Assessment of a new water quality curriculum in BIO 369, Environmental Microbiology.

We developed laboratory curriculum on water quality microbiology by linking field experiences at the nearby Rio De Flag Water Reclamation Facility in Flagstaff AZ with current molecular and functional laboratory approaches. Success was assessed using a self-reported confidence survey, pre and post course content knowledge tests and face to face interviews. The students responded positively to the new curriculum, had increased awareness of environmental microbiology careers and improved their content knowledge of water quality microbiology.