scholarly journals Enhancing Diversity in Science: Is Teaching Science Process Skills the Answer?

2006 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 218-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clarissa Dirks ◽  
Matthew Cunningham
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Research ◽  
Grade Point Averages ◽  
Underrepresented Minorities ◽  
Process Skills ◽  
Introductory Biology ◽  
Grade Point ◽  
Science Process Skills ◽  
Science Degree ◽  
The University ◽  
Beginning Students

The Biology Fellows Program at the University of Washington aims to enhance diversity in science by helping students succeed in the rigorous introductory biology classes and motivating them to engage in undergraduate research. The composite Scholastic Achievement Test scores and high school grade point averages of the Biology Fellows are comparable to those of students who are not in the program; however, they earn, on average, higher grades in introductory biology classes than non-Biology Fellows. Underrepresented minorities and disadvantaged students in the program also earn higher grades in the introductory biology classes than do their non-Biology Fellows counterparts. Analysis of the performance of Biology Fellows shows that the program assists students who are not proficient in certain science process skills and that students who lack these skills are at risk for failing introductory biology. This evaluation provides insight for designing programs that aim to enhance the performance of beginning students of biology, particularly for underrepresented minorities, who want to obtain a life science degree.

scholarly journals 7. Wider Horizons: Fostering a Culture of Undergraduate Research

2012 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 39
Author(s):  
Roxanne Harde ◽  
Neil Haave
Keyword(s):  
Grade Point Average ◽  
Undergraduate Research ◽  
Campus Culture ◽  
Degree Programs ◽  
Roundtable Discussion ◽  
Grade Point ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Student Access ◽  
Academic Conference ◽  
The University

This essay synthesizes our roundtable discussion about how to develop a campus culture of undergraduate research. Our discussion began with descriptions of the University of Alberta, Augustana’s initiatives: Independent Studies courses, the Student Academic Conference, and summer research assistantships. Common concerns from roundtable participants included whether or not student access to undergraduate research should be limited by grade point average, how to implement undergraduate research from first to final year of student degree programs, how to fund undergraduate research, and finally how to approach undergraduate research across the academy.

scholarly journals Evaluating a Science Diversity Program at UC Berkeley: More Questions Than Answers

2003 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Matsui ◽  
Roger Liu ◽  
Caroline M. Kane
Keyword(s):  
Biological Sciences ◽  
African American ◽  
Academic Success ◽  
Hispanic Students ◽  
Underrepresented Minorities ◽  
Sat Scores ◽  
Grade Point ◽  
Diversity Programs ◽  
Majority Students ◽  
The University

For the past three decades, much attention has been focused on developing diversity programs designed to improve the academic success of underrepresented minorities, primarily in mathematics, science, and engineering. However, ethnic minorities remain underrepresented in science majors and careers. Over the last 10 years, the Biology Scholars Program (BSP), a diversity program at the University of California (UC), Berkeley, has worked to increase the participation and success of students majoring in the biological sciences. A quantitative comparison of students in and out of the program indicates that students in BSP graduate with a degree in biology at significantly higher rates than students not in BSP regardless of race/ethnicity. Furthermore, students who are in BSP have statistically lower high school grade point averages (GPAs) and Scholastic Achievement Test (SAT) scores than students not in BSP. African-American and Hispanic students who join BSP graduate with significantly higher UC Berkeley biology GPAs than non-BSP African-American and Hispanic students, respectively. Majority (Asian and White) students in BSP graduate with statistically similar UC GPAs despite having lower SAT scores than non-BSP majority students. Although BSP students are more successful in completing a biology degree than non-program members, the results raise a series of questions about why the program works and for whom.

Transfer Learning Community: Overcoming Transfer Shock and Increasing Retention of Mathematics and Science Majors

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 300-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy P. Scott ◽  
Sara S. Thigpin ◽  
Adrienne O. Bentz
Keyword(s):  
Learning Community ◽  
Undergraduate Research ◽  
Underrepresented Students ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Retention Rates ◽  
Transfer Student ◽  
Peer Mentors ◽  
Transfer Shock ◽  
Grade Point ◽  
The University

The College of Science at Texas A&M University developed a transfer student learning community with one 2-year institution after receiving National Science Foundation funds for scholarships to support students majoring in engineering and science. To date, 89% of the students that matriculated to Texas A&M University under this grant have completed their degrees or are on target to do so. Eighty-three percent of historically underrepresented students supported through the grant have completed their degrees. Lessons learned from success of the grant have been implemented to create a mandatory learning community for every incoming transfer student. Hallmarks of the program include an Academic Boot Camp prior to the start of the semester and monthly meetings. Monthly meetings include intentional advising, campus resources, academic policies, access to peer mentors, and introduction to undergraduate research opportunities. Overall retention rates to the university have risen through this expanded learning community, as have overall grade point averages.

