1. Question Introductory Biology course Does placing students with different learning skills into teams improve students’ knowledge of core content? Trudy Gillevet Northern Virginia Community College Annandale Campus

2. Why Interesting and Context Student success in Introductory Biology is a target course for improvement at Northern Virginia Community College Student population: Over 114 languages spoken Many first generation college students Competing demands/ obligations Study Skills are not necessarily up to par

3. Study Design Group people in teams (3 or 4) in class and for on-line discussion of study skills Grouping based on initial pre-test Teams: 1. in class – discuss and answer content questions 2. online discussion of study approaches and questions with content (open ended)

4. Data Collection and Assessment How collect data: 1. Pre-post class assessment of core biology content (BCI or another assessment / modified) to define teams Post assessment embedded in Final Exam 2. Final reflections on what learned about Biology and what learned about learning How assess data Measure gains in learning of core concepts Coding of students’ responses to Final Reflections