Course Redesign using Blended Course Strategies and Mobile Technologies

Redesign of the biology majors genetics course was stimulated by Fresno State’s launch of the DISCOVERe (tablet computer-based instruction) initiative. The incorporation of mobile technology, in the hands of the instructor and students, provides opportunities to: engage students in new ways; provide more authentic experiences in the discipline (Hunter et al. 2007, Jones et al. 2010); improve their quantitative analysis and information literacy skills. Critically, both students and the instructor benefited as a result of the redesign: student grades improved; percent of repeatable grades decreased; marginal improvement occurred on a validated genetics assessment; course management efficiency dramatically improved with the integration of course management and student polling software.