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Pathways to Scientific Teaching
Diane Ebert-May Department of Plant Biology Michigan State University
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-Paul Valery, The Art of Poetry
The trouble with our times is that the future is not what it used to be. -Paul Valery, The Art of Poetry
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Scientific Teaching Engage Explore Explain Assess
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Engage
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Question 1 Please respond on a scale of 1-5:
1=strongly agree; 2=agree; 3=neutral; 4= disagree; 5=strongly disagree Students learn science best by doing science.
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Question 2 Please respond on a scale of 1-5:
1=strongly agree; 2=agree; 3=neutral; 4= disagree; 5=strongly disagree Science should be taught as it is practiced.
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Learners doing science...
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Please respond on a scale if 0-100
Question 3 Please respond on a scale if 0-100 in increments of 10: How important is it to use multiple kinds of data to assess student learning?
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How important is it to use multiple forms of data to assess student learning?
% Relative Importance n=127
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Please respond on a scale of 0 - 100
Question 4 Please respond on a scale of in increments of 10: How often do you use data to make instructional decisions?
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How often do you use data to make instructional decisions?
% Frequency n=127
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Question 5 Please respond on a scale of 1-5: 1=strongly agree; 2=agree; 3=neutral; 4= disagree; 5=strongly disagree Scientific teaching usually occurs in large lecture classes in my department.
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System Model
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Question 6 Please respond on a scale of 1-5: 1=strongly agree, 2=agree, 3=neutral, 4=disagree, 5=strongly disagree In my department, excellence and scholarship in teaching is rewarded at a level comparable to excellence amd scholarship in research.
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Explore
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Data collection with the purpose of answering questions about…
What is assessment? Data collection with the purpose of answering questions about… students’ understanding students’ attitudes students’ skills instructional design and implementation curricular reform (at multiple grainsizes)
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Improve student learning and development.
Why do assessment? Video Improve student learning and development. Provides students and faculty substantive feedback about student understanding. Challenge to use disciplinary research strategies to assess learning.
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Final Assessment?
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Identify desired outcomes
Determine acceptable evidence Design learning experiences and instruction Wiggins and McTighe 1998
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Question 7 True or False? Assessing student learning in science parallels what scientists/do as researchers.
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Parallel: ask questions
Description: -What is happening? Cause: -Does ‘x’ (teaching strategy) affect ‘y’ (understanding)? Process or mechanism: -Why or how does ‘x’ cause ‘y’?
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Parallel: collect data
We collect data to find out what our students know. Data helps us understand student thinking about concepts and content. We use data to guide decisions about course/curriculum/innovative instruction
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Parallel: analyze data
Quantitative data - statistical analysis Qualitative data break into manageable units and define coding categories search for patterns, quantify interpret and synthesize Valid and repeatable measures
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Parallel: peer review Ideas and results are peer reviewed - formally and/or informally.
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Guidelines for thinking about research...
What did students learn? (assessment data) Why did students respond a particular way? (research) Significant question? What are the working hypotheses? Relevant theory.. What has already been done? Literature says... How and why select methods? Direct investigation... How to analyze and interpret data? What do the results mean? Coherent reasoning... Are findings replicable and generalizable? Critique by peers...
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Research Designs
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Data collection
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Explain
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Model for Learning - System
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Question How do analogous assessment questions help us determine students’ prior understanding and progressive thinking about the carbon cycle?
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Some Common Misconceptions about Photosynthesis & Respiration
Concept 1: Matter disappears during decomposition of organisms in the soil. Concept 2: Photosynthesis as Energy: Photosynthesis provides energy for uptake of nutrients through roots which builds biomass. No biomass built through photosynthesis alone. Concept 3: Thin Air: CO2 and O2 are gases therefore, do not have mass and therefore, can not add or take away mass from an organism. Concept 4: Plant Altruism: CO2 is converted to O2 in plant leaves so that all organisms can ‘breathe’. Concept 5: All Green: Plants have chloroplasts instead of mitochondria so they can not respire.
