BIOL1070: Under the Hood with Tim and Dan

Shifting into Summer: Dr. Quinn Webber Takes the Wheel

Welcome to Summer School! While the textbooks might be gathering dust, we’re just getting warmed up. In this special series, we’re hitting the academic highway to check out what other early career faculty in our department are up to.
 
Each guest brings two things to the table: a peek into their research and a tricky question to throw at Tim and Dan. Can our hosts stay on track, or will they take a wrong turn onto Uncertainty Boulevard?
 
But that’s not all, our guests also weigh in on the most important question of all: Who would win in a ridiculous head-to-head challenge—Tim or Dan?
 
This week’s trip features Dr. Quinn Webber, an Associate Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology, who joins us to share his research, test Tim and Dan’s knowledge, and, of course, settle the all-important debate: who would win in a ridiculous challenge?
 
Grab your sunglasses, roll the windows down, and join us for a summer road trip through science, one pit stop at a time. 🚗💨
 
📍 Topic Time Stamps
🧪 01:00 – Meet Our Guest & Their Research❓ 14:01 – The Tricky Question🎤 48:30 – Our Guest Judges Tim & Dan’s Answers🏆 58:26 – The Ultimate Showdown: Who Wins the Silly Challenge?
 
No exams, no grades, just curious minds, questionable guesses, and some friendly competition under the summer sun. Let’s hit the road. ☀️

Crossing the Finish Line: Topic Test 3 Review

The final lap is over, and it's time to pop the hood and see how the engine ran! In this special post-race episode, Tim and Dan take a deep dive into Topic Test 3, also known as the BIOL1070 Final Exam. They pull into the garage to inspect how students handled the road ahead, reviewing student performance, breaking down their own exam questions, and reflecting on what went smoothly… and what hit a few potholes.
 
📍 Topic Time Stamps
🔍 00:47 – Tim & Dan Discuss What the End of the Semester Looks Like for Them
📝 8:50 – Tim & Dan Reflect After Topic Test 3
❗ 40:00 – Summer Podcast Update
 
Buckle up and get ready to hit the road one last time as we tune into what worked, what stalled, and what we learned from the final test. 🚗💨
 
🔧 FYI: We hit a bit of a bump in the road with the audio quality in this episode, our apologies! You might notice a few rough patches, but we’re already under the hood working on it and tuning things up for future episodes. Thanks for sticking with us!

Topic Test 2: Pit Stop or Breakdown?

This week on BIOL1070 Under the Hood with Tim & Dan, we’re shifting into gear to discuss Topic Test 2! Tim & Dan take you behind the wheel of the test design process, breaking down how it all comes together and reflecting on what worked, and what didn’t.
 
Before we cruise into the test, we’re kicking things off with a big-picture question: If you could assess students in BIOL1070 in any possible way, how would you do it?
 
After we’ve taken the test apart, we turn to a student-submitted Slido question: What does the Y chromosome actually do? Does it have a purpose beyond sex determination? And what do its genes even code for?
 
 
📍 Topic Time Stamps
🔍 00:49 – Testing the Limits: How Would You Assess BIOL1070?
📝 10:50 – Tim & Dan Reflect Before Topic Test 2                    12:45 - Favourite question                      16:05 - What question are you cheering for the students to do well on?                     18:00 - What question do you think will be the hardest?                    21:30 - What questions are you worried may need to be thrown away?                     24:14 – Which question do you think may have more than one right answer?  
🤔 28:32 – Tim & Dan Reflect After Topic Test 2                        30:17 – Favourite Question
      32:31 - Cheering for students: how did it go?
                     33:47 – What was the hardest question?                     36:24 - What questions got thrown out?                     37:11 - Did any questions have more than one correct answer?
                     37:47 – Point adjustments and why Tim and Dan made them?                     43:09 - What did Tim & Dan learn from this experience?
❓ 46:53 – Slido Spotlight: What does the Y chromosome actually do? Does it have a purpose beyond sex determination? And what do its genes even code for?
 
