Biology Beyond the Classroom: Experiential Learning Through Authentic Research, Design, and Community Engagement.

This paper introduces the collection of manuscripts from the symposium, "Biology Beyond the Classroom: Experiential Learning through Authentic Research, Design, and Community Engagement," presented at the 2021 annual meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology. The following papers showcase innovative approaches for engaging undergraduate students in experiential science learning experiences. Specifically, we focus on three high-impact practices that allow students to take their learning outside of the classroom for increased relevance and authenticity: (1) Course-Based Undergraduate Research, (2) Digital Fabrication in Makerspaces, and (3) Service or Community-based Learning Opportunities.

"At Least We Could Give Our Input": Underrepresented Student Narratives on Conventional and Guided Inquiry-Based Laboratory Approaches.

Policy documents continually stress the need to develop a scientifically literate and diverse workforce. One commonly recommended way to achieve these goals is through the redesign of introductory level science courses to foster students' interest in science. Such redesigns take advantage of a myriad of evidence-based strategies such as inquiry and context-based approaches that place students at the center of learning.