Developed and continually updated by some of the foremost experts in their respective fields, these computer-required learning activities are designed to reinforce understanding of theoretical and conceptual aspects of molecular evolution and comparative genomics, and simultaneously develop familiarity with specific software packages or applications. The learning activities incorporate several interactive features, and follow prescriptive principles common to various instructional design theories (Merrill 2002), which state that learning is promoted when -
- learners are engaged in solving real-world problems
- new knowledge is applied by the learner
- new knowledge is demonstrated to the learner
- existing knowledge is activated as a foundation for new knowledge
Here is a key to the various styles of text used to format the activities:
- graphical user interface elements
- filenames and directories
- entries in configuration files
- commands
- answers to questions