We are committed to creating a safe and respectful space for learning, teaching and contributing. Instructors and students in Biol 3023 are expected to show respect and courtesy to others. All interactions should be courteous and professional regardless of platform, either online or in-person. In this course you are required to familiarize yourself with the social expectations that help in removing obstacles for learning. These are the four social rules by the Recurse Center.
You are further encouraged and expected to communicate with the Dr. Wiggins regarding questions, technical difficulties, conflicts, etc.
Read a detailed and cited explaination of my teaching philosophy and the literature that supports it here..
One of the core tenets of successful learning is that learning requires challenge. This course will be challenging. It will challenge your preconcieved notions and challenge you to deepen and extend from simple memorization into conceptual understanding.
Research indicates that grades can and do hinder learning, that mistakes are critical to brain growth, and that reevaluation and correction of those mistakes solidifies understanding.
It is the goal of the course that you to truly learn genetics rather than engage in a competition to see how little work can get you the highest grade (which is something research shows grades encourage). To this end, some of this course operates using the strategy termed “ungrading.” If you’d like to read more about ungrading check out this excellent blogpost (with citations),this article , and this metaanalysis.
Additionally, you will have an opportunity to dissect one incorrect homework problem each week to earn full credit. See "Links & Examples"