introductory biology course into an active learningexperience that resonates with a wide range of undergraduate students. Backward course designled to an innovative curriculum that (1) is based on biology’s big ideas, (2) has measurablelearning outcomes, and (3) encourages development of higher order thinking skills. Our studioclassroom design maximizes interactions; cantilevered workstations distributed throughout theroom encourage student-instructor and student-student interactions. Group discussions occur atwhiteboards as students solve problems, create concept maps, plan experiments and interpretexperimental data. Workstation computers and dual monitors support whole-class instruction aswell as student-led group explorations. The classroom design