Teaching the Process of Science: Faculty Perceptions and an Effective Methodology

Most scientific endeavors require science process skills such as data interpretation, problem solving, experimental design, scientific writing, oral communication, collaborative work, and critical analysis of primary literature. These are the fundamental skills upon which the conceptual framework of scientific expertise is built. Unfortunately, most college science departments lack a formalized curriculum for teaching undergraduates science process skills. However, evidence strongly suggests that explicitly teaching undergraduates skills early in their education may enhance their understanding of science content. Our research reveals that faculty overwhelming support teaching undergraduates science process skills but typically do not spend enough time teaching skills due to the perceived need to cover content. To encourage faculty to address this issue, we provide our pedagogical philosophies, methods, and materials for teaching science process skills to freshman pursuing life science majors. We build upon previous work, showing student learning gains in both reading primary literature and scientific writing, and share student perspectives about a course where teaching the process of science, not content, was the focus. We recommend a wider implementation of courses that teach undergraduates science process skills early in their studies with the goals of improving student success and retention in the sciences and enhancing general science literacy.

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Critical Analysis of Primary Literature in a Master’s-Level Class: Effects on Self-Efficacy and Science-Process Skills

CBE—Life Sciences Education ◽

10.1187/cbe.14-10-0180 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 14 (3) ◽

pp. ar34 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Christopher Abdullah ◽

Julian Parris ◽

Richard Lie ◽

Amy Guzdar ◽

Ella Tour

Keyword(s):

Self Efficacy ◽

Data Interpretation ◽

Master's Level ◽

Process Skills ◽

Critical Approach ◽

Research Papers ◽

Science Process Skills ◽

Primary Literature ◽

Structured Analysis

The ability to think analytically and creatively is crucial for success in the modern workforce, particularly for graduate students, who often aim to become physicians or researchers. Analysis of the primary literature provides an excellent opportunity to practice these skills. We describe a course that includes a structured analysis of four research papers from diverse fields of biology and group exercises in proposing experiments that would follow up on these papers. To facilitate a critical approach to primary literature, we included a paper with questionable data interpretation and two papers investigating the same biological question yet reaching opposite conclusions. We report a significant increase in students’ self-efficacy in analyzing data from research papers, evaluating authors’ conclusions, and designing experiments. Using our science-process skills test, we observe a statistically significant increase in students’ ability to propose an experiment that matches the goal of investigation. We also detect gains in interpretation of controls and quantitative analysis of data. No statistically significant changes were observed in questions that tested the skills of interpretation, inference, and evaluation.

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The Effectiveness of Blended Learning for New Generation Learning Materials to Train Science Process Skills

SAR Journal - Science and Research ◽

10.18421/sar42-04 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 63-71

Author(s):

A. A. Ketut Budiastra ◽

Hartinawati Hartinawati ◽

Ichwan Ichwan ◽

Nia Erlina

Keyword(s):

Blended Learning ◽

Science Learning ◽

School Teacher ◽

Process Skills ◽

Science Content ◽

Teaching Materials ◽

Learning Materials ◽

Regional Office ◽

Science Process Skills ◽

New Generation

The development of the ICT has influenced various fields of life, including the development of teaching materials for undergraduate students of elementary school teacher programs of a distance university. This research aims to describe the effectiveness of blended learning of the new generation of science learning materials for science process skills. This research implements a quasi-experimental type of research. Respondents in this research were 56 students in the UT Regional Office area of Jember East of Java Indonesia. The results showed the students' mastery of science process skills and learning outcomes in natural science learning materials in both moderate and high categories. Student responses showed great interest in the science content, the teaching materials, and the learning atmosphere. The constraints faced in blended learning are the internet network to support the ICT-based tutorials and the challenge to change the habit of using printed science teaching materials during teaching within blended learning.

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Practical work in middle school Geology: Sand analysis lab

10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-10782 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Sílvia Ferreira

Keyword(s):

Middle School ◽

Science Education ◽

Depositional Environments ◽

Practical Work ◽

Process Skills ◽

Education Students ◽

Science Process Skills ◽

Size Sorting ◽

Understanding Of Science ◽

Average Size

The work presented in the poster is focused on the analysis of different sand samples in laboratory activities, at the level of middle school Portuguese science education. The role of practical work in offering students the opportunity to experience the process of scientific investigation is one of the arguments for practical work in science education. Students are expected to both learn scientific knowledge and mobilize science process skills whenever they are doing practical activities. Practical work has an important role in helping students to develop links between observations and ideas and to develop students&#8217; understanding of science processes.In sand analysis lab activity the students studied different sand samples under magnification and made observations on the sand grains size, sorting, shape, and composition. The differences in sand samples were related by the students to the depositional environments. For instance, the average size of the sand particles reflects both the strength of the current that carried them and the sizes of the crystals eroded from the parent rock. The range and relative abundance of the various sizes are also significant. The shapes of sand grains can also be important clues to their origin. Sand grains are rounded by abrasion as grains are knocked together during transport. For that reason, angular grains usually imply short distances of transportation. From the composition of sands, it is also possible to deduce the nature of the source areas that were eroded to produce the sand grains. The poster gives some examples of the observations of sand samples, in order to make clear the procedures and the discussion followed in the classroom.The activity presented also intended to promote the development of science process skills with different levels of complexity. The science process skills are considered to be ways of thinking more directly involved in scientific research, such as observing, measuring, predicting, formulating problems and hypotheses, controlling variables and, interpreting data. These aspects are discussed in the poster and some examples of science process skills are given.

