MathBench >

Who Are We?

 

 

Our main goal at MathBench is to integrate quantitative approaches and mathematics more deeply into the undergraduate curriculum in a way that

(1) reinforces biological concepts

(2) increases math literacy, and

(3) prepares students for more complicated mathematical approaches in upper-level courses. 

To do this, we have created 30 self-contained learning modules categorized into 5 ‘threads’.

Typically, a MathBench module consists of 10 – 30 interactive, profusely illustrated, ‘educational-but-fun’ web pages on a single quantitative theme.

What's new: July 2010

We have a new section, Environmental Science, with 4 new modules (soon to be 6).

In addition, the Nernst Potential module has been completely reconceptualized and rewritten.

Check it out, coming soon to a journal near you: May 2010

Thompson, Katerina V., Kären C. Nelson, Gili Marbach-Ad, Michael Keller,
and William F. Fagan. 2010. Online, interactive teaching modules enhance quantitative proficiency of introductory biology students. CBE Life Sciences Education, in press.

Abstract: There is widespread agreement within the scientific and education communities that undergraduate biology curricula fall short in providing students with the quantitative and interdisciplinary problem-solving skills they need to obtain a deep understanding of biological phenomena and be prepared fully to contribute to future scientific inquiry. MathBench Biology Modules were designed to address these needs through a series of interactive, web-based modules that can be used to supplement existing course content across the biological
sciences curriculum. The effect of the modules was assessed an introductory biology course at the University of Maryland. Over the course of the semester, students showed significant increases in quantitative skill that were independent of previous math coursework. Students also showed increased comfort with solving quantitative problems, whether or not they ultimately arrived at the
correct answer. A survey of spring 2009 graduates indicated that those that had experienced MathBench in their coursework had a greater appreciation for the role of mathematics in modern biology than those who had not used MathBench. MathBench modules allow students from diverse educational backgrounds to hone their quantitative skills, preparing them for more complex mathematical approaches in upper-division courses.

It's official... and peer-reviewed March 2009

You can find a description of the MathBench modules and their pedagogical approach here:

Nelson, Karen C., Gili Marbach-Ad, Katie Schneider, Katerina V.Thompson, Patricia A. Shields, and William F. Fagan, 2009. MathBench Biology Modules: web-based math for all biology undergraduates. Journal of College Science Teaching, 38:34-39.

Abstract: Historically, biology has not been a heavily quantitative science, but this is changing rapidly (Ewing 2002; Gross 2000; Hastings and palmer 2003; Jungck 2005; Steen 2005). Quantitative approaches now constitute a key tool for modern biologists, yet undergraduate biology courses remain largely qualitative and descriptive. Although biology majors are often required to take a full year of calculus, these courses generally use examples unrelated to biology (Gross 1994) and ignore fields of mathematics that may be more relevant to biology, such as liner algebra or theoretical probability and statistics (NRC 2003). In this series of interactive, web-based modules, students are introduced to the mathematical underpinnings of introductory biology in an informal but powerful way. (Contains 2 tables and 4 figures.)

What's new: January 2009

4 new modules were ready in draft from at the end of January 2009. Please comment and provide feedback. The new modules are :

What's new: December 2008

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