scholarly journals Gender Gaps in Achievement and Participation in Multiple Introductory Biology Classrooms

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 478-492 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah L. Eddy ◽  
Sara E. Brownell ◽  
Mary Pat Wenderoth
Keyword(s):  
Gender Disparity ◽  
Gender Disparities ◽  
Grade Point Averages ◽  
Introductory Biology ◽  
Gender Gaps ◽  
Grade Point ◽  
Undergraduate Level ◽  
Two Measures ◽  
Using Data ◽  
And Mathematics

Although gender gaps have been a major concern in male-dominated science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines such as physics and engineering, the numerical dominance of female students in biology has supported the assumption that gender disparities do not exist at the undergraduate level in life sciences. Using data from 23 large introductory biology classes for majors, we examine two measures of gender disparity in biology: academic achievement and participation in whole-class discussions. We found that females consistently underperform on exams compared with males with similar overall college grade point averages. In addition, although females on average represent 60% of the students in these courses, their voices make up less than 40% of those heard responding to instructor-posed questions to the class, one of the most common ways of engaging students in large lectures. Based on these data, we propose that, despite numerical dominance of females, gender disparities remain an issue in introductory biology classrooms. For student retention and achievement in biology to be truly merit based, we need to develop strategies to equalize the opportunities for students of different genders to practice the skills they need to excel.

scholarly journals How Well Do Undergraduate Research Programs Promote Engagement and Success of Students?

2011 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 156-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcus Fechheimer ◽  
Karen Webber ◽  
Pamela B. Kleiber
Keyword(s):  
Student Success ◽  
Undergraduate Research ◽  
Operational Definition ◽  
Potential Contribution ◽  
Research Experience ◽  
Grade Point ◽  
University Of Georgia ◽  
Institutional Data ◽  
The University ◽  
The Impact

Assessment of undergraduate research (UR) programs using participant surveys has produced a wealth of information about design, implementation, and perceived benefits of UR programs. However, measurement of student participation university wide, and the potential contribution of research experience to student success, also require the study of extrinsic measures. In this essay, institutional data on student credit-hour generation and grade point average (GPA) from the University of Georgia are used to approach these questions. Institutional data provide a measure of annual enrollment in UR classes in diverse disciplines. This operational definition allows accurate and retrospective analysis, but does not measure all modes of engagement in UR. Cumulative GPA is proposed as a quantitative extrinsic measure of student success. Initial results show that extended participation in research for more than a single semester is correlated with an increase in GPA, even after using SAT to control for the initial ability level of the students. While the authors acknowledge that correlation does not prove causality, continued efforts to measure the impact of UR programs on student outcomes using GPA or an alternate extrinsic measure is needed for development of evidence-based programmatic recommendations.

scholarly journals Enhancing Undergraduate Student Success in STEM Fields through Growth-Mindset and Grit

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 279
Author(s):  
Gokhan Hacisalihoglu ◽  
Desmond Stephens ◽  
Sonya Stephens ◽  
Lewis Johnson ◽  
Maurice Edington
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Student Success ◽  
Life Skills ◽  
Course Design ◽  
Growth Mindset ◽  
Grade Point Averages ◽  
Grade Point ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Stem Students ◽  
The University

Concern about graduation rates in higher education has led universities to offer courses that help students develop success skills. Scientist Life Skills, a new course for freshman at Florida A&M University, focuses on helping students matriculate into majors via development of growth mindset, grit, and critical thinking. Here, we assessed the outcomes of this course and explored the associations between building life skills and student success. A series of mindset, grit, and critical-thinking assessment measures were used to collect data before and after the course. Our results showed that the new course achieved its intended goals of providing STEM students with a set of tools that help them seamlessly transition into the university and successfully matriculate through their majors. Specifically, the course design significantly moved students toward a growth-mindset, increased their critical thinking, and their second-semester grade point averages (GPAs). This model life skills course can be adopted in non-STEM areas as well.

