Collaborative Research in Teaching: Collaboration between Laboratory Courses at Neighboring Institutions

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Neuroscience
• Undergraduate Education
• Scientific Collaboration

Background:

• Collaboration is fundamental to scientific progress.
• Integrating research into laboratory courses offers valuable training.
• Inter-institutional collaboration can overcome resource limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a model for collaborative research between behavioral neuroscience laboratory courses at different institutions.
• To engage undergraduate students in novel scientific research and inter-classroom discussions.
• To enhance resource sharing, data collection, and independent research training.

Main Methods:

• Two institutions (Colby College and Bowdoin College) collaborated on their respective laboratory courses: Laboratory in Brain and Behavior and Laboratory in Behavioral Neuroscience: Learning and Memory.
• Undergraduate students conducted novel research projects using animal subjects, learning experimental design, surgery, behavioral testing, and histological techniques.
• Technology, including threaded discussion groups and videoconferencing, was used to facilitate communication and data analysis between geographically separated students.

Main Results:

• The collaborative model allowed for the collection of a larger number of subjects, increasing the statistical power of the experiments.
• Students gained practical experience in conducting primary research and utilizing advanced scientific techniques.
• Effective communication and methodological exchange were facilitated through technological tools.

Conclusions:

• This collaborative research model successfully integrates authentic scientific inquiry into undergraduate curricula.
• It provides a framework for enhancing student learning, resource utilization, and research output in behavioral neuroscience.
• The model demonstrates the feasibility and benefits of inter-institutional collaboration in science education.