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STATEMENT OF PURPOSE The overall goal of this project is to develop, implement and evaluate pedagogical techniques and assessment plans that can be used to promote the acquisition and retention of scientific skills and processes required by students entering careers in the life science industry and for those pursuing advanced degrees in the life sciences. Our proposed plan is targeted at students enrolled in BIO 215 Molecular Cell Biology and CHE 370 Biochemistry All Biology degree programs at Missouri Western State University (including the B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and B.S. in Biotechnology) require both BIO 215 and CHE370. This project supports Missouri Western State University’s strategic goal and statewide signature as a regional state University providing a curriculum of applied learning opportunities for its students. It also promises to contribute to quality workforce development for the regions growing animal health and life science industries. In order to demonstrate that we are achieving our goal we have developed 5 objectives with clearly measurable outcomes in order to evaluate our success. Objectives: 1. Develop a list of basic skills that graduates of a life science degree program should be able to perform upon graduation and verify the importance of these skills to regional life sciences employers. 2. Develop laboratory teaching modules in BIO 215 and CHE 370 that implement these skills in the process of doing inquiry-based investigations. 3. Develop and evaluate assessment tools and to accurately measure the level of proficiency of our students in performing theses skills during the inquiry-based laboratories and throughout the curriculum. 4. Develop and improve on pedagogical techniques that will increase the level of proficiency and retention of skills. 5. Provide a mechanism for direct use of developed materials in upper-level independent research projects, and outreach to the scientific community and K-12 science education. STATEMENT OF RESEARCH METHODOLOGY Research Methodology: 1. Collection of survey data regarding student reflection and evaluation of their current understanding of laboratory procedures and techniques. 2. Administration of quizzes, exams and laboratory practicals as part of assessment procedures outlined in syllabi for courses BIO 215 Molecular Cell Biology and CHE 370 Biochemistry. 3. Information from surveys and assessment material will compiled and analyzed for information regarding student knowledge and their ability to perfrom specific laboratory procedures and techniques. This information will be used as a base-line to recommend and design pedagogical methods to increase student performance in areas of need. 4. All information regarding the identiy of individual students will be kept confidential. ANTICIPATED RISKS AND BENEFITS This study does not include any risk other than the minimal risk. SUBJECT SELECTION All students enrolled in BIO 215 and CHE 370 each year. Approximately 80 -100 per year. CONFIDENTIALITY Subject confidentiality will be consistant with those in place for normal student class assessments and assignments. (Surveys, quizzes and grades will be kept locked in instructors' offices. Any published data resulting from this study will not identify individual students but rather will reflect class statistics. Extension Request on 03-11-2009 Request renewal of proposal for ongoing project Amendment on 03-11-2009 Currculum changes have changed the name of BIO 215 to BIO 106 beginning in the Fall of 2009. We would also like to extend our data collection to include the following upper level biology courses BIO311, BIO410, BIO411, BIO421 and BIO496 Extension Request on 04-28-2010 I would like to request an extension on the collection of data for this project through May of 2011. Extension Request on 05-01-2011 I would like to ask for a 1 year further extension to the project DEVELOPMENT OF LABORATORY MODULES AND METHODS FOR ASSESSMENT OF PERFORMANCE SKILLS FOR MOLECULAR CELL BIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY COURSEs Extension Request on 05-02-2012 Extension Request on 04-29-2013 still collecting data