Jan
12

Hello Microbes!

Filed Under (Uncategorized) by on 12-01-2010

Choose a microbe, any microbe other than those presented in the book The Other End of the Microscope: The Bacteria Tell Their Own Story by E.W. Koneman, and blog about your life and times from the perspective of that microbe. Use the class blog set up at http://docp.edublogs.org/. There will be a page titled with your microbe’s name and you should begin your blog here. Post at least 1 time per week throughout the semester (week 1 begins on Jan. 18th for this assignment) until we present our adventures to the class on April 13th (week 12). No blog entry is required the week of spring break, but be sure to let us all know where “you” will be that week!

Each week you should focus your adventures around the topic being discussed in class. For example, the week of January 25th we are discussing bacteria as populations with a special focus on how bacteria communicate. Does your microbe “communicate” with other microbes of the same/different species? If yes, how? If not, propose a reason why not.

You should visit other microbes’ blogs often. Will you cross paths with any of the other microbes? Make comments, have conversations, interact!

For the presentation, you will talk to the class in the “voice” of your microbe to highlight your favorite adventure (5-7 minutes). This presentation will require a 1 page synopsis of your microbe’s adventures from the semester (due via email to Dr. Picardo (kpicardo@sjfc.edu) one week prior to our presentation date).

In addition, you must submit a self-reflection (due via email to Dr. Picardo (kpicardo@sjfc.edu) one week prior to our presentation date). This reflection should be 1-2 pages in length and should discuss your personal experience with the blog.

Have some fun with this!

Your final blog grade will be based on:

  • accuracy in exploring the course topics through the adventures of your microbe
  • creativity in presenting scientific information
  • effort
  • meeting the one post per week requirement
  • final synopsis and presentation about your blog to the class
  • your reflection about the blog experience