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Ebert-May et al. 2003 Bioscience
Quantitative Data Qualitative Data Design Experiment Ebert-May et al Bioscience
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Instructional Design Two class meetings on carbon cycle (160 minutes)
Active, inquiry-based learning Cooperative groups Questions, group processing, large lecture sections, small discussion sections, multi-week laboratory investigation Homework problems including web-based modules Different faculty for each course One graduate/8-10 undergraduate TAs per course
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Experimental Design Bio 1 - organismal/population biology (faculty A)
Two introductory courses for majors: Bio 1 - organismal/population biology (faculty A) Bio 2 - cell and molecular biology (faculty B) Three cohorts: Cohort 1 Bio 1 (n=141) Cohort 2 Bio1/Bio2 (n=63) Cohort 3 Other/Bio2 (n=40)
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Assessment Design Multiple iterations/versions of the carbon cycle problem Pretest, midterm, final with additional formative assessments during class Administered during instruction Semester 1 - pretest, midterm, final exam Semester 2 - final exam
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Problem Experimental setup: Experimental treatments:
Weighed out 3 batches of radish seeds each weighing 1.5 g. Experimental treatments: 1. Seeds placed on moistened paper towels in LIGHT 2. Seeds placed on moistened paper towels in DARK 3. Seeds not moistened (left DRY) placed in light
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Problem (2) After 1 week, all plant material was dried in an oven overnight (no water left) and plant biomass was measured in grams. Predict the biomass of the plant material in the various treatments. Water, light Water, dark No water, light
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Results: Mass of Radish Seeds/Seedlings
1.46 g g g Write an explanation about the results. Explain the results. Write individually on carbonless paper.
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Grandma Johnson Problem
Hypothetical scenario: Grandma Johnson had very sentimental feelings toward Johnson Canyon, Utah, where she and her late husband had honeymooned long ago. Her feelings toward this spot were such that upon her death she requested to be buried under a creosote bush overlooking the canyon. Trace the path of a carbon atom from Grandma Johnson’s remains to where it could become part of a coyote. NOTE: the coyote will not dig up Grandma Johnson and consume any of her remains.
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Analysis of Responses Used same scoring rubric (coding scheme) for all three problems - calibrated by adding additional criteria when necessary, rescoring: Examined two major concepts: Concept 1: Decomposers respire CO2 Concept 2: Plants uptake of CO2 Explanations categorized into two groups: Organisms (trophic levels) Processes (metabolic)
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Coding Scheme
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Cellular Respiration by Decomposers
Correct Student Responses (%) Bio1/Bio2 Other/Bio2 Friedmans, p<0.01
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Pathway of Carbon in Photosynthesis
Correct Student Responses (%) Bio1/Bio2 Other/Bio2 Friedmans, p<0.05
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Another Question Does active, inquiry-based instructional design influence students’ understanding of evolution and natural selection?
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Alternative Conceptions:
Natural Selection ■ Changes in a population occur through a gradual change in individual members of a population. ■ New traits in species are developed in response to need. ■ All members of a population are genetically equivalent, variation and fitness are not considered. ■ Traits acquired during an individual’s lifetime will be inherited by offspring.
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Explain the changes that occurred in the tree and animal
Explain the changes that occurred in the tree and animal. Use your current understanding of evolution by natural selection. (AAAS 1999)
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Misconception: individuals evolve new traits
n=80; p<.01 % of Students
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Misconception: evolution is driven by need
n=80; p<.01 % of Students
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In guppy populations, what are the primary changes that occur gradually over time?
a. The traits of each individual guppy within a population gradually change. b. The proportions of guppies having different traits within a population change. c. Successful behaviors learned by certain guppies are passed on to offspring. d. Mutations occur to meet the needs of the guppies as the environment changes. Anderson et al 2002
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Posttest: Student responses to mc
* % of Students
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Animal/Tree Posttest: Gain in student understanding of fitness
n=80; p<.01 % of Students
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Scientific Teaching Active participation to learn
Assessment is evidence Diversity is science for all...
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IRD Team at MSU Janet Batzli - Plant Biology [U of Wisconsin]
Doug Luckie - Physiology Scott Harrison - Microbiology (grad student) Tammy Long - Plant Biology Deb Linton - Plant Biology (postdoc) Rett Weber - Plant Biology Heejun Lim - Chemistry Education Duncan Sibley - Geology Rob Pennock - Philosophy Charles Ofria - Engineering Rich Lenski - Microbiolgy *National Science Foundation
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