Download Proposing to overhaul a course incorporating an interactive format

Confessions of an
Bioinformatics Innovator

Questions and Concerns
Proposing to overhaul a course to
incorporate an interactive format with
bioinformatics

An Animal Biology Course
as a Case Study
Keep the same learning objectives
while incorporating bioinformatics
skills
Confessions of an innovator

Faculty support issues
Resentment if the changes in the class are
successful
 Support if there is initial chaos to stick to the
plan
 Students move to higher level classes and
want to see innovative approaches
 Is there a necessary tradeoff in the amount of
information that can be covered in a more
interactive format.

Student issues

Adoption of the technology

Will this prepare me for the MCAT


the next course?
Group Skills:

Bad Attitudes (law of mass action)
Question:
Do myoglobin sequences of
amniote tetrapods parallel the
newest ideas on evolutionary
relationships?

Learning Outcome: An appreciation for the
origins of similarities Using “Convergence and
Divergence in myoglobin genes”
Implementation Issues
Culture: Religious beliefs
 Why are we doing this?
 Other issues?

Bioinformatics Implementation


Process:
Acquire genomic sequences for comparison between
the following groups: White Crowned Sparrow,
Alligator, Water Snake, Mouse, and Bass (Outgroup)
using BLAST
Logistics and Technology

(are there enough computers?)
Bioinformatics Implementation
Compare (align) sequences using
CLUSTAL
 Identify and record sequence differences
 Group Issues



(assembling teams of students)
Building a bioinformatics “bridge”
Bioinformatics Implementation




Higher Learning Step
Visually compare 3-d protein structures using Swisspdb Viewer to examine mammals and birds versus
birds and alligators
Use amino acid changes as synapomorphs and using
MacClade generate cladograms,
Compare to the “tree of life” cladograms.
How to Implement Bioinformatics?

Are there additional topics for examining
convergence and divergence?

Is this an issue? The shark approach or the
hand-holding approach to explore new
directions.
What did they learn?
What did they retain?

Student Assessment


What and how to test
Course Assessment

Getting the proper feedback