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Understanding Evolution: Information Cards
Understanding Evolution: Information Cards
Understanding Evolution
Dr. Andrew Forbes
002:022 434A Biology Building
andrew‐forbes@uiowa.edu
Office hours: Mon 2‐4pm, Wed 11‐noon
Eric Tvedte
eric‐tvedte@uiowa.edu
Office hours: Thu 3:15‐4:45pm,
Fri 11‐12:30
Public acceptance of
1. Name
2. Major(s), Minor?, Year
3. What is your background in Biology?
4. Why are you taking this course?
5. Define “Evolution” in your own
words.
3 Miller et al. 2006. Science
Primary differences between this class
TILE classrooms and ‘traditional’ classes
• Van Allen rooms: $1.2 million • Assigned readings essential to success
• Readings not covered again in lecture
• Lectures: not the best way to learn
• Activities / group work mostly in‐class
• Round tables: facilitate group work and
constructive discussion • You “teach yourselves”
• Audio / Visual aides • Attendance essential (& mandatory! – 10% of
final grade is attendance and participation)
• Laptops
• White‐boards, open space
1
1/21/2014
Textbook
100
R² = 0.408
95 • The Tangled Bank,
Grade 90
by Carl Zimmer
85
on
80
final 75
exam 70
65
60
55
60 70 80 90 100
Percent of class periods
attended
8
Wiki worksheets (10% of grade) Blog (15% of grade)
• Fill out material in class • 2 blog entries; substitutes for a writing assignment
• Will use worksheets to study. Exams will have • Entries must be ~2 full paragraphs.
questions about what you learned from class • Post and discuss relevant links, videos, original
activities. essays, etc.
• Rotating roles in group: • Can make extra blog entries, but minimum is two
– Interpreter: Reads assignment, makes sure group
understands instructions
• Commenting
– Recorder: Writes notes and fills in answers – Must comment at least once weekly
– Skeptic: Questions accuracy of answers, searches – Extra credit may be awarded to students who contribute
for better / alternative answers. much more than the minimum requirement.
9 10
Iowa City Darwin Day Exams (3, 60% of grade)
(5% of grade)
February 21‐22
• Will cover both readings (major concepts, not
• You must either: details) and in‐class activities
A. Attend at least one Darwin Day talk and write a
one page (single spaced) summary. • 2 midterms: 2/24 and 4/7, 6:30‐8:30, W128 CB
OR
B. Submit a poster to the Darwin Day poster
competition (1‐3 people per poster) – due
February 12th!
11 12
2
1/21/2014
Cell phones
• If I see your cell phone being used for
non‐class related activities (texting,
Facebook, etc., you can choose to lose a
point from your participation grade, or Questions?
give the phone to me for the remaining
class period.
13
14
What is Science?
• Robert Pennock on Science
What is science?
Science is a way of
understanding natural
(discuss at tables, and come up with a definition)
phenomena.
Experimentation gathers
information about nature
and tests explanatory
hypotheses and theories.
15
17
3
1/21/2014
Important Aspects of Science
• The scientific approach is universal, although
each discipline employs particular methods.
• Facts not always directly observable, but often
What is the difference between a
indirect evidence available. hypothesis and a theory?
• Findings are repeatable. Validated explanations
become accepted facts to facilitate progress. Discuss at your tables and come up with an example of each
• Current explanations are always subject to
revision as new hypotheses and accompanying
evidence emerges.
20
21
Thursday..
• Will be assigned a group
• Need to have read Syllabus
How did you arrive at the Rules • Need to have read Chapter 1, Zimmer
– or Theory – of Scigame Psi? – PDF is on ICON if you don’t have the book yet
• Start Blogging!