Development of a Tool to Assess Interrelated Experimental Design in Introductory Biology

Designing experiments and applying the process of science are core competencies for many introductory courses and course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs). However, experimental design is a complex process that challenges many introductory students. We describe the development of a to...

Descripción completa

Guardado en:

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales:	Tess L. Killpack, Sara M. Fulmer
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	American Society for Microbiology 2018
Materias:	Special aspects of education LC8-6691 Biology (General) QH301-705.5
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/74ffc9c817d14d33af6aa3bd92686902
Etiquetas:	Agregar Etiqueta Sin Etiquetas, Sea el primero en etiquetar este registro!

id	oai:doaj.org-article:74ffc9c817d14d33af6aa3bd92686902
record_format	dspace
spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:74ffc9c817d14d33af6aa3bd926869022021-11-15T15:04:14ZDevelopment of a Tool to Assess Interrelated Experimental Design in Introductory Biology10.1128/jmbe.v19i3.16271935-78851935-7877https://doaj.org/article/74ffc9c817d14d33af6aa3bd926869022018-01-01T00:00:00Zhttps://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/jmbe.v19i3.1627https://doaj.org/toc/1935-7877https://doaj.org/toc/1935-7885Designing experiments and applying the process of science are core competencies for many introductory courses and course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs). However, experimental design is a complex process that challenges many introductory students. We describe the development of a tool to assess interrelated experimental design (TIED) in an introductory biology lab course. We describe the interrater reliability of the tool, its effectiveness in detecting variability and growth in experimental-design skills, and its adaptability for use in various contexts. The final tool contained five components, each with multiple criteria in the form of a checklist such that a high-quality response—in which students align the different components of their experimental design—satisfies all criteria. The tool showed excellent interrater reliability and captured the full range of introductory-student skill levels, with few students hitting the assessment ceiling or floor. The scoring tool detected growth in student skills from the beginning to the end of the semester, with significant differences between pre- and post-assessment scores for the Total Score and for the Data Collection and Observations component scores. This authentic assessment task and scoring tool provide meaningful feedback to instructors about the strengths, gaps, and growth in introductory students’ experimental-design skills and can be scored reliably by multiple instructors. The TIED can also be adapted to a number of experimental-design prompts and learning objectives, and therefore can be useful for a variety of introductory courses and CUREs.Tess L. KillpackSara M. FulmerAmerican Society for MicrobiologyarticleSpecial aspects of educationLC8-6691Biology (General)QH301-705.5ENJournal of Microbiology & Biology Education, Vol 19, Iss 3 (2018)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Special aspects of education LC8-6691 Biology (General) QH301-705.5
spellingShingle	Special aspects of education LC8-6691 Biology (General) QH301-705.5 Tess L. Killpack Sara M. Fulmer Development of a Tool to Assess Interrelated Experimental Design in Introductory Biology
description	Designing experiments and applying the process of science are core competencies for many introductory courses and course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs). However, experimental design is a complex process that challenges many introductory students. We describe the development of a tool to assess interrelated experimental design (TIED) in an introductory biology lab course. We describe the interrater reliability of the tool, its effectiveness in detecting variability and growth in experimental-design skills, and its adaptability for use in various contexts. The final tool contained five components, each with multiple criteria in the form of a checklist such that a high-quality response—in which students align the different components of their experimental design—satisfies all criteria. The tool showed excellent interrater reliability and captured the full range of introductory-student skill levels, with few students hitting the assessment ceiling or floor. The scoring tool detected growth in student skills from the beginning to the end of the semester, with significant differences between pre- and post-assessment scores for the Total Score and for the Data Collection and Observations component scores. This authentic assessment task and scoring tool provide meaningful feedback to instructors about the strengths, gaps, and growth in introductory students’ experimental-design skills and can be scored reliably by multiple instructors. The TIED can also be adapted to a number of experimental-design prompts and learning objectives, and therefore can be useful for a variety of introductory courses and CUREs.
format	article
author	Tess L. Killpack Sara M. Fulmer
author_facet	Tess L. Killpack Sara M. Fulmer
author_sort	Tess L. Killpack
title	Development of a Tool to Assess Interrelated Experimental Design in Introductory Biology
title_short	Development of a Tool to Assess Interrelated Experimental Design in Introductory Biology
title_full	Development of a Tool to Assess Interrelated Experimental Design in Introductory Biology
title_fullStr	Development of a Tool to Assess Interrelated Experimental Design in Introductory Biology
title_full_unstemmed	Development of a Tool to Assess Interrelated Experimental Design in Introductory Biology
title_sort	development of a tool to assess interrelated experimental design in introductory biology
publisher	American Society for Microbiology
publishDate	2018
url	https://doaj.org/article/74ffc9c817d14d33af6aa3bd92686902
work_keys_str_mv	AT tesslkillpack developmentofatooltoassessinterrelatedexperimentaldesigninintroductorybiology AT saramfulmer developmentofatooltoassessinterrelatedexperimentaldesigninintroductorybiology
_version_	1718428255492505600

Development of a Tool to Assess Interrelated Experimental Design in Introductory Biology

Ejemplares similares