scholarly journals Insights on biology student motivations and challenges when reading and analyzing primary literature

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. e0251275
Author(s):  
Kristen N. Howard ◽  
Emma K. Stapleton ◽  
April A. Nelms ◽  
Kelsee C. Ryan ◽  
Miriam Segura-Totten
Keyword(s):  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Scientific Literacy ◽  
Classroom Practice ◽  
Data Interpretation ◽  
Goal Orientations ◽  
Expectancy Value ◽  
Primary Literature ◽  
Big Picture ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Student Motivations

Reading primary literature is a popular classroom practice that exposes students to the process of science. However, the analysis of primary literature can be taxing and time-consuming for students. For this reason, it is important to determine the source of student challenges and what motivates them to read primary literature. To better understand students’ challenges, preferences, and motivations towards analyzing primary literature, we held focus groups with biology undergraduates where we asked them about their thoughts and perceptions on this practice. Students felt they struggle with understanding the big picture of an article, certain aspects of scientific literacy like data interpretation and experimental setup, and lack of knowledge of terms and techniques. Further analysis of the data using the achievement goal and expectancy-value theories of motivation revealed that students: 1) demonstrate mastery and performance approach goal orientations, which are typically associated with positive learning outcomes, 2) value the usefulness of reading primary literature, and 3) feel most engaged in the process of reading an article when the topic interests them. We provide pedagogical recommendations based on our findings.

scholarly journals Expert–Novice Comparison Reveals Pedagogical Implications for Students’ Analysis of Primary Literature

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. ar56 ◽  
Author(s):  
April A. Nelms ◽  
Miriam Segura-Totten
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Load ◽  
Scientific Literacy ◽  
Cognitive Load Theory ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Data Interpretation ◽  
Scientific Article ◽  
Load Theory ◽  
Research Article ◽  
Primary Literature ◽  
Expert Novice

Student engagement in the analysis of primary scientific literature increases critical thinking, scientific literacy, data evaluation, and science process skills. However, little is known about the process by which expertise in reading scientific articles develops. For this reason, we decided to compare how faculty experts and student novices engage with a research article. We performed think-aloud interviews of biology faculty and undergraduates as they read through a scientific article. We analyzed these interviews using qualitative methods. We grounded data interpretation in cognitive load theory and the ICAP (interactive, constructive, active, and passive) framework. Our results revealed that faculty have more complex schemas than students and that they reduce cognitive load through two main mechanisms: summarizing and note-taking. Faculty also engage with articles at a higher cognitive level, described as constructive by the ICAP framework, when compared with students. More complex schemas, effectively lowering cognitive load, and deeper engagement with the text may help explain why faculty encounter fewer comprehension difficulties than students in our study. Finally, faculty analyze and evaluate data more often than students when reading the text. Findings include a discussion of successful pedagogical approaches for instructors wishing to enhance undergraduates’ comprehension and analysis of research articles.

scholarly journals Teaching traditions in science education in Switzerland, Sweden and France: A comparative analysis of three curricula

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-70
Author(s):  
Laurence Marty ◽  
Patrice Venturini ◽  
Jonas Almqvist
Keyword(s):  
Science Education ◽  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Scientific Literacy ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Science And Society ◽  
The Core ◽  
Moral Tradition ◽  
Science Curricula ◽  
Expected Outcomes ◽  
Academic Tradition

