Bio 300: Course Assistant in Biology presents an exciting opportunity for students in our department. This course offers students training in teaching and mentoring in the classroom by working closely under the supervision of a faculty mentor. Course assistant activities vary from course to course but can include: assisting students with laboratory activities, leading discussions, and, if applicable, holding peer study sessions. While you can take Bio 300 in connection with any existing biology course (with instructor permission), we are actively looking for participants interested in working with Bio 201: Foundations of Biological Inquiry; Bio 211: Cell Biology and Biochemistry; BIO 221: Ecology and Field Biology; and Bio 231: Genetics. Specific information for these course assistant positions is presented here. Information sessions on Course Assistant opportunities are also held each semester. Any additional questions about the Course Assistant opportunities for Fall 2023 can be addressed to Dr. O’Connell, moconnell@tcnj.edu.
Bio 300 for Bio 201: Foundations of Biological Inquiry
To be considered for a course assistant position for Bio 201, students must be in the second year in the biology program and have completed at least two core courses.
Students who enroll as Bio 201 Course Assistants will be required to attend the same laboratory session for Bio 201 on a weekly basis, attend a 45-minute weekly group meeting with all course assistants, and hold periodic peer study sessions. At the end of the semester you will write a reflective paper based on your experiences during the semester. Course assistants will not be responsible for or involved with grading or developing assignments. This course is offered for 0.5 credits (approximately 5 hours/week) and is pass/fail.
Available laboratory sessions for the course vary each semester.
Bio 300 for Bio 211: Cell Biology and Biochemistry
To be considered for a course assistant position for Bio 211, students must be in the second year in the biology program and have completed at least three core courses.
Students who enroll as Bio 211 Course Assistants would be required to attend the same laboratory session for Bio 211 on a weekly basis, attend a 30-45 minute weekly group meeting with all Bio 211 course assistants, and spend ~45 minutes helping the instructor with set up and clean up of the lab materials each week. At the end of the semester you will write a reflective paper based on your experiences during the semester. Course assistants will not be responsible for or involved with grading or developing assignments. This course is offered for 0.25 credits (approximately 5 hours/week) and is pass/fail.
Available laboratory sessions for the course vary each semester.
Bio 300 for Bio 221: Ecology and Field Biology
To be considered for a course assistant position for Bio 221, students must be in or beyond the second year in the biology program, have completed at least three core courses, and have earned at least a B in Ecology. Preference is given to students who took Ecology with Dr. Morrison.
Bio 221 Course Assistants will assist Professor Morrison with class meetings (not lab) on a twice weekly basis, assisting with group work activities during class, and will also hold peer study hours. They will be expected to meet regularly with Dr. Morrison to prepare for class. Course assistants will not be responsible for or involved with grading or developing assignments. This course is offered for 0.5 credits (approximately 5 hours/week) and is pass/fail.
Class sessions for the course vary each semester.
Bio 300 for Bio 231: Genetics
To be considered for a course assistant position for Bio 231, students must be in the second year in the biology program and completed at least three core courses.
Students who enroll as Bio 231 Course Assistant would be required to attend the same laboratory session for Bio 231 on a weekly basis, meet weekly with instructors, and occasionally host peer study sessions (2-3x per semester prior to exams). At the end of the semester you will write a reflective paper based on your experiences during the semester. Course assistants will not be responsible for or involved with grading or developing assignments. This course is offered for 0.25 credits and is pass/fail.
Available laboratory sessions for the course vary each semester.