Principle of Biology
Adapted from ARCC Custom Lab Manual BIOL1106, (publisher: Morton). Margaret Guiney, Debby Filler and Melanie Melendrez, 2020
Name(s): ____________________________________________________________
BIOL 1106 – Principles of Biology I
Fall 2020
Section: ___________
Instructor: ___________________________________
Scientific Method Worksheet
Virtual Lab (Zoom Group Lab): Before we Begin
·
Responsibilities – AS A GROUP DURING ZOOM:
· Designate a recorder for your group that will fill out the group lab worksheet as you make your way through the lab. The recorder:
· Downloads the worksheet and opens it, ready to fill in answers.
· Sends electronic copies of the finished worksheet to all group members.
· In addition to this introduction document, all members will need the worksheet with answers to study for the post-lab quiz which is INDIVIDUAL
· Turns in the worksheet for the GROUP into the correct dropbox.
· The lab activity will have TWO parts, make sure to complete both for full credit.
· When you are asked to go to a hyperlink in the exercises below, go to the hyperlink as you will be asked questions about the content on that webpage.
· Responsibilities – AS AN INDIVIDUAL
· Complete the Scientific Method quiz (Assessments → Quizzes → Scientific Method quiz),
· Points
· The group worksheet is worth 10 points. Make sure your recorder turns it into the dropbox.
· The post-lab quiz, done individually, is worth 5 points.
· Troubleshooting, if you run into issues getting the modules in LabXchange or Explore Learning to load:
·
Clear your cache: (https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/how-to-clear-your-browser-cache/) (copy and paste the link)
· Restart your browser: Exit program and reopen
· Use a different browser
· Close unneeded tabs and programs
· If your system prompts you to allow plugins or cookies for the specific site below, click allow.
· Restart your computer
· Check your internet/wifi connection
· Further issues getting the module to work please contact ARCC-IT Helpdesk. Make sure to reference the website/URL you are trying to reach, indicated in the lab procedure. Be as specific as you can with the errors you are seeing, screenshots will help them as well.
· ARCC-IT Helpdesk: 763-433-1510, It.helpdesk@anokaramsey.edu Cambridge: F207, Coon Rapids: T124
Learning Objectives
1. Define and demonstrate the steps of the scientific method.
2. Describe how to formulate a question, hypothesis, prediction, and collect data with a properly designed scientific experiment.
3. Distinguish between independent and dependent variables.
4. Understand the proper use of a control in an experiment.
PART I: The Scientific Method Using LabXchange
Read Introduction to the Scientific Method at the following link:
https://www.labxchange.org/library/items/lb:LabXchange:60474f22:html:1
(copy and paste the link)
There are many ways to diagram the scientific method depending on how much detail the scientist wants to focus on. Compare the labxchange.com scientific method diagram and the scientific method figure below.
1. What are similarities between the steps in the two diagrams? (Type your answer and highlight in yellow)
2. Focus now on the steps between the central question and running the experiment. What are the differences in the two diagrams between these points? (Type your answer and highlight in yellow)
3. Consider the situation of a toaster not working. Explain what you would do at each step of the scientific method from central question to experiment in an investigation of why the toaster is not working. (Type your answer and highlight in yellow)
Read A Simple Example of Applying the Scientific Method at the following link:
https://www.labxchange.org/library/items/lb:LabXchange:752a67fb:html:1
(copy and paste the link)
Read Key Terms of The Scientific Method Explained at the following link:
https://www.labxchange.org/library/items/lb:LabXchange:d16d0c57:html:1
(copy and paste the link)
1. In this example of the wilted and healthy basil plants, look carefully at the hypothesis step and answer the questions below based on the scientific method diagram. Make sure to add reasoning (to hypothesis step), design experiment and prediction of the outcome of the experiment if the hypothesis is correct.
a. Observation:
These basil plants are wilting.
b. Question:
Why are they wilting?
c. Write their Hypothesis, then ADD reasoning: (Type your answer and highlight in yellow)
d. Design experiment (Type your answer and highlight in yellow)
e. Prediction (Type your answer and highlight in yellow)
2. If the water hypothesis had been incorrect, it would be necessary to think of a new hypothesis. Practice this process with the hypothesis that the basil doesn’t receive enough sunlight.
a. Observation:
These basil plants are wilting.
b. Question:
Why are they wilting?
c. Write a Hypothesis, then ADD reasoning, make your hypothesis about sunlight: (Type your answer and highlight in yellow)
d. Design experiment (Type your answer and highlight in yellow)
e. Prediction (Type your answer and highlight in yellow)
Read Select the Best Hypothesis and answer all the questions on the website
https://www.labxchange.org/library/items/lb:LabXchange:6e479982:lx_assignment:1
(copy and paste the link)
1. What are the characteristics of a good hypothesis? (Type your answer and highlight in yellow)
2. Which of the following is a testable hypothesis? (Highlight your answer)
a. If we water the wilted basil plant then it will become healthy.
b. Why is the basil plant wilted?
c. The basil plant has not been watered adequately
d. The gnomes have not visited the basil plant recently
3. Explain your reasoning for selecting the testable hypothesis in question 2. (Type your answer and highlight in yellow)
Read Refining a Hypothesis and answer all the questions on the website
https://www.labxchange.org/library/items/lb:LabXchange:b587e899:lx_assignment:1
(copy and paste the link)
Note: the Radiolab segment link (36 min) is very interesting yet it is not required. Wait to listen to it when you are not in class.
1. What does it mean to “refine the hypothesis”? (Type your answer and highlight in yellow)
Read Experimental Variables and Controls and answer all the questions on the website
https://www.labxchange.org/library/items/lb:LabXchange:f94d98ea:lx_assignment:1
(copy and paste the link)
Returning to the original basil experiment with the hypothesis of lack of water. The independent variable would be the amount of water and the dependent variable is the visual appearance of the basil plants.
In the basil experiment with the sunshine hypothesis:
1. What is the independent variable? (Type your answer and highlight in yellow)
2. What is the dependent variable? (Type your answer and highlight in yellow)
3. What would be a negative control? (Type your answer and highlight in yellow)
4. What is the difference between a negative and positive control? (Type your answer and highlight in yellow)