This Microbrew is a discussion about strategies to address student math skills, where they are, and to develop competency to perform data analysis in microbiology lab to address the quantitative reasoning curriculum outcome. This session is on the math skills used throughout a semester long microbiology lab and will incorporate exercises for determining cell size using a microscope equipped with a micrometer, how to setup serial dilutions and to determine the concentration of microbes in an original sample after a serial dilution is performed. To improve student learning a unique math skills sheet was developed for the students to refer to throughout the course to help master the needed skills. The participants will discuss these skills and their personal experiences in helping students overcome math hesitancy and inadequate prior math skill preparation.
