Introducing the Life Sciences
Scott Freeman (University of Washington) and colleagues
Designed for biology majors, Introducing the Life Sciences provides a highly-structured framework in which students develop stronger study habits and metacognitive skills while meeting key learning objectives for content knowledge and skills development.
Introducing the Life Sciences replaces traditional textbooks, online homework systems, and polling systems. Its main goals are to help students learn how to study, learn to think like a scientist, and prepare themselves for upper-division courses and careers in the life sciences.
978-1-964854-00-7 (semester) @ $48 for five years of access
978-1-964854-01-4 (quarter) @ $40 for five years of access
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Themes and features
Students receive structured training in metacognition and study skills.
Students develop more effective study habits and metacognitive skills by engaging in rounds of self-testing in a personalized Study Path. The Study Path improves learning outcomes for all students, with the largest gains among those who arrive less prepared. See the research.
Every element of the Codon Learning curriculum aligns with measurable learning objectivesthat were evaluated by over 800 instructors in the National Science Foundation sponsored project: Nationally endorsed learning objectives to improve course design in introductory biologyrecently published in PLOS ONE.
Students learn from streamlined and active Readiness Readingsto effectively engage in class.
Readiness Readings eliminate the need for overpriced textbooks.
93% of students complete the readings before class when assigned for points (n ~41,000).
Instructors create high-structure courses to match their teaching style and approach.
Instructors can customize every element of the learning platform, including learning objectives, assessment questions, Readiness Readings, and in-class activities.
Instructors can spark student engagement with Codon’s in-class active-learning activitiesand polling technology, affectionately called TadPoll. TadPoll is a seamless part of the platform and is provided at no additional cost.
“I have found Codon immensely helpful in providing students with opportunities for feedback and metacognition.”
- Lisa McDonnell, University of California San Diego
Meet the Course Director
Scott Freeman is Lecturer Emeritus at the University of Washington. The recipient of a UW Distinguished Teaching Award, he has published research on how innovative approaches to teaching science benefit all students. He is the author of the textbooks Biological Science and Evolutionary Analysis, which have sold over 500,000 copies and been translated into multiple languages, and the popular book Saving Tarboo Creek, which is for general audiences.