scholarly journals Fostering 21st-Century Evolutionary Reasoning: Teaching Tree Thinking to Introductory Biology Students

2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. ar66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura R. Novick ◽  
Kefyn M. Catley
Keyword(s):  
21St Century ◽  
Assessment Instrument ◽  
Medium Size ◽  
Introductory Biology ◽  
Biology Students ◽  
Tree Thinking ◽  
Experimental Instruction ◽  
Vital Component ◽  
New Research ◽  
Business As Usual

The ability to interpret and reason from Tree of Life (ToL) diagrams has become a vital component of science literacy in the 21st century. This article reports on the effectiveness of a research-based curriculum, including an instructional booklet, laboratory, and lectures, to teach the fundamentals of such tree thinking in an introductory biology class for science majors. We present the results of a study involving 117 undergraduates who received either our new research-based tree-thinking curriculum or business-as-usual instruction. We found greater gains in tree-thinking abilities for the experimental instruction group than for the business-as-usual group, as measured by performance on our novel assessment instrument. This was a medium size effect. These gains were observed on an unannounced test that was administered ∼5–6 weeks after the primary instruction in tree thinking. The nature of students’ postinstruction difficulties with tree thinking suggests that the critical underlying concept for acquiring expert-level competence in this area is understanding that any specific phylogenetic tree is a subset of the complete, unimaginably large ToL.

scholarly journals Evaluating Student Preparedness and Conceptual Change in Introductory Biology Students Studying Gene Expression

2010 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-34
Author(s):  
Kelly McDonald ◽  
Joseph Gomes
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Conceptual Change ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Qualitative Evaluation ◽  
Assessment Instrument ◽  
Scientific Language ◽  
Introductory Biology ◽  
Student Preparedness ◽  
Biology Students ◽  
Post Test

Conceptual difficulties experienced by introductory college biology students studying gene expression are explored in this empirical study. We used an open-ended assessment instrument and a pre-test/post-test design to measure prior knowledge and conceptual change over the course of one semester. Our findings suggest that introductory biology students struggle with the basic terminology necessary to understand complex biological systems at the molecular and genetic level. While conceptual growth from the beginning to the end of the semester was less than expected, learning gains were significant for all concepts examined by our assessment strategy. Qualitative evaluation of pre- and post-tests further highlighted the difficulty students have articulating their knowledge using scientific language. In our discussion, we emphasize the importance of assessing conceptual understanding, developing instructional strategies to promote conceptual change, and the need for closer alignment of curriculum between and within institutions. Ultimately, educational and institutional resources to support faculty development in the area of teaching and learning are critical for the retention and preparation of a diverse student population in the biological sciences.

scholarly journals Preparing for Class: Actions and Resources of Introductory Biology Students

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tina M. Ballard ◽  
Sabah Sattar ◽  
Kendra D. Wright ◽  
Jaime L. Sabel ◽  
Heather E. Bergan-Roller
Keyword(s):  
Introductory Biology ◽  
Undergraduate Biology ◽  
Biology Students ◽  
Class Actions

Instructors want students to be prepared for class. There are several different resources and activities available to help students prepare for class, but very little is known about how students choose to prepare for class in the context of undergraduate biology.

scholarly journals Development of a Biological Science Quantitative Reasoning Exam (BioSQuaRE)

2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. ar66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liz Stanhope ◽  
Laura Ziegler ◽  
Tabassum Haque ◽  
Laura Le ◽  
Marcelo Vinces ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Biological Science ◽  
Quantitative Reasoning ◽  
Postsecondary Institutions ◽  
Assessment Instrument ◽  
Biological Research ◽  
Undergraduate Biology ◽  
Biology Students ◽  
Quantitative Skills ◽  
Using Data

Multiple reports highlight the increasingly quantitative nature of biological research and the need to innovate means to ensure that students acquire quantitative skills. We present a tool to support such innovation. The Biological Science Quantitative Reasoning Exam (BioSQuaRE) is an assessment instrument designed to measure the quantitative skills of undergraduate students within a biological context. The instrument was developed by an interdisciplinary team of educators and aligns with skills included in national reports such as BIO2010, Scientific Foundations for Future Physicians, and Vision and Change. Undergraduate biology educators also confirmed the importance of items included in the instrument. The current version of the BioSQuaRE was developed through an iterative process using data from students at 12 postsecondary institutions. A psychometric analysis of these data provides multiple lines of evidence for the validity of inferences made using the instrument. Our results suggest that the BioSQuaRE will prove useful to faculty and departments interested in helping students acquire the quantitative competencies they need to successfully pursue biology, and useful to biology students by communicating the importance of quantitative skills. We invite educators to use the BioSQuaRE at their own institutions.

scholarly journals Differences in Metacognitive Regulation in Introductory Biology Students: When Prompts Are Not Enough

2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. ar15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie Dangremond Stanton ◽  
Xyanthe N. Neider ◽  
Isaura J. Gallegos ◽  
Nicole C. Clark
Keyword(s):  
Student Performance ◽  
Learning Strategies ◽  
Metacognitive Knowledge ◽  
Introductory Biology ◽  
Undergraduate Biology ◽  
Biology Students ◽  
Self Evaluation ◽  
Metacognitive Development ◽  
Metacognitive Regulation ◽  
Introductory Biology Course

