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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2014 Sep 5.
Published in final edited form as: Biochem Mol Biol Educ. 2014 Jun 4;42(4):331–338. doi: 10.1002/bmb.20802

Fig. 2. The GEAR carry-forward strategy.

Fig. 2

GEAR groups are assembled to contain a beginner, an intermediate, and an advanced student. Typically, beginners with strong mathematics skills are teamed with more lab-experienced, "advanced" students. This arrangement allows for confidence-building for the beginner (by demonstrating they can out-perform other team members), while at the same time strengthening the group performance. Full GEAR classes contain multiple groups working in synchrony according to Figure 1. After the semester, interested students continue to work on, and advance, the main project in the instructor's lab. As experienced GEAR students cycle out of the project (graduation), they are replaced by new GEAR students who have advanced from their prior experience. Importantly, GEAR students working full-time on the project serve either as group members or teaching assistants in future Full GEAR sessions. A GEAR student can contribute to the project for a single semester or for several years.