been group-based learning as a tool to teach concepts, demonstrate links between related disciplines, relate subjects to the broader social context in which they are applied, and to model team-oriented approaches to the solution of complex problems that stress cooperativity rather than competition. This semester you will be part of a small group of students who will research the current literature related to a Molecular Biology concept and will write a report and make an oral presentation to the class about the current understanding of one of these concepts.
How it will work
First group meeting: Exchange e-mails
and phone numbers.
Establish group ground rules. For example,
Come to class on time.
Come to class prepared.
Do your share of the work responsibly.
Participate fully in group discussions..
Show respect to all members of the group.
Don't dominate the discussions.
Others. You can list as many or as few as the
group wants.
Remember, you must also decide on what the consequences are if the above
ground rules are broken. For example, how many times can someone break a ground
rule before the consequence kicks in? What is the consequence? Choices might
include:
loss of all group-points for that activity.
loss of only a part of the points for that activity.
expulsion from the group and doing all work alone.
others. The group will decide.
Grading
The following is a list of the components that will contribute towards the PBL part of your final grade.
Quality of Topic
Report: 40%
Quality of
Presentation: 50%
Class Evaluation:
5%
Peer Evaluation:
5%
Note: Your PBL final grade will contribute 16% towards the final grade in the course.
Topic Selection:
After being assigned to your group, you will be asked to search the research and journal websites available through the University library or the Internet and select one topic of interest to you that is relevant to the molecular biology topics we will be covering this semester (see course calendar). Any subject is acceptable. (Examples used in past classes include the role of protein folding in human disease; the use of SNPs to map human genetic disease predispositions; current understanding of the molecular nature of cystic fibrosis and how this lends to treatment potential, etc.). Each member of the group will suggest a topic and the entire list will be submitted to me. The list will be due two weeks after the groups are organized. (see course calendar). I will make the final selection from your submitted list. You will then, as a group, research your topic thoroughly and construct a written report that will be due April 22. The presentation will be scheduled on one of 6 possibile presentation days at the end of the semester (consult course calendar). We will select your group presentation date by lottery. You will be asked to prepare a 30 minute presentation on your topic with power-point or other visual aids (overhead projector, etc.) There will be time for questions from the class and from me about your presentation. The class will evaluate your presentation as will I. You will also have an opportunity to evaluate your fellow group members (peer evaluation).
THE REPORT
The report contributes 40% to the PBL score.
Each group will be asked to write a report about their group topic.
You should work together to gather
information. Construction of the report should be monitored by all group
members and the final product should be acceptable to all group members.
The report should be about 7-8 pages in length (more if you feel it is
necessary) and carefully referenced in a bibliography at the end of the report.
You do not need to reference in-text.. Do Not Plaguerize from books or websites, always rewrite the information in your own words. Also, when
referencing a website, include both the URL and the organization or individual
that published that information as part of your bibliography. Textbook pages
must be included if you obtained material from a textbook. Journal articles
must include the volume number and page numbers.
The report should include an overview of the current research related to your topic; the significance of this topic to the wider world; and what is yet to be understood about this topic (future lines of inquiry).
Note: All reports must be submitted in hard-copy form to me by the due
date. I will NOT accept reports submitted electronically (for example, as an
e-mail attachment). Reports must be typed. A 10% grade reduction per day will
be imposed upon late reports.
It will be necessary for groups to meet outside of class to complete the work required. Your cooperativity will be part of the peer evaluation that contributes to your grade.
GRADING RUBRIC FOR ALL REPORTS
Score Criteria
5 The report not only
addresses all issues and requirements of the report but
shows unusual depth of understanding and/or additional insights. References are
appropriate and included. The appearance of the report is readable and
neat.
4-5
The
report is accurate on its surface and all issues and requirements are answered
or
addressed. References are appropriate and included. The appearance of
the report is readable and neat. Or, report is of score 5 quality but
references are not
included or are not accurately displayed.
3-4
The report has one or more inaccuracies or
something is missing or covered superficially..
However, the references used are appropriate and included. The
appearance of the report is readable and neat.Or,
report is of score 4 quality but
references are not included or are not accurately displayed.
2-3
The report
is very incomplete or inaccurate. Several requirements or topics
are missed or incorrectly answered. However, the report is readable and neat.
Or
the report is of score 3 quality but references are not included or are not
accurately displayed.
1 The report shows a lack of effort
and is of inferior quality. Requirements are missing.
Issues are incorrectly discussed, or addressed
superficially. Or, the report is of score 2 quality
but there are missing or inaccurately displayed references. Or, the report is
of
scores 5, 4, 3, or 2, quality but is sloppy, unreadable, and gives evidence of
disdain
for the assignment.
Instructor
and class assessment of group presentation:
The following criteria will be used by me and by the class to evaluate the group presentation:
Scientific Content
Clarity of Oral Presentation
Organization
Visual Aids
These criteria will be evaluated on a scale of 5 (highest) to 1 (lowest).
The class evaluation is worth 5% of the PBL grade and my evaluation is worth 50% of the PBL grade.
Peer
Evaluation:
At the end of the semester you will be asked to print out the peer evaluation sheet (linked to the welcome page) and evaluate your group as indicated. You will hand this in to me. The peer evaluation is worth 5% of the PBL grade and it is assumed you will get 100% unless otherwise indicated by your peers.
SCHEDULE OF PRESENTATION
TOPICS
May 4: Group 5 Ubiquitin Ligase in Huntingtons’s Disease
May 6: Group 1 The Role of Telomerase in Aging
May 9: Group 4 Role of Epigenetic Therapy in Cancer Treatment
May 11: Group 3 Transmission and
Progression of Spongiform Encephalopathies (Prion Diseases)
May 13: Group 6 Function of siRNA in Cells and Future Medical Applications
May 16: Group 2 Role of Her-2-mediated
Cell Signaling Pathways in Breast Cancer