Biology 114, Biology for the teaching profession, is taught by Dr. Mary Lehman. The course focuses on learning the study of life, with emphasis on the form and function of organisms and the ecological principles governing populations, communities, and ecosystems. This course filled a pillar requirement under the scientific reasoning component.
The course assigned textbook was Essential Biology 7th Edition. Oftentimes, Dr. Lehman noted pages and chapters in the textbook that went along with the lecture notes. The class was expected to read these in advance for any tests or quizzes. This was very beneficial and created a stronger sense of responsibility.
The largest component for the honors section of this course was the poster presentation for the Student Research Showcase. A group of 3 honors students and I constructed a manipulative plant experiment.
We decided to conduct an experiment that would change the lifestyle of many people. By studying how caffeine levels effect plant growth we were able to determine if our soda, decaffeinated drinks, and coffee are helping of hurting plant life. Our hypothesis statement was “When varying concentrations of caffeine are imposed on cucumber plants, they will show decreased levels of germination and plant growth.”
With the experience gained from this course during the research showcase, I am better able to not only present and address any questions quickly and precisely, but I am also able bring thought of everyday human actions to mind and create change. We concluded that while people dump their leftover drinks on plant life, they are harming the ecosystem chain. It was noticed that during the presentation showcase that many onlookers saw our results and were shocked that a simple habit can become a harmful killer.
Attachment for Artifact: Student Research Showcase Poster