To assess the quantitative skills and needs of biology majors, General Biology students were given a short competency exam covering basic mathematical concepts considered prerequisites for the course. Quantitative examples were included in lectures throughout the semester. Reinforcement of quantitative concepts within the biology curriculum is necessary for im provement of student skills. Ideally, an accessible set of quantitative examples should be available for instructors, and a goal of our project is to produce a Primer of Quantitative Biology containing such examples appropriate for inclusion in a General Biology sequence. Topics covered on the competency exam given at the start and conclusion of each semester.
Scores indicate the percent of students who missed the question.
But note that Mullin's students were offered extra credit for taking the exam while other sections were not. Mullin's Class Figure 1b. Gross, L. J. 1994. Quantitative training for life-science students. Levin, S. A., editor.