BioQUEST = Quality Undergraduate Educational Simulations and Tools in Biology

September 1990

BioQUEST represents a major effort to produce an "anthology" of high quality computer-based materials for teaching that complement ÒwetÓ and field laboratories.

Project BioQUEST is developing an introductory biology course composed of modules, integrated with a theme of evolutionary reasoning which examines familiar, classical fields of biology as well as the less familiar, contemporary areas. The course will include simulations of biological systems for the Macintosh computer, professional biology and productivity tools already available for the Macintosh, a hypertext, and student and faculty materials. Our emphasis is inclusive, demonstrative, and works on multiple academic levels (majors, non-majors, terminal science courses) and in different class sizes. The course will be structured around biological processes, scientific problem-posing and problem-solving, and philosophy of biological science (3PÕs).

The central goal of Project BioQUEST is to demonstrate the generality of content-based problem solving as an approach to learning biology. We believe that empowering learners, establishing group learning situations, engaging teachers as collaborators, and employing open ended problems, are essential ingredients to a transformed education in science. Because Project BioQUEST includes many subdisciplines of biology, we hope it will form a convincing basis to which others may add their own work.

The Project is funded by the Annenberg/CPB Project, Apple Computer Corporation, and the Foundation for Microbiology. Project sponsors and members realized that a critical mass of quality software with a similar interface and pedagogy, available from a single publisher, was needed before teachers could easily adopt it. Most programs that are include in Project BioQUEST are simulations of biological systems. Some programs have been developed and tested on other computers, and some have already been published. Additional software, general tools (like word processors) and biology research tools will be used in the package. The student text, HyperCard stacks, and software developed by the project will be commercially published.

Modules:
0	Introduction to the 3PÕs
1	Mendelian Genetics
2	Persuading Peers/Philosophy of Science
3	Data Collection and Organization
4	Phylogenetic systematics
5	Population Genetics
6	Variation
7	Modelling
8	Cardiovascular Physiology
9	Neurophysiology
10	Biochemistry I: Purifying an Enzyme
11	Biochemistry II: Sequencing a Protein
12	Biochemistry III: Enzyme Kinetics
13	Microbial Genetics
14	Biotechnology I: Cloning a Gene
15	Biotechnology II: Genetic Engineering
16	Genetic Counselling
17	Environmental Decision Making

Project Directors:

John J. Jungck
Biology Department
Beloit College
Beloit, Wisconsin

Nils Peterson
Computer Science
University of Oregon
Eugene Oregon

for more information, contact:

Robin Greenler
Biology Department
Beloit College
Beloit, Wisconsin 53511
608-365-3391 ext 286
bioquest@applelink.apple.com