scholarly journals Learning Gains from a Recurring “Teach and Question” Homework Assignment in a General Biology Course: Using Reciprocal Peer Tutoring Outside Class

2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. ar23 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. G. Bailey ◽  
D. Baek ◽  
J. Meiling ◽  
C. Morris ◽  
N. Nelson ◽  
...  

Providing students with one-on-one interaction with instructors is a big challenge in large courses. One solution is to have students interact with their peers during class. Reciprocal peer tutoring (RPT) is a more involved interaction that requires peers to alternate the roles of “teacher” and “student.” Theoretically, advantages for peer tutoring include the verbalization and questioning of information and the scaffolded exploration of material through social and cognitive interaction. Studies on RPT vary in their execution, but most require elaborate planning and take up valuable class time. We tested the effectiveness of a “teach and question” (TQ) assignment that required student pairs to engage in RPT regularly outside class. A quasi-experimental design was implemented: one section of a general biology course completed TQ assignments, while another section completed a substitute assignment requiring individuals to review course material. The TQ section outperformed the other section by ∼6% on exams. Session recordings were coded to investigate correlation between TQ quality and student performance. Asking more questions was the characteristic that best predicted exam performance, and this was more predictive than most aspects of the course. We propose the TQ as an easy assignment to implement with large performance gains.

2010 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Iserbyt ◽  
Jan Elen ◽  
Daniël Behets

This article addresses the issue of instructional guidance in reciprocal peer tutoring with task cards as learning tools. Eighty-six Kinesiology students (age 17–19 years) were randomized across four reciprocal peer tutoring settings, differing in quality and quantity of guidance, to learn Basic Life Support (BLS) with task cards. The separate and combined effect of two instructional guidance variables, role switching and role definition, was investigated on learning outcomes. In all settings student pairs were given 20 min to learn BLS. Individual student performance was measured before (baseline), immediately after (intervention) and two weeks later (retention). Repeated ANOVA showed strong learning gains but no significant differences between groups for total BLS scores. However, at retention significantly more students from the most guided condition remembered and consequently performed all BLS skills. It is concluded that guidance comprising role switching and role definition enhances skill retention in reciprocal peer tutoring with task cards.


2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (02) ◽  
pp. 155
Author(s):  
Oscar Karnalim ◽  
Mewati Ayub

Abstract—Educational tool is one of the prominent solutions for aiding students to learn course material in Information Technology (IT) domain. However, most of them are not used in practice since they do not properly fit student necessity. This paper evaluates the impact of an educational tool, namely PythonTutor, for completing programming laboratory task regarding data structure materials. Such evaluation will be conducted in one semester by implementing a quasi-experimental design. As a result, six findings can be deducted which are: 1) PythonTutor might positively affect student performance when the students have used such tool before; 2) Sometimes, student perspective regarding the impact of educational tool is not always in-sync with actual laboratory result; 3) the impact of PythonTutor might be improved when similar data representation is used consequently for several weeks; 4) the correlation between the use of PythonTutor and student performance might not be significant when the control and intervened group share completely different characteristics; 5) the students might experience some difficulties when they are asked to handle a big task for the first time; and 6) the students might be able to complete a particular weekly task with a promising result if the students have understood the material well.


ReCALL ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 133-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Wong ◽  
Agnès Fauverge

This paper reports on the experimental use of a broadband computer network hypermedia environment for language learning (French, English and Spanish). Using Web-based resources, students engage in a collaborative task over a network which offers high quality video-conferencing, application sharing and access to authentic multimedia resources. One of the main aims was to establish the practicalities of providing learners of languages with opportunities to engage in reciprocal peer tutoring. After outlining the pedagogical assumptions, and describing the set-up of the network-based learning environment, the trials are analysed, and the effectiveness of network-based language learning in supporting collaborative learning is discussed.


1997 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 3-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. T. Reid ◽  
K.J. Topping ◽  
J. McCrae

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 363-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chaya Gopalan ◽  
Megan C. Klann

Flipped classroom is a hybrid educational format that shifts guided teaching out of class, thus allowing class time for student-centered learning. Although this innovative teaching format is gaining attention, there is limited evidence on the effectiveness of flipped teaching on student performance. We compared student performance and student attitudes toward flipped teaching with that of traditional lectures using a partial flipped study design. Flipped teaching expected students to have completed preclass material, such as assigned reading, instructor-prepared lecture video(s), and PowerPoint slides. In-class activities included the review of difficult topics, a modified team-based learning (TBL) session, and an individual assessment. In the unflipped teaching format, students were given PowerPoint slides and reading assignment before their scheduled lectures. The class time consisted of podium-style lecture, which was captured in real time and was made available for students to use as needed. Comparison of student performance between flipped and unflipped teaching showed that flipped teaching improved student performance by 17.5%. This was true of students in both the upper and lower half of the class. A survey conducted during this study indicated that 65% of the students changed the way they normally studied, and 69% of the students believed that they were more prepared for class with flipped learning than in the unflipped class. These findings suggest that flipped teaching, combined with TBL, is more effective than the traditional lecture.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (35) ◽  
pp. 216-226
Author(s):  
Ratu Betta RUDIBYANI

Chemistry is one of the scientific disciplines considered difficult for students to understand its microscopic and macroscopic concepts. Students also claim that this discipline is tedious and complicated. They are unable to connect what is shown in the visual structure to the process and phenomenon. In the context of self-motivation among university students, there is a higher chance of expanding the stimulation of learning. This study aimed to improve self-confidence and the mastery of concepts of chemistry teaching students using problem-based learning. The quasi-experimental method was used with the design of the non-equivalent pre-test-post-test control group. The population included all students in the electrochemistry class at Lampung University in 2019. The purposeful sampling technique employed divided the sample into two groups. The first group was called Class A and was considered as the experimental class - using problem-based learning -. The second group, Class B, was recognized as the control class - using the conventional model in which the teacher applied the speech method in the delivery of materials during the class -. Class A's self-confidence and mastery of concepts have a higher nGain value than class B, and the result of the effect size is that class B has a more significant effect than class A. Based on the outcome, one can conclude that problem-based learning has a significant influence on improving self-confidence and mastery of concepts on the electrochemical theme.


Author(s):  
Samantha Mehltretter ◽  
Andrea Bradford

The Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board’s definition of professionalism, one of twelve graduate attributes, does not mention professional behaviour, but rather focuses on understanding the role of engineers in society. While difficult to define, challenging to teach, and even harder to assess, the engineering faculty at the University of Guelph felt professional behaviour was an important element of professionalism to consider in their curriculum.  This study investigates how professional behaviour might be taught and assessed. The researchers developed course material on professional behaviour for the winter 2019 offering of a third-year multidisciplinary design course (369 students), using Kelley et al.’s (2011) Professionalism Assessment Tool (PAT). Using a quasi-experimental design, the researchers assessed whether student professionalism improved based on their change in PAT scores over the semester using a Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test. They also analyzed a sample of student final reflections on professional behaviour. Student PAT scores increased significantly over the semester (n = 340, p<0.05), but the effect sizes observed, using Cohen’s d, were small (0.14 to 0.29). The student reflections (n = 53) suggest that improvements to their professionalism were a result of working in a team, experience gained from their project, and individual efforts made to behave professionally.  While infrequently discussed in the reflections, over half of the post-term survey responses revealed that students felt the lab activities helped improve their professional skills generally, and/or increased their awareness of these skills. The improved awareness aspect of student professionalism was an unexpected, but important outcome of the PAT-based course material and may have reinforced student ownership of their soft skill development.  


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