Two-week fruitless gene TBL laboratory module on aggression and courtship in Drosophila melanogaster¶

Element · All elements
Evidence · 2 claims (2 for) · 1 study (1 design), q2 · 0 of 1 report an effect size · 2 claims rest on one study

Description¶

A two-week learning module in which, per the abstract, "students tested the role of the fruitless gene on aggression and courtship in Drosophila melanogaster via team-based learning (TBL) strategies" in two sections of a junior/senior-level Behavioral Genetics laboratory. Week one covers pre-class preparation, individual and team RATs with IF-AT cards and appeals, 4S application activities, skill practice in small groups of two to three, and development of novel experimental designs. Week two involves an extensive peer review process on the learning management system discussion board, redesign, independent implementation, troubleshooting, and data analysis. Materials, lesson plan, RAT versions, and alternative strains purchasable through Carolina Biological are supplied.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Canton-S wild type and fruitless mutant flies (fruC, fruF males, fruM females), reared in isolation and painted for identification
• An online learning management system for posting preparation materials and hosting peer review
• Approximately 4-hour laboratory sessions, condensable to one 4-hour laboratory

Constraints¶

• The authors note Canton-S is not easily accessible for teaching and suggest Oregon-R as an alternative wild type strain

Target Learners¶

• junior/senior-level undergraduate biology majors

Target Learning Goals¶

• understanding genetic influences on behavioral phenotypes
• designing and performing hypothesis-driven experiments
• peer review and troubleshooting of experimental designs

Affordances¶

• Tbl Three Phase Laboratory Format

Claims¶

• After the TBL module, students were better prepared to design and implement independent final research projects [+W]
• Students perform significantly higher on the team portion of the Readiness Assessment Test than on the individual portion in a TBL laboratory module [+W]

Related Elements¶

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Peterson, E.K. and Carrico, P. (2015). Laboratory Exercise in Behavioral Genetics Using Team-based Learning Strategies. Bioscene 41(2). https://visionandchange.org/files/2011/03/Revised-Vision-and-Change-Final-Report.pdf