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Avida-ED as a digital engagement tool to demonstrate evolution and scientific method

Abstract

In this workshop, participants will be introduced to AVIDA-ED an award winning open access digital software. This versatile and freely downloadable software can be utilized for high school and college level students. It enables the students to understand concepts related to natural selection and how it can result in evolution of species, antibiotic resistance, scientific method, etc. Since the time scale of evolution is difficult to reproduce in the lab, this software makes it possible for students to design and perform experiments to test hypothesis about the mechanisms of evolution using digital populations called “Avidians”. Participants will then design their own experiments with this software. The facilitators will render active help so that the participants will gain greater confidence in using this software program on their own. A learning module developed at UAB on “Antibiotic resistance” will be shared with the participants. Additional assessment methods will be discussed.

Objectives

  • Learn about the existing misconception related to evolution
  • Get acquainted with Avida-ED software
  • Learn on utilizing Avida ED in the classroom and laboratory

Presenters

Samiksha Raut, UAB CAS, Biology
Dr. Raut has an extensive teaching experience at the undergraduate level spanning more than 8 years across two different institutions. Her active areas of pedagogical interest include sustainability, service-learning, active-learning, future STEM faculty training, etc. Furthermore, she has extensive training through different fellowships offered by UAB and elsewhere. She is the PI of several teaching grants on the UAB campus offered by CTL.

Mickie Powell, UAB CAS, Biology
Dr. Mickie Powell is currently an Assistant Professor of Biology. She is broadly trained nutritionist and physiologist. She has been teaching undergraduates for more than decade. She has a fine interest in pedagogy and has kept herself abreast in modern day engagement tools in the classroom. She serves as the research advisor to many undergraduate and graduate students.