(OMSB9) Making Punnett Squares with MSB Peer Tutor Vikram Arumugham

In this article, SASS' Board Member April Wen interviews Methodology of Science - Biology (OMSB9) Peer Tutor Vikram Arumugham. 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 2018-2019, and my instructor was Dr. Rees.

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

The amount of time spent depends on the week, but usually preparing for the two discussion sessions takes an hour and a half at most, since it really only involves watching the lectures. The weekly quizzes shouldn’t take more than a half hour, and for the weeks during which a writing assignment is due, you can expect to spend two to three hours on it, possibly more.

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

A typical week will probably involve watching two or three lectures and taking an end-of-the-week quiz, although there are sometimes writing assignments as well.

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

I would recommend taking digital notes for MSB, since there’s a lot of technical information involved, especially when it comes to statistics. Digital notes will probably be easier and more efficient while watching lectures, and they might come in handy for the midterms/finals which are open-note.

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

MSB was really very interesting and enjoyable because it is a course that focuses on an aspect of science that you really don’t see very often in a typical science course. It can be challenging at first, but after a while, you get used to the new way of thinking it requires. The Jeopardy! themed review for midterms and finals is also a very fun activity.

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

My favorite topic covered in MSB would probably be Mendelian genetics. The Punnett square idea is almost like a little puzzle, and it’s really satisfying to find the combinations that work.

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

A lot of the statistical material proved challenging for me at first, but I overcame this challenge by watching lectures multiple times and asking questions in class. This course can definitely be surprising in terms of the new skills it requires, so taking it slow really helps.

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

There are midterms and finals in this class, but since they are open-book and open-note, you really want to focus more on the big concepts. The review sessions in class can be really helpful with this. In general, though, don’t stress out too much; go over the study guides and make sure you know the big ideas, but don’t memorize.

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

The major assignments in this class are the writing assignments. For the writing assignments, try to start at least a week in advance. They aren’t very long, but they do require a lot of thinking. Go to office hours or email your instructor if you’re having trouble understanding the assignment or you’re not sure where to begin.

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

As far as participation goes, you should be speaking on mic in class at least once. However, you should try to be active in text chat as well. Add your own ideas to the discussion, help others if they’re struggling with a concept, maybe even crack a few jokes. You want to have a fruitful, enjoyable, and enlightening discussion.

If you have taken other core classes, how does Methodology of Science - Biology (OMSB9) compare to other courses in the core sequence?

MSB is actually quite a bit different from HSC (History and Philosophy of Science) and DFRL (Democracy, Freedom, and the Rule of Law), the 10th and 11th grade core courses. While MSB focuses a lot on science and statistics, HSC and DFRL are heavily philosophical. MSB sort of helps improve your critical thinking skills, which you really need a lot in HSC and DFRL.

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

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