Terrestrial Slugs as a Model Organism for Inquiry-Based Experimentation in a Majors General Biology Laboratory

Many biology educators at the undergraduate level are revamping their laboratory curricula to incorporate inquiry-based research experiences so that students can directly participate in the process of science and improve their scientific reasoning skills. Slugs are an ideal organism for use in such...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The American biology teacher 2013-08, Vol.75 (6), p.408-411
Main Authors: Peters, Brenda J., Blair, Amy C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Active Learning
Biology
Curricula
Data collection
Environmental education
Experiment design
Experimentation
Food
Food consumption
Gastropoda
hypothesis generation
Hypothesis Testing
Inquiry
INQUIRY & INVESTIGATION
Inquiry method
Iowa
Laboratories
Laboratory Experiments
Laboratory Procedures
Majors (Students)
Mollusks
Research facilities
Research methods
Research Projects
Science Activities
Science education
Science Experiments
Science Interests
Science Materials
Slugs
Statistical graphs
Student Research
Students
Undergraduate Students
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Summary:Many biology educators at the undergraduate level are revamping their laboratory curricula to incorporate inquiry-based research experiences so that students can directly participate in the process of science and improve their scientific reasoning skills. Slugs are an ideal organism for use in such a studentdirected, hypothesis-driven experience. Slugs are inexpensive, easily collected, and low maintenance. Most students are unfamiliar with slugs, and their curiosity is piqued as they observe and classify these fascinating creatures. The procedures described here offer step-by-step instructions on how slugs are used to guide students through an inquiry-based research project for 7 weeks in a majors general biology course.
ISSN:0002-7685
1938-4211
DOI:10.1525/abt.2013.75.6.9