title: Introductory course based on a single problem: Learning nucleic acid biochemistry from AIDS research.
abstract: In departure from the standard approach of using several problems to cover specific topics in a class, I use a single problem to cover the contents of the entire semester-equivalent biochemistry classes. I have developed a problem-based service-learning (PBSL) problem on HIV/AIDS to cover nucleic acid concepts that are typically taught in the second semester of a biochemistry class. Use of research articles on a specific topic allows developing problems such as one discussed here. The implementation of this problem is similar to teaching literature-based courses but is tailored to undergraduate work. Details of designing and setting up this problem, along with the pros and cons of this approach, are discussed here.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, The Colorado College, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903. ngrover@coloradocollege.edu.
authors.forename: Neena
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Grover