In our training, we emphasize that discussion section is a place where students need to think, draw, speak, and problem-solve biology, not hear it again as a lecture. With this in mind, we collect and format the activities created by our discussion leaders that might be particularly useful to future discussion leaders in biology.
“What’s in the box” is a good early lab activity to teach positive and negative controls and problem-solving.
Are you a TA who does not have access to training in how to teach biology discussions? We recommend these general resources to help you prepare:
… and here are general active learning Ideas for discussion sections for any topic in biology
Cell Membrane Structure (Group drawing project) How to Study in Introductory Biology (Group fact gathering)
* Integrating the Cell Lectures (group study and drawing)
* Relay Race – Drawing a Cell (group competition)
* Macromolecules Poster (group presentations)
* Photosynthesis and Respiration Posters (group presentations)
* Competetive Drawing (student presentations)
* Team Quiz Show Exam Review (group competition) Mitosis and Meiosis (Group worksheet) Magnetic Chromosomes (Teacher demo with magnetic chromosomes) Pipe-Cleaner Chromosomes (Group manipulation of models)
* Dragon Baby Dominance Genetics (random gene assortment in student pairs)
Gene Structure Drawings (Group drawing project)
* Compare-Contrast Vocabulary Study Aid (group statement-building)
Transcription to Translation Scavenger Hunt (group acting out of process)
* Solve a Murder using Biotech tools (case study group work)
* Plasmid Manipulation (scavenger hunt and presentations) Acting Out Action Potentials (Student demonstration)
Diagramming a gene (group drawing project)
* Week 2 Exam Review – Unlabeled Posters (student presentations) Prokaryotic vs. Eukaryotic Transcription and Translation (group worksheet) Sequencing Nucleotides (group model-building)
* Compare and Contrast Mitosis and Meiosis (group worksheet)
* Mitosis and Meiosis Flipbooks (group worksheet) plus flipbook pdf
* Exam Review Poster Making (group presentations) PCR and DNA Sequencing Worksheet (group worksheet) Classic DNA Experiments (matching card activity) Cloning a Gene (group concept mapping)
* Label Bacterial Transfer Figures (group figure labeling)
* Dream Date Bacterial Transfer (student icebreaker/ demo)
* DNA Detective Gene Mapping Techniques (group worksheet) Genetic Process Drawings (group drawing project)
First Week: Inner Life of a Cell (group study of animation)
“Inner Life of a Cell” video link: http://multimedia.mcb.harvard.edu/media.html Music only version: ttp://www.studiodaily.com/main/technique/tprojects/6850.html
Cellular Processes Posters (group drawing project) Designing a Cell Biology Worksheet (group problem-solving)
* Written by graduate student discussion leaders
Facilitating Discussion Sections – Using Microlectures with Demos from HHMI-UCI Program on Vimeo.
Facilitating Discussion Sections – Using Microlectures and Small Groups from HHMI-UCI Program on Vimeo.
The UCI Teaching, Learning and Technology Center has additional valuable resources. Please visit them here:http://www.tltc.uci.edu/