The course content is compatible with the National Science Education Standards and is organized as a series of investigative, realistic projects unified under a single theme. The lecture and laboratory are integrated. The purpose of the course is to introduce you to physical and biological environments in which we live by studying interdisciplinary topics in biology, chemistry, geosciences, and physics. A collaborative approach is utilized in all projects and group discussions. SCI 101 also promotes writing, reading, and critical thinking ability by helping the student develop an investigative approach to asking questions and synthesizing answers about the physical environment.
All projects require a written report.
In the report the problem or question is identified, hypotheses are stated, data are recorded and graphed, then analyzed. The results are described and conclusions are generated. Current applicable scientific articles are also read, discussed, and critiqued for validity and utility to society. All project reports are to be word-processed on computer. EcoBeaker for ecology simulations, etc.