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A Study of Thai In-Service and Pre-Service Science Teachers’ Understanding of Science Process Skills

Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences ◽

10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.07.291 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 197 ◽

pp. 993-997 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Chatchai Kruea-In ◽

Nantarat Kruea-In ◽

Witat Fakcharoenphol

Keyword(s):

Science Teachers ◽

Service Science ◽

Process Skills ◽

Science Process Skills ◽

Understanding Of Science

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Student Science Process Skills through the Application of Computer Based Scaffolding assisted by PhET Simulation

At-Taqaddum ◽

10.21580/at.v13i1.8151 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 21-38

Author(s):

Affa Ardhi Saputri

Keyword(s):

Online Learning ◽

Data Analysis ◽

Sampling Technique ◽

Data Interpretation ◽

Process Skills ◽

Science Process Skills ◽

Offline Learning ◽

Virtual Laboratories ◽

Basic Physics ◽

Computer Based

Basic physics practicum learning through virtual laboratories is less than optimal in developing students' science process skills. This study reveals the results of improving students' science process skills based on the application of computer scaffolding assisted by PhET simulation. This study uses a quantitative approach with a sample of 14 students through purposive sampling technique. The research stages consist of introduction, implementation, and evaluation. Collecting data through interviews, tests, and observations. Data analysis using the N-gain test. The results showed an increase in students' science process skills on several indicators with various categories. The indicator is observing 0.49 (medium category), formulating hypotheses 0.34 (medium category), carrying out experiments 0.39 (medium category), data interpretation and analysis 0.42 (medium category), communicating 0.33 (medium category), and concluded 0.29 (low category). Computer-based scaffolding with PhET simulation is an online learning solution that can also be collaborated with offline learning to improve students' science process skills.

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Development of Practical Guidance based on Research to Improve Science Process Skills and Learning Outcome in Biology Education Students

Indonesian Journal of Biology Education ◽

10.31002/ijobe.v4i1.3341 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 31

Author(s):

Karunia Galih Permadani ◽

Ika Sukmawati

Keyword(s):

Field Tests ◽

Biology Education ◽

Process Skills ◽

Design Development ◽

Science Process Skills ◽

Animal Development ◽

Implementation Evaluation ◽

Limited Scale ◽

Understanding Of Science ◽

Development Structure

Efforts to improve students' understanding of science process skills in learning the Animal Development Structure subject are developing a research-based Practicum Manual for the Animal Development Structure course. The purpose of this research is to develop a research-based Practicum Manual for Animal Development Structure courses that are suitable for use as a learning resource and experiment in the Animal Development Structure course. The development of laboratory engineering modules uses the ADDIE development model (Analyze, Design, Development, Implementation, Evaluation). This research is a development research and uses questionnaire and test instruments. The data were analyzed descriptively qualitatively and the results were analyzed using the Gain normality test. Experts in developing teaching materials and materials assess that the lecture modules developed are of good qualifications and are suitable for use. The trial results on a limited scale as well as the lecture module field tests are in good qualifications.

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Thinking and Reading like a Scientist: Librarians as Facilitators of Primary Literature Literacy

10.31229/osf.io/wsf9z ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Alexander James Carroll

Keyword(s):

Academic Preparation ◽

Literacy Skills ◽

Degree Programs ◽

Process Skills ◽

Graduate Degree ◽

Science Process Skills ◽

Reference Services ◽

Graduate Degree Programs ◽

Primary Literature ◽

Professional Degree

Students entering graduate degree programs in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields or professional degree programs in the health sciences are expected to have adequate academic preparation in science process skills like the ability to read primary literature effectively. This column scrutinizes this assumption by examining how science is taught to undergraduates, finding that undergraduate STEM curricula rarely prepare students with the mastery of science process skills needed to succeed in graduate school. The column discusses some possible causes of this skill gap and suggests that academic and medical librarians are well-equipped to help students develop primary literature literacy skills. The column closes with a list of practical active reading strategies that librarians can share and model for students. The Version of Record of this manuscript has been published and is available in Medical Reference Services Quarterly, August 10, 2020, DOI: 10.1080/02763869.2020.1778336.

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