Learning Skill Development

In addition to addressing the baccalaureate core objectives, BI 10x courses incorporate objectives and assignments intended to develop and improve basic learning skills. These skills include effective note-taking, studying, and test-taking. The course objective (3C) reads: (Students will) "Develop learning skills, including study and self-assessment, to be able to learn more about biology and other fields in the pursuit of life-long learning."

Lecture notes are not posted or distributed in the BI 10x courses. Students are required to listen, look, process, and record what they experience. Guidance is given with directions on note-taking, opportunities to review notes with a member of a teaching team, and in-class assignments requiring responses to questions. The ability to listen, watch, process, and record is utilized in a variety of tasks beyond the university from jury duty to employee meetings, and students are given an opportunity to develop this skill in the BI 10x courses.

Study skills are necessary to organize, manage, and self-assess learning. Portfolio assignments each term address specific study skills from summarizing material, teaching material to others, linking concepts from multiple parts of the course, to writing practice exam question. Additionally, directions on effective study techniques are provided as well as personal assistance from members of the teaching team. Organizers and reminders of due dates and timelines are consistently provided to encourage students to budget available study time.

Additional information about specific learning skills can be found in each terms syllabus.

Biology 101 Syllabus

Biology 102 Syllabus

Biology 103 Syllabus