Debby Walser-Kuntz

Carleton College

Website Contributor

Website Content Contributions

Activities (6), Teaching Method Module (1), Other Contribution (1)

Activities (6)

Phylogenetics problems part of Pedagogy in Action:Library:Coached Problem Solving:Examples
Students receive information about cladistics and apply this phylogenetic approach to two problems, collecting data, determining whether traits are ancestral or derived, and using this information to select the most parsimonious tree.

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Reconstructing the Evolution of Cauliflower and Broccoli part of Teaching Genomics at Small Colleges:Genomics Instructional Units Minicollection
This laboratory exercise focuses on the connections between plant genetics and morphology.

Gleevec and the cell cycle problem part of Pedagogy in Action:Library:Coached Problem Solving:Examples
Students are given a problem about a relatively new treatment for cancer, Gleevec, and asked to apply and synthesize what they have learned about cell signaling and the eukaryotic cell cycle to explain why this targeted treatment works to prevent cell division with fewer side effects than traditional chemotherapeutic agents.

Gene expression during development: Experimental design problem part of Pedagogy in Action:Library:Coached Problem Solving:Examples
This problem challenges students to design experiments using techniques measuring gene expression (reverse transcriptase PCR, microarrays, in situ hybridization).

Malnutrition, DNA replication, development, and schizophrenia homework problem part of Pedagogy in Action:Library:Coached Problem Solving:Examples
At the beginning of a DNA, DNA replication, and mitosis unit, students are given a short science news article summarizing a recent research paper. This assignment links the article to figures and key techniques from a related journal article, requiring students to apply and transfer the knowledge they gained in the unit.

RNA processing and northern blot technique problem part of Pedagogy in Action:Library:Coached Problem Solving:Examples
Students are given a figure from a journal article of a northern blot, and are asked to interpret the results, demonstrating an understanding of both the northern blot technique and RNA processing in eukaryotic cells.

Teaching Method Module (1)

Faculty-coached, In-class Problem Solving part of Pedagogy in Action:Library:Coached Problem Solving
The webpage is a pedagogical resource detailing Faculty-coached, In-class Problem Solving, a collaborative learning approach where instructors guide students through structured problem-solving during class, emphasizing active learning, formative assessment, and concept application in diverse educational settings.

Other Contribution (1)

Broadening access through curricular changes to the BIO125 with problem solving course and the FOCUS colloquium part of CISMI:For Carleton Faculty:Curriculum Development Projects
Genes, Evolution, and Development with Problem Solving course: Development of structured pre-class readings to allow more time for active learning activities in class; the pre-class readings are paired with ...