Helping Students Discover Genomics, Proteomics and Bioinformatics

Assessment of Student Attitudes

Post-course reflections.

• My friends and family get annoyed with me trying to explain it to them, but I feel like the things I've learned are so revolutionary, I want to share my newfound knowledge.
  
  
• It was also comforting to learn how all of biology could and should be connected, as with other areas of study such as mathematics, chemistry, and physics.
  
  
• I've never been as interested in the reading and as motivated to continue learning as I have been this semester in Genomics....I feel like the logical reasoning skills that I've developed can be applied to other areas of life as well.
  
  
• I never imagined that I would view biology (and science in general) in such a larger context.....I feel as if I've put on a new pair of glasses and can see things more clearly......I am coming across more things that I've never seen before or that I don't understand. However, I am more aware of ways and methods of finding the answers.
  
  
• I wish I could live to be 200 years old and study biology with degrees in physics, chemistry, biology, computer science and mathematics.....The course has also reinforced the idea that diseases and pathways (signaling and metabolic) are not as simple as they first appear.

Assessment of learning outcomes

1.A. Pre- and post-course surveys on proteins - small gains.

Pre-course Survey	Post-course Survey
Score = 3.80 +/- 0.44	Score = 4.15 +/- 0.41
On the back of this page, draw a picture of an enzyme.

1.B. Genomics Entrance and Exit Exams - substantial improvement.

2. Four web assignments

Online Instructions and Online Results

I. Complexity of genomes – they choose popular press v. scientific

Analyze and predict:

II. DNA sequence analysis – 2 neighboring yeast genes; 1 known and 1 unknown

III. DNA microarray interpretations – same two genes

IV. Proteomics interpretations – same two genes; Design experiments to test your final predictions.

3. Three Exams administered during the semester; measure skills, creative thinking, and content knowledge.