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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (April 27, 1972)
God-awful class goes multi-media by Mary Voboril Pounding rock mjsic greets unsuspecting students as they walk into class the first day. Then, as lights are dimmed, they watch a mindbending collage of 700 slides ricochet strobe-like off three screens. "Forty-five God-awful lectures?" one slide asks. "No, no!" frenzied students scream on the soundtrack. This is Jim Rosowski's way of introducing students to his renovated Biology 001 course. Most upperclassmen would not recognize it. Ten per cent of the course grade is determined by a cooperative letter writing project about ecology. All exams, including the final, are open-book, making memorization unnecessary. There are fewer God-awful lectures, and they are sandwiched between films, video tapes and discussion sessions. Even the familiar $8 (used) brown textbook has been scrapped. Rosowski instead uses mimeographed handouts and assigns readings in six paperback books. The first part of the four-credit hour course concerns world problems like the population explosion and pollution. As the semester wears on, the material become more specialized as students study the molecular aspects of biology. Some things have not changed. Richard Boohar's lab section still is required. Traditional subjects like photosynthesis, genetics and evolution are covered in the same depth as before, said Rosowski, an assistant professor of botany. But relevancy is the theme. "Students always gripe that tey don't have any impact It doesn't have to be that way," Rosowski said. This is one reason he started letter writing projects. Working in teams, students research a problem. Then they prepare a letter to the person most responsible for creating, maintaining or eliminating the problem. They offer praise or criticism where due. Rosowski said his students have written "just about everyone, including the Pope, the President and Johnny Carson." In about a week, a topic for group discussion will be the nature and role of science in the controversy on race and intelligence. Through an investigation of this issue Rosowski hopes to illustrate the limitations of science and its impact on the layman. He said he hopes discussions of this type will provide a basis for consideration of other issues students will be confronted with throughout their lives. One of the paperbacks required for the course contains writings by more than 60 different authors. "A student should come out of this course able to read a science section in Time or Saturday Review and most of the time understand what's going on," Rosowski said. He said he has no fears that open book exams will encourage loafing. "Facts are of little value in themselves, they must be applied," he said. "In this course having your notebook or textbook with you during an exam won't help unless you have already read and thought about the material." . The new class format began when Rosowski became dissatisfied with the traditional lecture approach often necessary with large classes. A year ago he started meeting with 10 former students and persons interested in improving the course. Together they worked out the present activities. The class was offered this semester for the first time. "We are still bound by traditional procedures and their limitations, but we are making an effort to improve the biology experience within the framework of a large class," he said. Next semester Rosowski's elementary biology will meet at 10:30 MWF in Henzlik Hall. The fall schedule sheet lists the room wrong, he said. . Rosowski, who has taught at UNL three years, received his Ph.D. from the University of Arizona. Recently he coedited a 900-page supplementary test in phycology the study of algae. pj yx i v 7 W & Jim Rosowski. . . "We are making an effort to improve the biology experience n r r mm JNJ MI M PHASE ONE :"CHEAPIES' BECAUSE OF GREAT POPULAR SUPPORT THIS YEAR, WE PRESENT: MONDAY, MAY 1 - I LOVE YOU, ALICE B. TOKLAS (3, 5, 7, & 9 pm Union Small Auditorium) WEDNESDAY, MAY 3 - VIVA MAX (3, 5, 7, & 9 pm Union Small Auditorium) THURSDAY, MAY 4 - PAINT YOUR WAGON (2, 5, & 8 pm Union Small Auditorium) A doilu editor m chief man.v.ing editor newt editor ad inanager coordinator barry pilger jim gray bart backer bill carver jerri haussler The Daily Nebraska! is written, edited and managed by students at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and is editorially independent of the University faculty, administration and student body. The Daily Nebraskan is published by the CSL subcommittee on publications Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday throughout the school year, except holidays and vacations. Second class postage paid at Lincoln, Nebraska 68503. Address: The Daily Nebraskan34 Nebraska UnionLincoln, Neb.. 68508. Telephone 4024722588. MONDAY, MAY 8 - Selected shorts with: Charlie Chaplin W.C. Fields Abbott & Costello and featuring 'THE REIVERS" m3 O (wUNL I.D.) (Begins at 7:30 p.m. -Union Ballroom) (One showing only!) WEDNESDAYMAY 10 -CASINO ROYALE (3, 5, 7, & 9 pm Union Small Auditorium) A.S.U.N. APPROVED NOTE: ALL ATTENDANCES REQUIRE UNL I.D. CARDSPONSORED BY YOUR OUIOfl I7EEICII1D FILM FOLKS 0LIV 0 The end of rip off prioes on leather goods such as sandals, belts, and watchbands. Now you can make your own sandals, belts, handbags or anything you want. At only the cost of the leather. And you can use our tools to make them. Free. All you have to do is come to Tandy's creative sessions in leather on Tuesday and Thursday's from 1 to 4. They'll be going on all summer. Stop in or call for complete details. Start spending your creativity instead of your money. Tandy Leather 316 So. 13th St 475-7278 iiiwuininiiii'iminiiiiMiii i ti yamm-aiiii TMMW OOtWOaMTtOM cwwwaw V PAGE 2 THE DAILY NEBRASKAN THURSDAY, APRIL 27, 1972