Biology 2B03 was offered in a blended-learning environment in the Summer of 2012.  In collaboration with Alison Cowie, Instructional Assistant in Biology, we offered Biology 2B03 in a blended environment in all three terms (Fall, Winter, and Spring).  In this “inverted classroom”, the three, 50 minute lectures were available as podcasts (recorded using Echo360).  All lectures were rerecorded in Fall 2014 using Articulate software which allows students the opportunity to pause, review, and refer to the lecture script more easily.  Face-to-face time is used to discuss data analysis in weekly journal club-style tutorials and to explore current research in the field  in weekly seminar-style lectures.  In addition, students explore data analysis and model formation in online dry-lab assignments.

Sample module: Biomembranes and the Fluid Mosaic Model

• Lectures are available online
• Each online module is followed by a quiz that encourages students to keep pace with the lecture content
• A face-to-face journal club looking at the work of Frye and Edidin (1972) in which the researchers first studied the movement of proteins in membranes (sample of powerpoint  for TAs: 2BO3 Tutorial 2)

Sample module: Mechanisms of Protein Transport

• Lectures are available online
• Each online module is followed by a quiz that encourages students to keep pace with the lecture content
• A live research seminar-style lecture that examines how viruses hijack nuclear protein transport pathways