Biology
Understanding Life
This item is Out of Print
Designed for an introductory biology course. Rather than emphasizing mastery of technical topics, it focuses on the understanding of biological ideas and concepts, how they relate to real life, and appreciating the scientific methods and thought processes.
This text's writing style, pedagogy, and integrated support package are all based on classroom-tested teaching strategies and learning theory. The result is a learning program that enhances the effectiveness & efficiency of the teaching and learning experience in the introductory biology course like no other before it.
Efficient Design is clean and straightforward, and does not get in the way of or interrupt students’ learning.
- Clutter reduced by eliminating superfluous photos, features, and marginal elements and by using color judiciously and strategically.
- Number of key headings reduced so that students are less likely to be overwhelmed and more likely to recognize the chapter’s important concepts and ideas
Effective Art Program
- Hierarchical illustration labels create an easy way for students to quickly review illustrations and make notes of structures of great importance or emphasis.
- Numbered labels, placed within the body of the text, are keyed to accompanying illustrations to help students understand complex processes and follow how the narrative supports the art and vice versa.
- Visual summary figures summarize related concepts using a visual format, helping students make connections that they may miss by reading the narrative alone or by viewing separate diagrams.
Effective Pedagogy guides the student to the most important concepts in biology, helps them gain conceptual understanding rather than rote memorization
- Key Question Headings & Numbered Answer Sections organize the chapter. A unique Chapter Guide replaces the traditional chapter outline by introducing the streamlined list of the key questions and answers that organize the chapter.
- Concept Checkpoint sections are located at the end of many chapter sections. As the name of this feature suggests, the purpose of these questions is to allow students to check, before continuing their reading, whether they understand and remember the concepts discussed.
- Pronunciation Guides appear within the text as appropriate, providing phonetic explanations of pronunciation to help students not familiar with scientific vocabulary.
- Visual Thinking questions are short-answer questions that appear with many of the text’s figures. The purpose of Visual Thinking questions is to help students understand the information in the figure and/or to connect the figure to the text.
- End of Chapter Review: Levels of Understanding Questions use a three-level system that is a modification of Bloom’s taxonomy of knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. Questions are all in the cognitive domain, as are all questions in the book.
- Level 1 is titled “Learning Basic Facts and Terms.” As this title suggests, these questions focus on the knowledge level, so are basic recall-type questions
- Level 2 is titled “Learning Concepts.” These questions are short-answer questions that assess comprehension but that can be a bit more difficult as well, venturing into application.
- Level 3 is titled “Critical Thinking and Life Applications.” These questions can run the gamut of Bloom’s higher order thinking questions.
Effective Examples, both within text explanations and as part of text openers and boxes, help students connect the biology they are studying with the world around them.
- In the News integrated feature places topics of biology into the context of current events and students lives in three ways:
- In the News chapter-opening feature introduces the chapter by describing the news story and reminds students that the video footage can be viewed by visiting the text companion web site.
- Each adopter of Biology: Understanding Life will receive the In The News DVD containing the 42 real news stories - each 1-3 minutes in duration and professionally produced for the networks by ScienCentral. This video component is designed as a lecture launcher to show in class as an introduction to the material.
- In the News end-of-chapter feature asks students to reread the chapter-opening feature and complete critical thinking exercises based on the feature. Students are reminded to visit the text companion web site to view the video footage, read a summary of the clip, explore links relating to the story, and complete/submit answers to Critical Thinking questions.
- Use of Analogies throughout the text helps students visualize and understand concepts and processes by comparing them with a readily recognizable, real life example. Reviewers rave about this text feature.
- Just Wondering boxes answer actual questions from students across the country enrolled in introductory biology courses for non-majors. At the conclusion of each box, students are invited to submit their own questions to the authors by visiting the text companion web site.
Effective Approach to Teaching Scientific Methods
- Separate scientific methods chapter helps students understand that scientific methods are used in many disciplines and applied to everyday life, includes a "dissection" of a scientific research paper to shows students how scientists communicate with one another and provides a model for developing similar reports.
- Annotated reprint of the full journal article is also located in the appendix.
