Faculty Using Technology

Long-term fruit fly experiments made possible with simulations

Santhadevi Jeyabalan, LSA - Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, worked with ITD technologists to develop a copmuter program for her upper level genetics laboratory course that simulates later stages of a fruit fly experiment. The students begin the experiment with real fruit flies but complete it using CyberFly simulation in the Science Learning Center. Cyberfly replicates the visual and audio aspects of a fruit fly experiment in which students collect and analyze data leading to the location of mutant genes on different chromosomes.

The program provides information for collection and analysis, without coaching the student, unlike commercially available software. Jeyabalan is working to develop introductory level and K-12 versions of the software.

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Using CoLABnet to help students understand collaborative scientific research practices

Nancy Kerner, LSA - Chemistry, created CoLABnet (Collaborative Laboratories through Networked Computers) in order to give science students experience with how experiments are conducted and conclusions are reached in the “real world.” 

Students work in the lab in teams, with each using its own set of samples and/or conditions. Each team funnels its data into the CoLABnet software program, which then collects, pools and summarizes the qualitative and quantitative data and places it into a customized databank. Students can then study, manipulate and analyze the data in a laboratory context that simulates the scientific process that they might follow as professional scientists. 

For more information on CoLABnet, go to the Chemistry 125 homepage at http://www.umich.edu/~chem125/.

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Using CTools chats to conduct online office hours

Sherrie Kossoudji (kossoudj@umich.edu), LSA - Economics and Sociology, employs the Ctools chat function to conduct online office hours for her students enrolled in the large lecture course Economics 101. During a two-hour block each weekday evening, students can electronically communicate with a GSI to get immediate assistance with their coursework. The transcript of these conversations is then available on CTools after the session is over. This online "Q & A" is available to all students and GSIs in the course and is an archive for future reference by instructors and students. 

For specific questions about Kossoudji's online office hours, contact her at the email address above.

 
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Improving clinical skills for health professional students through simulations

Rajesh Mangrulkar and Richard D. Judge, Medical School, have lead the development and use of the Professional Skill Builder. This tool is a web-based case simulation tool, to improve the history-taking, physical examination, and case management skills of health professional students.

The program contains authentic presentations of real patients and allows the student to interactively progress through each case. Expert feedback is provided to the student along the way, along with a robust decision-support module (called Toolbox) designed to provide "just-in-time" learning. The project is centered at the Medical School through and University of Michigan Health System, but involves extensive collaborative efforts from other University units, including the Duderstadt Center, and a private company.

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Virtual Encyclopedia to Aid Students' Learning of Science

Phil Myers, (pmyers@umich.edu), LSA - Ecology and Evolutionary Biology,  leads a team that has created the "Animal Diversity Web" (ADW). This website serves as a "virtual encyclopedia" and resource for teaching by inquiry. It provides photos, sounds, and detailed information about thousands of animal species. It is also a cornerstone of a project to improve teaching science to 5th and 6th graders in Michigan. The website is continually updated with entries authored by faculty and students. The Animal Diversity Web can be found at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/. 

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