NSF and HHMI Sponsored Teaching Program: An Inside Look

Bob Goldberg's Novel Undergraduate Science Education Program

Teaching Non-Science Students About the Excitement of Discovery

ENTER BOB GOLDBERG'S CLASSROOM

Sponsored By NSF and HHMI


Even You Can Be A Scientist
HC70A & HC70AL 2008-2009


HC70A Winter 2005
Radical Class 101


Gene Discovery Laboratoy
A Cultural and Scientific Collaboration
HC70AL Spring 2004



Teaching Without Borders
HC70A Winter 2004


Teaching Non-Science Students About the Excitement of Discover
HC70A & HC70AL 2003

Bob Goldberg's Class Selected as One of the Top Ten "Hottest Classes in America"

An undergraduate course taught by Bob Goldberg titled "Genetic Engineering in Medicine, Agriculture and Law" was selected as one of "America's 10 Hottest Classes" by the web site the Daily Beast, founded by former New Yorker editor Tina Brown. Professor Goldberg "has been lauded on many occasions for being one of UCLA's best teachers," the publication notes. "
Bob Goldberg Named by Newsweek Magazine as Of "America's Top Professors"

Robert Goldberg, a UCLA distinguished professor of molecular, cell and developmental biology, is featured in Newsweek's Guide, "Finding the Right College for You" in an article titled, "In Search of Great Professors." A great professor can "get you excited about a whole new subject, influence which major you choose, and maybe even change your life," Newsweek says. "America's top profs ... excite and inspire their students" and "break down the wall that too often separates the classroom from the real world." Goldberg is the first professor Newsweek profiles.
The World's A Classroom? Thanks to Technology, It Can Be

An article from UCLA Newsroom decribing a long distance course, HC70A, Genetic Engineering in Medicine, Agriculture, and Law, taught by Professor Goldberg simultaneously to UCLA and UC Davis studens using state-of-the-art fiber optic cables, and live audio and video hookups through California Research and Education Network (CalREN).
Long Distance Learning

An article from the UCLA Daily Bruin describing a multi-cultural long distance course taught by Professor Goldberg simultaneously to UCLA and Kyoto students in Japan using state-of-the-art fiber optic cables, electronic blackboards, and live audio and video hookups.
Rising to the Challenge: Merging Research and Innovation for Undergraduate Science Education

An article by Dan Gordon highlighting Bob Goldberg's undergraduate science education program funded by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
Goldberg's Variation

An article by Dan Gordon in the UCLA Magazine on Bob Goldberg's novel approach to teaching.
To Teach or Not

An editorial by Bob Goldberg in the journal The Plant Cell on undergraduate education.
ARTICLES ABOUT TEACHING
BOB GOLDBERG'S CLASS ASSESSMENTS

Assessment of Bob Goldberg's HHMI program was carried out in several ways:

1. Students evaluated HC70A and HC70AL at the end of each quarter as part of the UCLA course evaluation system.
2. Students evaluated the undergraduate teaching fellows in HC70A.
3. An HC70A survey conducted on the first and last days of the quarter in order to compare student attitudes towards a range of genetic engineering issues.
4. Students who took both HC70A and HC70AL were given a questionnaire that addressed the impact of these classes had on their academic career, their understanding of how science is carried out, and their view of the excitement of discovery.
5. Each HC70AL student was given an exit interview to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the lecture and laboratory and how to improve the program.
6. Undergraduate teaching fellows and peer laboratory mentors were inteviewed by Bob Goldberg to assess the impact that teaching HC70A and/or HC70AL had on their future goals and objectives.

Evaluations of HC70A and HC70AL

Click here to download and read students' evaluation comments. Listed below are sample evaluation questions and comments.

On a scale from 1-9 (1 low - 9 high), the following ratings have been obtained for three sample questions in 2009:

Question
Average Rating
Your overall rating of the instructor
8.6
Your overall rating of the course
8.9
You have learned something you consider invaluable
8.9

Question
%
High interest in subject matter BEFORE taking the course
35%
High interest in subject matter AFTER taking the course
85%
High difficulty relative to other courses
96%

"Such a great class. I've never experienced anything like it." - HC70A Student, 2009

"This was the most unique and exciting all-around experience that I have had academically." -HC70AL Student, 2008

HC70AL Questionnaire

Click here to read the results from the HC70AL student questionnaire.

"(HC70A) is one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had at UCLA. Most of my courses have over 200 people in them and teach blind memorization skills. In this class, I am actually actively involved and have learned not only how to perform the experiments, but also the background, history and importance of these strides in science." -2009

"I sometimes imagine Dr. Goldberg asking me a question in one of my other subjects and I think about how I would answer in a very concise and exact manner." -2009

"This is unlike any other class! The only class that has taught me not only an immense amount of information, but also how to think." -2009

"Best class by far. Mostly, beacuse the level of care inputed by all the TA's and teachers involved goes above and beyond what is required." -2008

"As a social science major, I feel very lucky to have been able to participate in a lab experience conducting original research. This is a rare, if not a unique opportunity." -2006

"Before, I thought of a career in science as a standard 9 to 5 job...Now, I know that to seriously dedicated scientists, science is more than a job -- it's a way of life." -2005

"I have learned to better appreciate the work of scientists, because I got a small taste of what it's like to do scientific research." -2005

Evaluations of Undergraduate Teaching Fellows

Evaluations of the undergraduate teaching fellows in HC70A were equally excellent compared to the course evaluations.