Classroom actions rely, among other things, on teaching habits and traditions. Previous research has clarified three different teaching traditions in science education: the academic tradition builds on the idea that simply the products and methods of science are worth teaching; the applied tradition focuses on students’ ability to use scientific knowledge and skills in their everyday life; and the moral tradition opens up a relationship between science and society, focusing on students’ decision making concerning socio scientific issues. The aim of this paper is to identify and discuss similarities and differences between the science curricula in Sweden, France and Western Switzerland in terms of teaching traditions. The study considers the following dimensions in the analysis: (1) the goals of science education as presented in the initial recommendations of the curricula; (2) the organization and division of the core contents; and (3) the learning outcomes expected from the students in terms of concepts, skills and/or scientific literacy requirements. Although the three traditions are taken into account within the various initial recommendations, the place they occupy in the content to be taught is different in each case. In the Swedish curriculum, our analyses show that the three traditions are embedded in the initial recommendations and in the expected outcomes. On the other hand, in the Western-Swiss and French curricula, the three traditions are embedded in the initial recommendations but only academic tradition can be found in the expected outcomes. Therefore, the Swedish curriculum seems to be more consistent regarding teaching traditions. This may have some consequences on teaching and learning practices, which will be discussed in the article. Moreover, our analyses enable us to put forward definitions of teaching tradition.

scholarly journals Team Leaders Matter in Knowledge Sharing: A Cross-Level Analysis of the Interplay between Leaders’ and Members’ Goal Orientations in the Chinese Context

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 715-745 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiamin Zhang ◽  
Yi Wang ◽  
Marina Yue Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Sharing ◽  
Goal Orientation ◽  
Goal Orientations ◽  
Team Leaders ◽  
Team Members ◽  
Learning Goal ◽  
Learning Goal Orientation ◽  
Approach Orientation ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Relationship

ABSTRACTThis article investigates the impact of cross-level interplay between team members’ and their leaders’ goal orientations (learning, performance approach, and performance avoidance) on knowledge sharing using samples from design teams in two companies in China. Our results show that team leaders’ learning goal orientation plays a critical moderating role. Specifically, team leaders’ learning goal orientation strengthens the positive relationship between team members’ learning orientation and knowledge sharing; positively moderates the relationship between team members’ performance approach orientation and knowledge sharing; and weakens the negative relationship between team members’ performance avoidance orientation and knowledge sharing. Team leaders’ performance approach orientation demonstrates a positive moderating effect when there is congruence between the performance approach orientation of leaders and members. Finally, team leaders’ performance avoidance orientation negatively moderates the relationship between team members’ learning and performance approach orientation on knowledge sharing. This research enhances our understanding of the conditions under which knowledge sharing occurs among team members, using the lens of Trait Activation Theory.

scholarly journals Pengaruh Model Pembelajaran Contextual Teaching and Learning (CTL) Terhadap Hasil Belajar Kognitif dan Literasi Sains Siswa

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-54
Author(s):  
Safnowandi Safnowandi
Keyword(s):  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Scientific Literacy ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Cognitive Learning ◽  
Learning Model ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Multiple Choice Questions ◽  
Control Group Design ◽  
Contextual Teaching ◽  
Cognitive Learning Outcomes

The objectives of this research are to: 1) determine the effect of the Contextual Teaching and Learning (CTL) learning model on cognitive learning outcomes; and 2) to determine the effect of the Contextual Teaching and Learning (CTL) learning model on students' scientific literacy. This type of research is a quasi experiment. The research design of pre-test-post-test non equivalent control group design. The population in this study were all class VII students of SMPN 1 Tanjung North Lombok Regency in the academic year 2017/2018 which consisted of 6 classes. The sampling technique used purposive sampling, in order to obtain class VII 3 as the experimental class and class VII 1 as the control class. The instruments used to collect data were multiple choice questions totaling 20 items to measure student cognitive learning outcomes and essay questions to measure content and the scientific context. Meanwhile, worksheets are used to measure the scientific process. The data analysis technique used two-way ANOVA with a significance level of 0.05% using SPSS 16 for Windows. The results showed that: 1) there was an effect of the application of the Contextual Teaching and Learning (CTL) learning model on cognitive learning outcomes (p <0.05); and 2) there is an effect of the Contextual Teaching and Learning (CTL) learning model on students' scientific literacy (p <0.05).

scholarly journals Self-Regulated Studying Behavior, and the Social Norms that Influence It

