What to Expect in College Biology
The biggest difference in college is that YOU are responsible for making sure you learn the information in your courses. The resources below tell you what to expect in college courses, and science courses in particular, and give you pointers on how to handle your new responsibility to be your own teacher.
- How Is College Different from High School?This short, informative document from Southern Methodist University gives you easy-to-read comparisons of the high school versus the college academic experience. Read it - it won't take long!
- The Secrets of College Success: Over 600 Tips and Tricks RevealedA book available at the Willis Library. This easy-to-read and amusing guide is written by Professors Lynn Jacobs and Jeremy Hyman.
Start to Think Critically
In college, you are expected to start evaluating science information provided by scientists, authors, speakers, politicians, and anyone else. You are learning the fundamentals of biology, so you can develop the tools to start questioning others' conclusions and how the living world works. The resources below demonstrate the application of critical thinking to science, biology, and pseudoscience.
- Sense About Science - PublicationsThe Sense About Science organization takes a critical look at biology and other science issues, including GM (genetic modification).
- The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the DarkCarl Sagan is the author of this book about using science to think critically about our world. His "Baloney Detection Kit" will help you analyze claims you hear and read. The book is available at the Willis Library Services Desk, 1st Floor.
- The Baloney Detection KitAssignment Universe presents the 10 tools in Carl Sagan's Baloney Detection Kit in this 4:34 minute YouTube video.
- Carl Sagan's Last Interview, Part 1 of 3In this YouTube video from 2008, Charlie Rose interviews Carl Sagan about his book, The Demon-Haunted World.
- inFact: Organic Food MythsBrian Dunning questions the value of organic food in a 3:15 YouTube video. Listen and then start your own questioning and researching about Brian and organics. Here's a starter question: What are Brian Dunning's qualifications to speak on this topic?
- That Mitchell and Webb Look: Homeopathic A&EBritish comedians David Mitchell and Robert Webb poke fun at homeopathy in this 2:33 minute YouTube video. What do you think about the validity of homeopathy? Investigate some authoritative sources and form your own conclusions.
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