(OMSB9) Learning About Tinbergen's Causes With MSB Peer Tutor Edithe Lam

In this article, the Board of SASS interviews Methodology of Science - Biology (OMSB9) Peer Tutor Edithe Lam. We hope that this article will help current and future MSB students in their academic journey!

When did you take Methodology of Science - Biology (OMSB9), and who was your instructor?

I took MSB in the 2019-2020 school year. My instructor was Dr. Tillman.

About how much time did you spend a week working on assignments and preparing for discussion sessions in Methodology of Science - Biology (OMSB9)?

Preparation for discussion sessions was mainly looking at lectures. There were about 2-3 lectures per week and I spent about 2 hours watching all the lectures and taking notes. Quizzes took about 2 hours. For Writing Assignment, it took me about 4-5 hours to complete (not adding going to Office Hours and peer tutors sessions).

What did the typical week in Methodology of Science - Biology (OMSB9) look like?

I usually watched the lectures over the weekend. There were two class discussions per week. The quiz was usually opened on Thursday. If I had any questions about the quiz, I would go to Office Hours. If there was a Writing Assignment due that week, I would start it in the beginning of the week.

Do you recommend taking digital or hand-written notes for Methodology of Science - Biology (OMSB9)?

I recommend taking digital notes because hand-written notes take too long for me. In the beginning of the fall semester, I took hand-written notes, which doubled the amount of time that I had to spend to prepare for class discussion each week. Also, I think that digital notes are more organized and easier to find information.

What did you enjoy about Methodology of Science - Biology (OMSB9)?

I enjoyed the intersection between statistics and biology. It was interesting seeing learning these subject separately and how they applied to each other.

What was your favorite topic covered in Methodology of Science - Biology (OMSB9)?

I honestly enjoyed all the second semester topics. I really enjoyed learning about Tinbergen’s Cause and then going in-depth into all the sections within it. I also liked the Mendelian and the Genetics unit. In the second semester, we all applied these subjects to different statistical tests, which was quite fun.

What challenged you the most in Methodology of Science - Biology (OMSB9)? How did you overcome those challenges?

For me, the challenge was about getting acquainted with each part of the course. In the beginning, I had trouble with almost each part of the course. The quizzes, WA, and exams for MSB were all new to me. As the school year went on, I learned what types of notes I had to do to prepare sufficiently for class and exams and who I needed to ask if I needed assistance.

Are there midterms/finals in this class? How would you recommend reviewing for these exams?

There are midterms and finals in this class. I would suggest to first look at the lectures that summarize everything within that half-semester/semester. It gives you an idea about how much information do you recollect and which lectures/notes do you have to look back on or ask your instructor for help in understanding better. I would then recommend to look and do the questions that are on all the quizzes that were prior to this exam. Next, I think compiling your notes into one word document is good. I would compile my notes at this time to look over them and now I know which parts I should have more information on and which parts I already have in my memory. Lastly, I would review the Jeopardy slides.

What are the major assignments for this class? How would you recommend approaching these assignments?

The major assignment for this class is the WA. I would start these WA early on in the week. That way you will have time to go to Office Hours and peer tutors in case you want to ask questions or want them to look over your WA.

How should a student participate and engage in discussions of Methodology of Science - Biology (OMSB9)?

Taking notes on the lectures is the first step. From personal experience, I had trouble participating in class in the beginning of the school year, but once you practice engaging with the material and going on mic, it does get easier! Discussions makes the material easier to understand and memorize.

What tips do you have that could be useful to students taking Methodology of Science - Biology (OMSB9)?

I think it is super helpful to go to Office hours and peer tutors if you have questions or need help on some material.

Edithe Lam is a peer tutor for Methodology of Science - Biology (OMSB9) and can be found on the Writing and Tutoring Center.

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