- How Science Works boxes give students insight into the applications, processes, and methods of science as well as the tools and discoveries of scientists.
WileyPLUS Enhances Effectiveness & Efficiency!
WileyPLUS is a powerful online tool that provides instructors with an integrated suite of teaching and learning resources, including an online version of the text, in one easy-to-use website. Organized around the essential activities you perform in class, WileyPLUS allows you to create class presentations, assign homework and quizzes that will be automatically graded, and track your students' progress. The system links homework problems to the relevant section of the online text, providing students with context-sensitive help.
Student Companion Site
The Student Companion Site gives students access to the rich tools and resources available for this text.
WileyPLUS
With WileyPLUS, students achieve concept mastery in a rich structured environment that’s available 24/7. WileyPLUS includes the entire digital textbook plus interactive learning resources, immediate feedback on assignments, a gradebook to track progress, and more.
Study Guide
This innovative guide is written by a science educator who understands that students learn in different ways. Replacing traditional objectives and M/C questions, this study tool expands on the text by giving students alternative ways to learn the material. Features include Get Your Facts Straight, Time Out, One Step Further, Analyze This, and Putting It All Together. All exercises are tied to Levels of Understanding framework.
Take Note! Art Notebook
A student supplement with all of the transparency acetate images printed in a black-and-white, lay-flat booklet. Images are the same size and quality as the transparency acetates. Allows students to take notes more easily during class.
Web CT/Blackboard
Cartridges for both course management programs. Cartridges contain all assets from the book companion site and IRCD, including the Levels of Understanding Testing Program.
Book Companion Site (student side is not password protected)
The Book Companion Site integrates Key Questions/Answer format and Levels of Understanding approach. Key student resources include In the News exercises & worksheets, Current Events news feed, Self Quizzes tied to Levels of Understanding, Flash Cards, Biology Study Center and Biology Career Center. Key instructor resources include all IRCD components, plus a chapter/key word searchable Biology Visual Library where instructors can download text art and other visuals from a host of Wiley biology texts.
CourseSmart (eBook)
CourseSmart is a new way for faculty to review and compare textbooks and course materials. At CourseSmart, you get instant access to an online exam copy that is identical to the print version of the text. You can begin reviewing immediately-- no need to wait for books to be shipped or to clutter up your office with unnecessary print copies. Using CourseSmart to review course materials will help bring down the cost of textbooks and reduce the environmental impact of printing and mailing examination copies.
CourseSmart is also a great value for students. Students can purchase online versions of their course materials for up to 50 percent less than traditional textbooks.
For more information about CourseSmart, visit www.coursesmart.com
Wiley Desktop Editions (eBook)
Wiley Desktop Editions are innovative, digital versions of Wiley's leading textbooks, developed in partnership with VitalSource Technologies. Students buy this Desktop Edition for approximately 40% off the price of the printed text, without sacrificing the benefits commonly associated with the printed text. Wiley Desktop Editions offer students numerous additional features that are not available with other e-text solutions:
- Price: up to approximately 40% off the retail price of the printed book.
- Permanence:These are NOT subscriptions; students download Wiley Desktop Editions to their computer desktops, and they own it for life.·
- Portability: Once the VitalSource Bookshelf is installed and the Wiley Desktop Edition is downloaded to the computer desktop, students have instant access to all of the content—without an Internet connection. They can also print out the sections they prefer to read in hard copy.
- Personalization: From highlighting their e-text to taking and sharing notes, students can easily personalize their Wiley Desktop Edition as they are reading or following along in class.
Instructor Companion Site
The Instructor Companion Site provides instructors with the rich tools and resources available for this text.
WileyPLUS
With WileyPLUS, instructors personalize and manage their course more effectively with assessment, assignments, grade tracking and more. WileyPLUS’ unique service offerings provide all the help, resources, and personal support you and your students need. Learn more about WileyPLUS.
Instructors Resource CD-ROM
Cross-platform CD-ROM containing all instructor resources, including IRG, TAG, Levels of Understanding Testing Program (LUTP) in three formats (computerized, word files, RTF,) PowerPoint presentations, JPG files and PPT files of all line art, photos, and tables.
