Biochemistry, Genetics, and Molecular Biology at Stanford University

Professor: Sharon Long

Enrollment: 400 students

One important tool I use to engage students is to create opportunities for thought and for active pursuit of an unknown during the class session. If I give a lecture for which I provide notes-a common practice-I always leave blanks in critical parts of the notes. On the board or transparency, I indicate the unknown. I pause while I talk about it, drawing the students' attention to the hole in the notes. If possible, I ask for suggested answers or for a vote among the possibilities. By arranging the pause in your lecture you can give the students the chance to puzzle out the question themselves and to preview their ability to work on the questions independently. And only by attending class can a student gain all the information-an important draw to encourage class attendance.

In teaching formal genetics, I draw out a genetic cross first in general form (in this example, a Drosophila eye color inheritance test):

w⁺y x w w

Then I put into the lecture notes-a completely blank Punnett square to show the structure of the approach-but not to provide the answer.

The students encounter this as an unknown, because I address the contents of each line, and each box, as a question. (Everybody, consult with your neighbor for a minute-now second row, anybody tell me, what should be in these two blanks at the top? What would be the genotype and phenotype for the bottom right box?)