Rules for Study Guide Approach

1. Cover material within context of interesting topics.
2. Learn material on a need-to-know basis.
3. Use text book as reference and not for course stucture. Assign only the pages that are appropriate for current topic.
4. Provide study questions to focus students' attention on important information. Use study questions as test questions.

Example of Rule #1 Learning In Context

The following is an abbreviated version of the lecture schedule.

I. Cellular Communication:
Bear walks in the room and....

• Glucose dumped in blood
• Heart beats harder
• Skeletal muscles told to contract by nerves
• How does an egg know when it has been fertilized?

II. Genetics:
What are the molecular causes of sickle cell, cystic fibrosis, and Huntington's disease?

• Mendelian Genetics
• Population Genetics
• Molecular Methods

III. Biochemistry of Cells:

• Why did the US spray paraquat on marijuana?
• Why is cyanide the poison of choice for terrorists?
• Why do vegetarians eat ''tofu pups''?
• How can a rusty nail kill you?

IV. Interesting Topics:

• Cancer
• AIDS
• Transgenic Organisms
  

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Send comments, questions, and suggestions to: macampbell@davidson.edu