Exploring Phytoplankton Population Growth to Enhance Quantitative Literacy: Putting Vision & Change into Action

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Title: Exploring Phytoplankton Population Growth to Enhance Quantitative Literacy: Putting Vision & Change into Action
Author: Erin Baumgartner; Lindsay Biga; Karen Bledsoe; James Dawson; Julie Grammer; Ava R Howard; Jeffrey Snyder
Publication Date: 4/1/2015
Abstract: Quantitative literacy is essential to biological literacy (and is one of the core concepts in Vision and Change in Undergraduate Biology Education: A Call to Action; AAAS 2009). Building quantitative literacy is a challenging endeavor for biology instructors. Integrating mathematical skills into biological investigations can help build quantitative literacy. In our plankton population laboratory sequence, students test hypotheses about the influence of abiotic factors on phytoplankton populations by sampling experimental and control flasks over multiple weeks. Students track and predict changes in planktonic populations by incorporating weekly sample estimates into population growth equations. We have refined the laboratory protocols on the basis of student commentary and instructor observations. Students have reviewed the lab positively, and approximately one-quarter of them reported building their math skills by participating in the lab.
Publisher: National Association of Biology Teachers
Volume Number: 77
Issue Number: 4
First Page Number: 265
Last Page Number: 272
Type: Text
Department: Biology
Language: eng
Keywords: vision and change; quantitative literacy; population growth models
Citation: Baumgartner, E., Biga, L., Bledsoe, K., Dawson, J., Grammer, J., Howard, A., & Snyder, J. (2015). Exploring Phytoplankton Population Growth to Enhance Quantitative Literacy: Putting Vision & Change into Action. American Biology Teacher, 77(4), 265-272. doi:10.1525/abt.2015.77.4.6
Identifier: fac_pubs/27
Source: American Biology Teacher
note: Published as Baumgartner, E., Biga, L., Bledsoe, K., Dawson, J., Grammer, J., Howard, A., & Snyder, J. (2015). Exploring Phytoplankton Population Growth to Enhance Quantitative Literacy: Putting Vision & Change into Action. American Biology Teacher, 77(4), 265-272. doi:10.1525/abt.2015.77.4.6. © 2015 by the Regents of the University of California/National Association of Biology Teachers. Copying and permissions notice: Authorization to copy this content beyond fair use (as specified in Sections 107 and 108 of the U. S. Copyright Law) for internal or personal use, or the internal or personal use of specific clients, is granted by the Regents of the University of California/on behalf of the National Association of Biology Teachers for libraries and other users, provided that they are registered with and pay the specified fee via Rightslink® or directly with the Copyright Clearance Center.