Technology Fluency for Biological Sciences Majors

 

Technology Fluency is required for all Meredith Graduates.  Assessment of fluency is being done at the departmental level.  To fulfill the technology fluency requirement in Biological Sciences, students obtaining a B.S. or B.A. in Biology and B.A. in Environmental Studies must submit an electronic technology portfolio the semester prior to their graduation.  For students switching to the new catalog who will graduate either in December 2008 or May 2009, portfolios should be submitted by December 3, 2008.  Portfolios should be submitted in CD format to your major advisor.  The registrar will be notified of successfully completion of the requirement.

All majors in the Department of Biological Sciences are required to submit an electronic portfolio as evidence of technology fluency.  This portfolio consists of work completed during her time at Meredith College.  The outline for the portfolio is given below and can also be accessed on the Department of Biological Sciences website.  

       Present documentation where possible

(e.g., photograph, document, actual results from technique used, etc.)

       Most items should appear in their entirety on your disk

(e.g., power point, spreadsheet, research paper/presentation, etc.)

 

 

Section I: Personal Information 

 

NAME

MAJOR

MINOR (if one or two)

 

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Curriculum Vitae/Resume

Career Objectives

 

ACADEMIC INFORMATION

Courses in Major

Courses in Minor(s)

Honors and Awards

 

RESEARCH PROJECTS

 

MEETINGS ATTENDED/PRESENTATIONS

 

PUBLICATIONS

 

WORK EXPERIENCE

 

 

 

Section II: General Technology Proficiencies

 

• Blackboard group discussions and collaborations
• (include size of group, topic, example of your contribution)
• Literature search using scientific database
• Create and edit documents in MS Word
• Create and edit Excel, or other spreadsheet
• Data presentation (Graphing) using Excel or other graphing program
• (should include calculating and graphing averages and standard deviations)
• Power Point Presentation(s) (include whole presentation on your disk)
• (proficiency in MS PowerPoint to make posters, slide sets)
• Research paper  (in a course or from research project)  (include whole presentation on your disk)
• Use of specialized computer programs
• (e.g., statistical ecological modeling, molecular modeling, GenBank, Human Genome websites)

 

Section III:  Techniques Proficiencies  

              Techniques are divided into two categories: Field Techniques and Laboratory Techniques.  Evidence must be submitted for a total of at least ten techniques.  A minimum of two techniques must be included from each of the two categories.

 

 

FIELD TECHNIQUES

 

• Field Data Collection
• Maintaining a field notebook
• Compass and surveying techniques
• GIS
• Identification of specimens in the field using dichotomous keys and field guides
• Phylogenetic tree construction and understanding the embedded relationships
• Plot or transect formation
• Terrestrial vegetation, invertebrate, and vertebrate sampling
• Soil analysis
• Aquatic vegetation and invertebrate sampling
• Water analysis

 

LABORATORY TECHNIQUES

 

• DNA extraction and agarose Gel electrophoresis   and   SDS-PAGE of proteins
• Prepare and run gels and interpret results
• Immunoblotting to identify specific proteins
• Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Proficiency in using micropipettors
• Protein Analysis
• Sampling Techniques
• Chromatography
• Spectrophotometry
• setting up standard curves and measuring various metabolites
• Tissue Culture
• Invertebrate Culture
• Ultracentrifugation
• Dissection
• Light Microscopy
• Scanning Electron Microscopy

 

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