Research Problem
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Research Problem • Biology Majors lack of success in Freshman Biology • Principles of Biology BIO101/103 • high D/F/W rate • Freshman biology majors with ACT scores below 25 are less likely to complete the course with a grade of C or higher • At Risk Group • Spring Hill College (SHC) Data since 2007 shows that • 46% of students with ACT of 24 do not succeed (D/F/W) • > 60% of students with ACT of 22-23 do not succeed (D/F/W) • ACT scores below 22 rarely succeed (at SHC must have Math scores of ACT 24 or 580 SAT to take Chemistry 1 st semester)
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Research Problem. Biology Majors lack of success in Freshman Biology Principles of Biology BIO101/103 high D/F/W rate Freshman biology majors with ACT scores below 25 are less likely to complete the course with a grade of C or higher At Risk Group - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of Research Problem
Research Problem • Biology Majors lack of success in Freshman Biology
• Principles of Biology BIO101/103• high D/F/W rate• Freshman biology majors with ACT scores below 25 are less
likely to complete the course with a grade of C or higher• At Risk Group
• Spring Hill College (SHC) Data since 2007 shows that • 46% of students with ACT of 24 do not succeed (D/F/W)• > 60% of students with ACT of 22-23 do not succeed (D/F/W)• ACT scores below 22 rarely succeed
(at SHC must have Math scores of ACT 24 or 580 SAT to take Chemistry 1st semester)
Research Question• Research Question:
What impact will teaching biology to 7th graders have on the success rate of ‘at risk’ freshman biology majors taking principles of biology?
• Research Context: • 10 first semester freshman biology majors• ACT scores 22-24• Enrolled in Principles of Biology (BIO101/103)
• I am NOT the instructor for this course• Enrolled in biology community service seminar course (BIO140)
• Providing assistance to an underserved 7th grade biology class • I am the instructor for this course
• My question is interesting because:• Test the hypothesis that students learn by teaching
Research Methodology• Pilot Study
• 10 Freshman biology majors with ACT scores of 22-24
• Baseline• Student performance in freshman biology the last 5 years
• Measurements• Embedded assessments – grades in freshman biology• Indirect assessments – reflections on service learning• Indirect assessments – survey student perceptions of their learning
Alignment of Research Question and Methodology
Did students learn biology by teaching???•Direct Assessment
•Products created for the 7th graders•Spread sheet of how much help needed, type of help, etc
•Exam Grades, Answers to specific questions, Course Grades•Compare ACT scores 22-24 with and without community service•Compare pilot group’s responses to questions covered to those not covered in the community service•Compare Course grades of pilot group to baseline data
•Indirect Assessment•Reflections
•Code reflection comments on their learning – Qualitative Data
•Survey on learning perceptions •(Student Assessment of Learning Gains (SALG)