The Effects of Affirmative Action Programs: Evidence From the University of California at San Diego

2005 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 263-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather Rose
Keyword(s):  
Affirmative Action ◽  
Graduation Rates ◽  
San Diego ◽  
Academic Preparation ◽  
Grade Point Averages ◽  
University Of California ◽  
Grade Point ◽  
Percentage Points ◽  
The Difference ◽  
The University

Using administrative data from the University of California at San Diego, the author explicitly identifies and studies students admitted under affirmative action programs. On average, these students earned grade point averages (GPAs) 0.30 points lower than those of nonaffirmative students. The difference in graduation rates is larger, with 57% of affirmative action students graduating compared to 73% of their nonaffirmative action peers. When compared to students just above the regular admissions cutoff, the differences are smaller—the difference in graduation rates is only 8 percentage points, and the difference in GPAs is only 0.20 points. A student’s family, school, and neighborhood characteristics can explain a small part of these differences, but academic preparation explains most of the difference.

scholarly journals EXAMINING OF INFORMATION LITERACY AND SCIENCE PROCESS SKILLS TOWARDS GRADE POINT AVERAGE: A PRELIMINARY RESEARCH

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 72
Author(s):  
Hasan Subekti ◽  
Mohammad Taufiq ◽  
Ibrohim Ibrohim ◽  
Hadi Suwono ◽  
Herawati Susilo
Keyword(s):  
Grade Point Average ◽  
Science Teachers ◽  
Information Literacy ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Process Skills ◽  
State University ◽  
Grade Point ◽  
Science Process Skills ◽  
The Right

<p><em>Information Literacy (IL) and Science Process Skills (SPS) have been widely examined to enhance the quality of learning, especially in higher education, in which information technology has become the basis of human life. This research aims to explore the relationship between IL and SPS to the grade point average (GPA) of pre-service science student. Determination of samples using a typical case sampling is 278 students from 329 active students in the program at S1-Science Education, Surabaya State University (UNESA). This research uses quantitative approaches. The source of data is a test result of IL and SPS towards a GPA in the odd 2017/2018 semester. The data were analyzed using the Minitab 16 program. The results of the data analysis showed that   = 26,69 ˃ 3,03 =   = (0,05;2;275) or in other words support data to reject   with confidence level 95%. This investigation concludes that there is a significant relationship between variable information literacy and science process skills together against the grade point average. The results of the research are expected to be one of the considerations in choosing and determining the right learning of science teachers, </em><strong> </strong><strong></strong></p>

scholarly journals Performance of FCAE diploma holders at USP

2002 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 62 ◽  
Author(s):  
U J Dixit ◽  
V U Dixit ◽  
M V Reddy
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Analysis ◽  
South Pacific ◽  
Grade Point Averages ◽  
First Year ◽  
The South ◽  
Similar Nature ◽  
Grade Point ◽  
Advanced Education ◽  
Study Programme ◽  
The University

The University of the South Pacific (USP is currently attracting many students who have completed a Diploma at the Fiji College of Advanced Education (FCAE) into its study programmes. These students are not required to do certain courses, mostly those at the first year level, as they had done courses of a similar nature at FCAE and hence these are cross-credited towards their study programme as USP. In order to ensure that the granting of cross-credits for these FCAE courses is justified, USP needs to study the performance of these students. In this paper, we have carried out a statistical analysis using the Cumulative Grade Point Averages (CGPA) of all 67 such students. Results of the analysis indicate that the performance of these students justifies the granting of cross-credits.

scholarly journals The Large Lecture Course Redesign Project: Pedagogical Goals And Assessment Results

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norman D. Aitken
Keyword(s):  
Grade Point Averages ◽  
Sat Scores ◽  
Grade Point ◽  
Traditional Course ◽  
Course Redesign ◽  
Large Lecture ◽  
University Of Massachusetts ◽  
The University ◽  
Pedagogical Goals ◽  
Total Enrollment

An analysis and assessment of the Course Redesign Project, which used technology to improve student learning and course satisfaction in large lecture courses at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Six disciplinary-diverse departments participated in the project. Technology was selected for the purpose of introducing active learning into lecture halls and providing frequent feedback to students on their individual learning progress. The assessment methodology compares traditionally taught sections with redesigned sections, holding constant (where possible) such potential confounding factors as student academic ability, professor, textbook, day and time of class and the number, type and difficulty of exams and other graded assignments. The assessment of the project produced strong and significant statistical results that indicate that students across the broad spectrum of redesigned courses learned more and achieved higher grades than students in traditional sections. This occurred despite the fact that students in traditional sections had either the same or higher high school-grade point averages and SAT scores compared to students in the redesigned sections. The project included 12 traditional course sections with a total enrollment of 2,456 and 13 redesigned courses sections with a total enrollment of 3,101. The project was supported by a grant from the Davis Educational Foundation.

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