"Daisy is the best TA I've had so far at UCLA" -- student comment for Daisy Robinton, fourth-year MCDB undergraduate student in 2009.

"This discussion section was definitely the highlight of my classes this quarter, and was actually enjoyable to attend. I wish I had more TA's as animated as Aycha" -- student comment for Aycha Erbilgin, teaching fellow in 2009

"The best TA at UCLA. Malik was awesome and the discussions were always fun, interesting, and unique" -- student comment for Malik Francis, an African American teaching fellow in 2003 now in a Ph.D Program at UC Berkeley.

"Tiffany Sum is a great TA. I cannot believe that she is an undergrad." -- student comment for Tiffany Sum, a teaching fellow in 2005 now a fourth-year undergraduate student with linguistics major.

"Mike is the best TA I have had at UCLA - a fantastic communicator." -- student comment for Mike Gavino, a third-year psychology major.

HC70A Class Survey About a Range of Genetic Engineering Issues

In class, students were asked many controversial and thought provoking questions about their opinions on issues affecting the present and issues that will soon be affecting the future.

Click here to download survey questions and results.

An example of a question asked and the corresponding results is shown in the table.

 

If you could choose traits for your baby, would you choose to:
First Day
Last Day
Rule out a fatal disease
88%
96%
Ensure greater intelligence
9%
0%
No Answer
3%
4%

 

PARTICIPANT DATA

 

Class
No. of Students
Genetic Engineering in Medicine, Agriculture, and Law (HC70A)
232
Gene Discovery Laboratory (HC70AL)
61
Undergraduate Teaching Fellows and Peer Mentors
19
Kyoto University Students
30
UC Davis Students
4

 

HC70A
  • More than 80% of the students are non-life science, undeclared, or physical science majors25 different majors represented (including linguistics, communications, business/economics, philosophy, math, physics, molecular biology, microbiology, and biochemistry) Approximately 50% freshmen & sophomore and 50% junior & senior students 43% males and 57% females
  • 11% minority students (African American & Hispanics)

Click the image to enlarge

HC70AL
  • Approximately 70% of the students are non-life science, undeclared, or physical science majors.
  • More than 65% of the students are freshmen or sophomore49% males and 51% females
  • 10% minority students (Hispanics)

Click the image to enlarge

Undergraduate Teaching Fellows and Peer Mentors Participating in the Teaching Program
Name Major At Time Course Taught Course Taught Year Taught Degree
Kristin Gill Political Science
HC70AL
Spring 2009
Fourth Year Undergraduate Student, UCLA
Kelli Henry Grad Student, MCDB
HC70A
Winter 2009
Ph.D. Student MCDB , UCLA
Daisy Robinton MCDB
HC70A
HC70AL
Winter 2008/9 Spring 2008/9
Fourth Year Undergraduate Student, UCLA
Rebekah Charney Political Science
HC70A
HC70AL
Winter 2008
Spring 2008
First Year Ph.D. Student, UC Irvine
Brandon Le Grad Student, MCDB
HC70A
Winter 2008
Ph.D. Student MCDB, UCLA
Jonathan Russell MIMG
HC70AL
Spring 2006
B.S. in MIMG, UCLA
Ria Yagnik MIMG
HC70AL
Spring 2006
Ph.D. Student in Genetics, UC Davis
Gloria Chu Political Science
HC70A

Winter 2006
Financial Analyst, Citi Investment Banking Division, Los Angeles
Brittan Scales MIMG
HC70AL
Spring 2005
B.S. in MIMG, UCLA
Tomo Kawashima MCDB HC70A
HC70AL
Winter 2005
Spring 2005
Ph.D. MCDB, UCLA
Tiffany Sum Linguistics
HC70A
Winter 2005
B.A. in Linguistics, UCLA
Mike Gavino Psychology
HC70A
HC70AL
Winter 2005
Spring 2005
Ph.D. Student in Biology, MIT
Erin Marsh MCDB
HC70AL
Spring 2004
M.D., Obstetrics & Gynecology, UCLA Medical Center
Josh Wolf MCDB
HC70AL
Spring 2004
NSF Pre-doctoral Fellow in Molecular Biology, MIT
Mai Pham MCDB
HC70A
HC70AL
Winter 2004
Spring 2004
MD, Boston University
Jinsun Choi MCDB HC70A
HC70AL
Winter 2004
Spring 2004
MD, UC Irvine
Aycha Erbilgin MCDB
HC70AL
HC70A
Spring 2003
Winter 2009
Ph.D. Student in Human Genetics, UCLA
Mike Ferry MCDB
HC70A
HC70AL
Winter 2004
Spring 2004
NSF Pre-doctoral Fellow in Bioengineering, UC San Diego
Malik Francis Physiological Science
HC70A
HC70A
Winter 2003
Winter 2004
Ph.D. Student Molecular and Cell Biology, UC Berkeley
MCDB - Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology
MIMG - Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES


HC70AL - Gene Discovery Laboratory Lab Manual

A comprehensive week-by-week protocol book for students using genomics to study the function and activity of plant genes.  Click here to download the lab manual. (PDF size: 9.3 Mb)

For a week-by-week protocol, click on the following link.



Gene Discovery Laboratory Web Notebook

An interactive "web laboratory book" created to allow students real-time viewing of all experiments and results.


Click here to browse the "webbook" and view how students use this interactive web laboratory book to organize, summarize, and post their research results.

The "webbook" program can be downloaded by clicking here, and is freely available to anyone in the scientific community who would find it useful for their research and/or teaching.

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