Notable Quotes About the LEEF Program
"I think the program is great and the training was extremely helpful."
"Being able to take real time, in situ photosynthetic measurements on living plants is invaluable to student learning and research."
"The LI-6400XT has made concepts that they [students] read in the textbook real. For example, they can see that the plants really do respond rapidly to light conditions. It has made what they read and learn in the classroom relevant. "
North Central College, Christine Weihoefer
"I think the program is excellent, and without it, I don't know how we could have afforded this piece of equipment."
"It has allowed myself, as well as other faculty members in the department, to undertake projects using cutting-edge research equipment. It has given undergraduate students hands-on experience doing research. One has already been accepted to graduate school and the other has plans to when she graduates. Working on graduate research projects has had an influence on those decisions."
Bethel University (Dr. Kent G. Apostol)
"The ease of use of the LI-6400, and the diversity of measurements that can be made, ideally suit it for college student applications at all levels and in different kinds of courses."
"Students can focus on understanding the relationships demonstrated by their data and develop skill in data interpretation, rather than the technical details of (and frustrations with) procedure."
Louisiana Tech University, Mike Tyree
"Teaching photosynthesis is incredibly complex and challenging. While students may become familiar with words and descriptions of processes such as electron transport, light harvesting, oxygen evolution, and carbon fixation that are covered in lectures, they may have only a very shallow, and in some cases flawed, understanding of what these processes really are unless some form of experiments are performed in the lab. There are significant problems with teaching the ecological importance and practical aspects of photosynthesis. Laboratory exercises are available, but revolve around equipment and procedures that are cheap, unreliable, and uses antiquated instruments. I believe that the LI-6400 is widely used and the most cited photosynthesis instrument in peer-reviewed journals. It is the most up-to-date tool and an ideal system for inquiry-based learning."
Bethel University (Dr. Kent G. Apostol)
"The development of inquiry-based independent research project opportunities will enable students to use state-of-the-art equipment and encourage them to be creative in experimental design, project execution, data analysis and presentation. The use of inquiry-based labs will aid students in (a) becoming independent thinkers, (b) advancing their technical writing skills, (c) facilitating teamwork between students, and (d) enhancing overall retention of learned material. The versatility of the LI-6400 should also foster creativity among students to develop and ask significant or global experimental questions, which can be addressed at a local level."