Parents Weekend 2016

The Interdisciplinary Science Learning Laboratories in the Harker Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering (ISE) Building has programs that focus on a student-centered approach to learning. We believe that when students engage in active learning in class as well as in the lab by designing experiments, collecting, analyzing, interpreting and presenting their own data, they learn at a deeper level and become better prepared to be successful in the 21st century workplace.

To showcase our philosophy in education, the Interdisciplinary Science Learning Laboratories (ISLL) opened our doors to over 100 guests for UD’s Annual Parent’s Weekend on Saturday October 8th, 2016. Among the guests were current and potential ISLL students and their parents; coming to view the technology, space, and educational tools ISLL has to offer. Several ISLL Faculty, Preceptors, and other staff members were present to answer questions and guide families through the different interactive activities showcasing student work and experiments performed in several of our offered classes. Parents who visited ISLL during this event had a glimpse at and an opportunity to engage in the interactive activities their sons and daughters are participating in as students in ISLL’s introductory integrated Biology and Chemistry courses (iBISC207/CHEM107, iBISC208/CHEM108) and integrated Physical Science and Astronomy for non-Science majors (SCEN101).

On display in the Problem-based Learning room, ISE 110, were posters from experimental work performed in the lab by past and current students. The poster research topics included: Plant Pigments: Extraction and Analysis, Water Quality, Role of pH in Enzyme Activity, among others. Professors Alenka Hlousek-Radojcic, Gary Laverty, Seung Hong, Mark Baillie and Jackie Fajardo were present at the event to welcome students and their parents as well as to answer questions regarding our student-centered teaching philosophy and the different exhibits.

ISE, Room 112 showcased plant pigments through microscopy and light spectroscopy, a lab conducted by introductory Science and other STEM major students in iBISC207/CHEM107. Students identified plant pigments and related the different absorbance profiles to their function in plant cells. Results from experiments were on exhibit and presented by Preceptor Seth Hunt.  

​The second iteration of the integrated Biology and Chemistry course (iBISC208/CHEM108), required by most introductory Science and other STEM majors, showcased student’s work in ISE, Room 107. In a two-week project, students analyzed the water quality of streams surrounding the University of Delaware. The nearby streams selected for this project were: Bogy Run on North campus, a tributary crossing the James F. Hall Trail on East campus, and the UD Farm tributary on South campus. One of the experiments focused on different aquatic microorganisms under the microscope to help students identify ecological diversity, and therefore health of the water system. Results from the student’s experiments were on exhibit and presented by Preceptor Anne Terrell.    

​Dr. Adebanjo Oriade, who teaches the integrated Physical Science and Astronomy for non-Science majors (SCEN101), had several interactive stations in ISE, Room 112 to exemplify how his students learn important physics concepts. Using everyday objects such as coffee filters and straws guests were able to learn about terminal velocity and atmospheric pressure, accordingly. Parents, students, and other guests also had the chance to investigate how force varies with time by first sketching a prediction of the graph, and then walking on a force plate. Finally, guests compared their predictions to the acquired data, and discussions followed in which they connected the experience to designing shoes. The last interactive station focused on conservation of momentum producing different collisions by using Vernier carts and tracks.​