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Westminster College Biology Faculty Publish Article on Integrating Research into the Curriculum

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Posted on Monday, October 3, 2016

Westminster biology faculty Dr. Karen Resendes, Dr. Joseph Balczon, Dr. Joshua Corrette-Bennett, Dr. Kerri Cornell Duerr and Dr. Katherine Robertson published “Integrating Research Across Biology to Strengthen Senior Capstone Research” in CURQ, the online version of Council on Undergraduate Research Quarterly.

The article outlines how, beginning in 2011, Westminster’s Department of Biology revised its introductory and intermediate biology courses to better prepare students for the goals and objectives of the capstone course, as well as to provide students with the skills needed for a broad range of careers in the biological sciences.

More specifically, the revisions were made throughout the curriculum to enable students to gain more experience with scientific literature; develop better questions and testable hypotheses based on current knowledge; improve experimental design as well as an understanding of how to collect, analyze and interpret data; and report findings and conclusions in a more effective and professional manner.

“The faculty chose to publish this major curricular change as an example to other institutions for the successful integration of undergraduate research and the related skills at all levels of education,” Resendes said.

Visit http://www.cur.org/publications/curq_on_the_web/ to read the article. Contact Resendes at 724-946-7211 or email resendkk@westminster.edu for additional information.