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie Eyink ◽  
Benjamin Motz ◽  
Gordon Heltzel ◽  
Torrin Liddell
Keyword(s):  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Learning Goals ◽  
Social Approval ◽  
Injunctive Norms ◽  
Descriptive Norms ◽  
The Social ◽  
College Course ◽  
Improved Performance ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Influence Behavior

Teachers use injunctive norms when telling students what they should be doing. But researchers find that sometimes descriptive norms, information about what others are doing, more powerfully influence behavior. Currently, we examine which norm is more effective at increasing self-regulated studying and performance in an online college course. We found injunctive norms increased study behaviors aimed at fulfilling course requirements (completion of assigned activities), but did not improve learning outcomes. Descriptive norms increased behaviors aimed at improving knowledge (ungraded practice with activities after they were due), and improved performance. These results imply norms have a stronger influence over behavior when there is a match between the goal of the behavior (fulfilling course requirements vs. learning goals) and the pull of a stated norm (social approval vs. efficacy). Because the goal of education is learning, this suggests descriptive norms have a greater value for motivating self-regulated study in authentic learning environments.

scholarly journals An Instructor Learning Analytics Implementation Model

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Holly McKee
Keyword(s):  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Learning Analytics ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Research Problem ◽  
Self Reflection ◽  
Implementation Model ◽  
Design And Development Research ◽  
Pedagogical Intent ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Support Students

With the widespread use of learning analytics tools, there is a need to explore how these technologies can be used to enhance teaching and learning. Little research has been conducted on what human processes are necessary to facilitate meaningful adoption of learning analytics. The research problem is that there is a lack of evidence-based guidance on how instructors can effectively implement learning analytics to support students with the purpose of improving learning outcomes. The goal was to develop and validate a model to guide instructors in the implementation of learning analytics tools. Using design and development research methods, an implementation model was constructed and validated internally. Themes emerged falling into the categories of adoption and caution with six themes falling under adoption including: LA as evidence, reaching out, frequency, early identification/intervention, self-reflection, and align LA with pedagogical intent and three themes falling under the category of caution including: skepticism, fear of overdependence, and question of usefulness.  The model should enhance instructors’ use of learning analytics by enabling them to better take advantage of available technologies to support teaching and learning in online and blended learning environments. Researchers can further validate the model by studying its usability (i.e., usefulness, effectiveness, efficiency, and learnability), as well as, how instructors’ use of this model to implement learning analytics in their courses affects retention, persistence, and performance.

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

2010 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 524-535 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Coil ◽  
Mary Pat Wenderoth ◽  
Matthew Cunningham ◽  
Clarissa Dirks
Keyword(s):  
Faculty Perceptions ◽  
Collaborative Work ◽  
Oral Communication ◽  
Data Interpretation ◽  
Scientific Writing ◽  
Process Skills ◽  
Science Content ◽  
Science Process Skills ◽  
Primary Literature ◽  
Understanding Of Science

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.

TEACHERS’ SKILLS OF EVALUATION AND PLANNING AS A PREREQUISITE FOR MANAGING EFFECTIVE LEARNING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF STUDENTS’ IN–DEPTH UNDERSTANDING AND COMPETENCE

2018 ◽  
pp. 51
Author(s):  
Aivars Vilkaste
Keyword(s):  
Effective Teaching ◽  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Systematic Evaluation ◽  
School Teachers ◽  
Effective Learning ◽  
Individual Teacher ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Teaching Learning ◽  
Development Of Students

Teaching and learning is a bilateral process and students’ learning outcomes depend to a large extent on the motivation and performance of each individual teacher in the classroom and on the activities of all school teachers. Teacher's ability to evaluate and plan teaching and learning is one of the most important professional skills because systematic evaluation, planning and re-evaluation are an integral part of learning and maximization of development, which makes teaching effective and provides students with a profound understanding and competence. These are the means by which it can be ascertained that the results achieved are in line with national and local educational requirements. The paper analyzes the teachers' understanding of effective teaching and their skills to evaluate the teaching/learning process and to plan effective teaching as well as the need to improve teachers’ evaluation and planning skills.

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