The project directors wished to accomplish these goals without negatively affecting student performance in the lecture course, which the traditional laboratories help to support. A writer's guide and writing exercises, produced in collaboration with members of the English Department. Students begin the semester with the computer simulation. Teams of three or four students experimentally determine the best values for each of five culturing variables. The teams then test their conclusions by simulating five years of commercial operation under their predicted optimum conditions.
Students using the same unknown fish compete against one another for the most profitable results.
Finally, each student writes a FISH FARM report. The emphasis in grading these reports is on correct presentation and interpretation of the results, not on profit. The teams formed for FISH FARM view videotapes demonstrating laboratory techniques. In consultation with their instructor, they devise an original investigation using one or more of the techniques and design an experiment. They present an oral research proposal to the class and modify their plans based on feedback from their peers.