In the News DVD
All In the News video news stories, each 1-3 minutes in duration and professionally produced for the networks by ScienCentral, are provided in DVD format to ensure maximum efficiency and flexibility in the classroom. Also available in VHS tape format on request.
Instructor’s Resource Guide (IRG)(on web and IRCD only)
www.wiley.com/college/alters This unique resource guide, with contributions from a panel of science educators, is designed to enhance classroom effectiveness. It provides hundreds of creative ideas for in-class and out-of-class activities, lecture launchers, tips for using In the News videos, Alters customer CRS content, and guidelines for effectively integrating Alters support materials on a topic-by-topic basis. A true teaching resource.
Teaching Assistant’s Guide (TAG)(on web and IRCD only)
www.wiley.com/college/alters. A separate resource designed for TA’s/new teachers that covers more of the basics of teaching the course, what to expect/how to be prepared, FAQ’s, etc. Written by a science educator responsible for training TA’s teaching introductory biology.
Levels of Understanding Testing Program (LUTP)
www.wiley.com/college/alters. A completely reconceptualized testing program, prepared by science educators and reviewed by assessment specialists. This collection of over 4,000 M/C, short answer, and essay items is divided into three banks of test questions – each bank supports the Levels of Understanding approach outlined by the authors at the end of each chapter. Finally an effective test bank!
PowerPoint Presentations (PPT)
www.wiley.com/college/alters. Designed not to duplicate text but expand on it, these presentations limit the amount of text on a slide, instead integrating text art and photos, select animations, and In the News videos. All slides integrate and are organized by the Alters key question/answer format that each chapter follows. Written by a dedicated and strategic PPT user and instructor.
Transparencies on Demand
www.wiley.com/college/alters. A link from the instructor’s BCS directs customers to a site where they can use a shopping cart to build their own custom transparency set, selecting from a range of Wiley biology books. Enhances efficiency, eliminates waste. Full sets of Alters text art on transparencies are available on request.
Web CT/Blackboard
Cartridges for both course management programs. Cartridges contain all assets from the book companion site and IRCD, including the Levels of Understanding Testing Program.
Book Companion Site (student side is not password protected)
www.wiley.com/college/alters. Integrates Key Questions/Answer format and Levels of Understanding approach. Key student resources include In the News exercises & worksheets, Current Events news feed, Self Quizzes tied to Levels of Understanding, Flash Cards, Biology Study Center and Biology Career Center. Key instructor resources include all IRCD components, plus a chapter/key word searchable Biology Visual Library where instructors can download text art and other visuals from a host of Wiley biology texts.
CourseSmart (eBook)
CourseSmart is a new way for faculty to review and compare textbooks and course materials. At CourseSmart, you get instant access to an online exam copy that is identical to the print version of the text. You can begin reviewing immediately-- no need to wait for books to be shipped or to clutter up your office with unnecessary print copies. Using CourseSmart to review course materials will help bring down the cost of textbooks and reduce the environmental impact of printing and mailing examination copies.
CourseSmart is also a great value for students. Students can purchase online versions of their course materials for up to 50 percent less than traditional textbooks.
For more information about CourseSmart, visit www.coursesmart.com
Wiley Desktop Editions (eBook)
Wiley Desktop Editions are innovative, digital versions of Wiley's leading textbooks, developed in partnership with VitalSource Technologies. Students buy this Desktop Edition for approximately 40% off the price of the printed text, without sacrificing the benefits commonly associated with the printed text. Wiley Desktop Editions offer students numerous additional features that are not available with other e-text solutions:
- Price: 40% off the retail price of the printed book.
- Permanence:These are NOT subscriptions; students download Wiley Desktop Editions to their computer desktops, and they own it for life.·
- Portability: Once the VitalSource Bookshelf is installed and the Wiley Desktop Edition is downloaded to the computer desktop, students have instant access to all of the content—without an Internet connection. They can also print out the sections they prefer to read in hard copy.
- Personalization: From highlighting their e-text to taking and sharing notes, students can easily personalize their Wiley Desktop Edition as they are reading or following along in class.
ANGEL Learning
