This Course at MIT

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This Course at MIT pages provide context for how the course materials published on OCW were used at MIT. They are part of the OCW Educator initiative, which seeks to enhance the value of OCW for educators.

Course Overview

This page focuses on the course 7.343 Biological Bases of Learning and Memory as it was taught by Postdoctoral Associate Lauren Makuch and Research Scientist Jai Subramanian in Spring 2014.

This course is one of many Advanced Undergraduate Seminars offered by the Biology Department at MIT. In these pass/fail seminars, students draw upon primary research literature to discuss and learn about current biological research in a highly interactive, small-group setting. This particular seminar focuses on the biological basis of learning and memory.

Course Outcomes

Course Goals for Students

This course is designed to encourage critical thinking skills in future scientists. Students learn how to read research articles and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the experiments presented.

Curriculum Information

Prerequisites

Offered

Seminars are offered each semester and are topic-based. This particular topic is not offered every semester.

 

Student Information

On average, fewer than 10 students take this course each year.

Ideal Class Size

Class size is limited to 8, to enable a high degree of personal contact with the instructor.

 
 

How Student Time Was Spent

During an average week, students were expected to spend 6 hours on the course, roughly divided as follows:

Seminar Meeting

2 hours per week
  • Met once per week for 2 hours per session; 14 sessions total.
  • Class time was spent discussing the assigned readings for the week.
  • The final 15 minutes of each class consisted of an introduction to the next week’s topic.
 

Out of Class

4 hours per week
 

Semester Breakdown

WEEK M T W Th F
1 No classes throughout MIT. No session scheduled. No session scheduled. Seminar session. No session scheduled.
2 No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled. Seminar session. No session scheduled.
3 No classes throughout MIT. No session scheduled. No session scheduled. Seminar session. No session scheduled.
4 No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled. Seminar session. No session scheduled.
5 No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled. Seminar session. No session scheduled.
6 No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled. Field trip. No session scheduled.
7 No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled. Seminar session. No session scheduled.
8 No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT.
9 No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled. Seminar session. No session scheduled.
10 No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled. Seminar session; written assignment due. No session scheduled.
11 No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled. Seminar session. No session scheduled.
12 No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No session scheduled. Seminar session. No session scheduled.
13 No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled. Seminar session. No session scheduled.
14 No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled. Seminar session. No session scheduled.
15 No session scheduled. No session scheduled. No session scheduled. Seminar session; oral presentations. No classes throughout MIT.
16 No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT.
Displays the color and pattern used on the preceding table to indicate dates when classes are not held at MIT. No classes throughout MIT
Displays the color used on the preceding table to indicate dates when class sessions are held. Seminar session
Displays the symbol used on the preceding table to indicate dates when written assignments are due. Written assignment due date
Displays the color used on the preceding table to indicate dates when no class session is scheduled. No class session scheduled
Displays the color used on the preceding table to indicate dates when field trips are held. Field trip
Displays the symbol used on the preceding table to indicate dates when oral presntations are due. Oral presentations