Effective Learning In The Life Sciences Edited by David J. Adams - Book review

Effective Learning in the Life Sciences

How Students Can Achieve Their Full Potential

Edited by: David J. Adams, Ph.D.

Published: December 6, 2011
Format: Paperback, 288 pages
ISBN-10: 0470661577
ISBN-13: 978-0470661574
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

"There has never been a more exciting time to study biology", writes Director of the national Centre for Bioscience based at the University of Leeds, David J. Adams, Ph.D., in his leading edge thinking and learning desire building book
Effective Learning in the Life Sciences: How Students Can Achieve Their Full Potential. The author shares essays by leading educating thinkers, in the field of biology, that encourage teaching and learning skills in the life sciences.

David J. Adams recognizes the revolution that is taking place in the biological and life sciences and provides an important guide for students and educators to advance learning opportunities in this growing field. For students committed to an educational experience in the life sciences, the contributors to this book offer a wide perspective on the critical areas of the educational and learning experience. The comprehensive nature of the essays provides students with understanding of the traditional learning process in biology, as well as considering the crucial areas of creativity, e-learning, bioethics, and bioenterprise. The contributors also consider the less obvious, but important and often problematic areas, of mathematics, statistical analysis, problem solving, and feedback processes.

David J. Adams (photo left) provides an outline, along with the appropriate cutting edge thinking contributors, to ensure that students realize their fullest potential in their study of the biosciences. At the same time, each of the contributed articles emphasizes the importance of the scientific method, along with advancing the concepts of biology and the many issues that surround learning and practice within the life sciences. The wide ranging approach taken by the editor and writers ensures a complete set of skills for laboratory and field research, and for working within an employment setting.

The editor provides essays within the following subject areas:

* Creativity
* Problem solving
* In the laboratory
* Fieldwork
* In vivo work
* Research projects
* Mathematics and statistics for biologists
* E-learning for biologists
* Bioethics
* Assessment, feedback, and review
* Communication in the biosciences
* Bioenterprise

For me, the power of the book is how David J. Adams created an all encompassing textbook for students within the biological sciences. The essays cover the standard biology curriculum, with the added study of the more challenging societal issues that surround the biosciences. For a student today, these often controversial topics are essential for study and understanding, due to their impact and influence on scientific study and research. The editor provides for a hands on and interactive approach to learning, backed by examples and case studies of the principles in action in real world settings. Overall, the book is an engaging and comprehensive, must have guide for students within the life sciences.

I highly recommend the essential and student potential developing book Effective Learning in the Life Sciences: How Students Can Achieve Their Full Potential, edited by David J. Adams, Ph.D., to any students, educators, bioscience practitioners, business leaders, or policy makers seeking a useful and accessible guide to learning, instructing, and understanding the wide array of concepts and issues within the fields of biology, bioscience, and the life sciences. This boos is a must read for anyone involved with the biosciences in education, policy making, or a business environment.