Strong metacognition skills are associated with learning outcomes and student performance. Metacognition includes metacognitive knowledge—our awareness of our thinking—and metacognitive regulation—how we control our thinking to facilitate learning. In this study, we targeted metacognitive regulation by guiding students through self-evaluation assignments following the first and second exams in a large introductory biology course (n = 245). We coded these assignments for evidence of three key metacognitive-regulation skills: monitoring, evaluating, and planning. We found that nearly all students were willing to take a different approach to studying but showed varying abilities to monitor, evaluate, and plan their learning strategies. Although many students were able to outline a study plan for the second exam that could effectively address issues they identified in preparing for the first exam, only half reported that they followed their plans. Our data suggest that prompting students to use metacognitive-regulation skills is effective for some students, but others need help with metacognitive knowledge to execute the learning strategies they select. Using these results, we propose a continuum of metacognitive regulation in introductory biology students. By refining this model through further study, we aim to more effectively target metacognitive development in undergraduate biology students.

scholarly journals Introductory Biology Students’ Conceptual Models and Explanations of the Origin of Variation

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 529-539 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Bray Speth ◽  
Neil Shaw ◽  
Jennifer Momsen ◽  
Adam Reinagel ◽  
Paul Le ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Causal Reasoning ◽  
Conceptual Models ◽  
Multiple Scales ◽  
Explanatory Models ◽  
Introductory Biology ◽  
Biological Organization ◽  
Biology Students ◽  
Multiple Case ◽  
Introductory Biology Course ◽  
Written Explanations

Mutation is the key molecular mechanism generating phenotypic variation, which is the basis for evolution. In an introductory biology course, we used a model-based pedagogy that enabled students to integrate their understanding of genetics and evolution within multiple case studies. We used student-generated conceptual models to assess understanding of the origin of variation. By midterm, only a small percentage of students articulated complete and accurate representations of the origin of variation in their models. Targeted feedback was offered through activities requiring students to critically evaluate peers’ models. At semester's end, a substantial proportion of students significantly improved their representation of how variation arises (though one-third still did not include mutation in their models). Students’ written explanations of the origin of variation were mostly consistent with their models, although less effective than models in conveying mechanistic reasoning. This study contributes evidence that articulating the genetic origin of variation is particularly challenging for learners and may require multiple cycles of instruction, assessment, and feedback. To support meaningful learning of the origin of variation, we advocate instruction that explicitly integrates multiple scales of biological organization, assessment that promotes and reveals mechanistic and causal reasoning, and practice with explanatory models with formative feedback.

Using Mini-reports to Teach Scientific Writing to Biology Students

2014 ◽  
Vol 76 (8) ◽  
pp. 551-555 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra D. Simmons ◽  
Maia Larios-Sanz ◽  
Shivas Amin ◽  
Rosemarie C. Rosell
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Writing ◽  
Introductory Biology ◽  
Biology Students ◽  
Time Investment ◽  
Biology Lab

Anyone who has taught an introductory biology lab has sat at their desk in front of a towering stack of lengthy lab reports and wondered if there was a better way to teach scientific writing. We propose the use of a one-page format that we have called a “mini-report,” which we believe better allows students to understand the structure and characteristics of proper scientific writing and reduces the grading-time investment for instructors.

scholarly journals DESIGNING ICT COMPETENCES-INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENTS OF PRACTICAL KEY TEACHING COMPETENCES FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-55
Author(s):  
Made Gede Dwi Susantha S. ◽  
Sri Sumarni
Keyword(s):  
21St Century ◽  
Integrated Assessment ◽  
Word Processing ◽  
Teaching Practice ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
Language Education ◽  
Assessment Instrument ◽  
Assessment Instruments ◽  
Study Program ◽  
Course Planning

The rapid development of information and communication technology (ICT) in this 21st century arises a new major challenge in education. 21st century learning challenges require the assessment instrument to be integrated with the ICT competences which is not yet accomplished by the existing assessment instrument. This study aims to design ICT competence-integrated assessment instruments of practical key teaching competences courses. This research adapted Design and Development Research (DDR). The used of DDR stages are need analyzing, designing. prototype and evaluation. The data were taken from the existing assessment instruments from seven different universities in Indonesia. The result of the research shows that first, the existing assessment instruments make use of ICT in extent of technology literacy where the ICT competences indicators that mostly used were using word processing software by following standard conventions, using ICT resources to enhance their productivity and download resources from websites. Second, based on the need analysis the researcher designed the procedures of integrating ICT competences into table of specification of practical key teaching competences. Third, the researcher designed the table of specifications of practical key teaching competences course namely, lesson course planning, Instruction Management and Monitoring and Teaching Practice. Fourth the researcher designed the ICT competences- integrated assessment instrument test of practical key teaching competences course namely, lesson course planning, Instruction Management and Monitoring and Teaching Practice. The last, the researcher designed the ICT competences-integrated assessment instrument non-test of practical key teaching competences course namely, lesson course planning, Instruction Management and Monitoring and Teaching Practice.

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