Biology 497CL - ST-The Business of Science

Using organizational information to make effective decisions requires a complex set of skills. This course helps students develop the skill set they need to ensure future success in the workplace. Coursework emphasizes the following high-impact educational practices: a) communicating effectively-both written and oral; b) working collaboratively in virtual teams; c) enhancing both quantitative and qualitative reasoning; d) making judgments about the usefulness of information; e) gaining global competence through intercultural teamwork; and f) using cutting-edge technology. The course?s ultimate goal is to educate soon-to-graduate students who can make effective decisions with state-of-the-art technologies in ways that allow them to function in an increasingly global workplace. Not for Biology major credit.

Course goal is to provide students with a college-to-career experience in which they learn to make effective decisions using real-word data and cutting-edge technologies in Virtual, Intercultural Teams. These Teams involve students from UMass Amherst working with other student from Ireland and Egypt. This innovative ?Cloud? experience provides: (1) high impact workforce skills that include oral and written communication, data-based research, and student-driven collaborative learning in teams; (2) global competencies gained by making decisions and solving problems in cross-continent, virtual teams; and (3) hands-on experience with state-of-the-art cloud computing software, with an emphasis on Office 365.

Students will receive a 1-semester license for Office 365, software that will allow students to operate totally in the cloud during the semester. Not for Biology Major credit.