Sylvia L. Halkin: Fostering creativity and critical thinking about laboratory exercises

Course Objectives: The primary objective of this course is to learn about animal behavior through direct observation and experimentation. We will conduct laboratory and field exercises to test hypotheses about the development, adaptive function, evolution, and physiological control of behavior of vertebrates and invertebrates. Through trouble-shooting and conducting these exercises, and reading related primary literature research articles, students will gain experience with methods used in descriptive and experimental studies, including research design, data collection, and simple statistical analysis of data.