National and state standards and related documents reviewed in preparation of this report emphasize the goal of personal development. Aspects of science education such as critical thinking and reasoning, problem-solving, scientific habits of mind, and values lend themselves to the personal development of students at the college level. The fifth and final goal is for the biology curriculum to inform students about careers in the sciences. Biological research and technological development continue through the direct work of scientists and engineers and through the support of society. Knowledge of the variety of careers available to students has been a long-standing goal of science education, especially at the school level.
Biological literacy extends beyond memorizing the definitions of scientific terms.
The development of biological literacy is a continuous endeavor. People do not attain literacy in biology or any other subject and then stop learning. Thus, it is intended that students will use the knowledge and skills obtained in Biology 100 to develop further literacy throughout their lives. At the multidimensional level, students can apply the knowledge they have gained and the skills they have developed to solve real-world problems that may require the integration of information from other disciplines such as sociology, economics, and political science. Curriculum developers and biology instructors provide opportunities for students that help them reach the structural and multidimensional levels of biological literacy.