 
There’s plenty to explore under the hood in this episode, so buckle up and enjoy the ride! 🚗💨

From the Driver’s Seat: Tim & Dan Breakdown Topic Test 1

This week on BIOL1070 Under the Hood with Tim & Dan, we’re taking a look in the rearview mirror at Topic Test 1. Dan & Tim break down what went into designing the test, reflect on what worked (and what definitely didn’t), and give us a peek into the decision-making process behind which questions get scrapped.
But before we shift gears to Topic Test 2, we’re answering a big student question: I didn’t do as well as I wanted—what did I do wrong?
There’s a lot of thought and care that goes into these tests (and, well… Dan and Tim had a lot to say), so buckle up—this one’s a long ride, but hopefully, it helps you hit the road with confidence for Topic Test 2!
📍 Topic Time Stamps
🔍 00:45 – Tim & Dan's Reminisce on Test Taking in University
📝 12:04 – Tim & Dan Reflect Before Topic Test 1                    13:54 - What is Tim's favourite question                     16:00 - Are there any questions that may have more than one right answer?                    19:09 - What question are you cheering for the students to do well on?                    21:07 - What question does Tim think will be the hardest?                    23:11 - How many questions do you think will be thrown away?
🤔 24:56 – Tim & Dan Reflect After Topic Test 1                        28:30 - Cheering for students: how did it go?                     29:17 - What was the hardest question?                     34:32 - What questions got thrown out?                     35:08 - Did any questions have more than one correct answer?                     42:51 - What did Tim & Dan learn fro this experience?
❓ 48:17 – Slido Spotlight: I Didn’t Do Well… What Did I Do Wrong?
Buckle up—it’s going to be a ride full of twists and turns! 🚗💨

Tuning the Engine: Why We Chose Codon

This week on BIOL1070: Under The Hood, Tim & Dan discuss the decision to introduce Codon as a key learning tool for the course. But before we hit the gas on that discussion, they take a pit stop in The Prof's Archive, reminiscing about the textbooks they used in undergrad.
Then, we shift into high gear with The Central Dogma, breaking down why Codon made it into BIOL1070 this year—what makes it different, how it fits into the course, and what they hope students get out of it.
Finally, in the Slido Spotlight, we take a detour into de-extinction: Is bringing back woolly mammoths really a good idea?
📍 Topic Time Stamps
📚 00:00 – The Profs’ Archive (Textbooks from Tim & Dan’s Undergrad)🧬 07:04 – The Central Dogma (Why Codon?)❓ 38:23 – Slido Spotlight (Should We Bring Back Woolly Mammoths?)
Buckle up—it’s going to be a fun ride! 🚘

Are Viruses Alive If They're Evolving?

In this episode, Tim and Dan tackle the Slido question: "Are Viruses Alive If They're Evolving?" They’ll share their thoughts and perspectives on the topic, based on their knowledge and understanding. Please note that their answers reflect their personal views and should not be taken as definitive scientific fact. Tune in to hear if they agree—and what they think about this fascinating question!

What Is Slido?

In this quick episode, Tim and Dan introduce Slido—a new tool they're using in class to boost engagement. They’ll explain what Slido is, why it's being incorporated into the BIOL1070 course, and the "rules" for how students can participate in the upcoming Slido segments. Tune in to get all the essential details before the Q&A begins!

In the Driver's Seat: Tim's Roadmap to Teaching

In this episode, Tim takes the wheel to answer Dan’s question from last time: “What is your teaching philosophy?” From fostering curiosity to navigating the twists and turns of teaching, Tim shares how his unique approach drives his classroom forward. Buckle up for an insightful and inspiring ride!

Rev Your Engines

In this episode, get to know your BIOL1070: Discovering Biodiversity instructors, Tim and Dan, and catch a sneak peek of what’s coming up on the journey ahead!