COURSE REDESIGN: Model-based Problem Solving in the Large Science Classroom Steven Brewer Biology Computer Resource Center University of Massachusetts Amherst

SSH!

Seminarcolepsy

From How People Learn Centering Instruction

SUMMATIVE

FORMATIVE SUMMATIVE

SCENARIO Imagine you are the instructor of a large course. PRS has been installed in your classroom and the Administration is encouraging you to use the system. You are trying to figure out how to integrate PRS questions into your lecture. However, you find writing good questions, and engaging students in class to be a challenge.

1. When writing multiple choice questions, it is important to.... 1. have a single correct answer. 2. use a consistent format for the answers. 3. require students to integrate multiple ideas to derive an answer. 4. use only terms or concepts that have been in lecture or readings. 5. introduce new content. 6. have only 5 answers.

Key Points What are your learning goals? Questions for Teaching, not Measurement!

What are your learning goals?

Questions for Teaching, not Measurement!

2. Which of the following provides the most valuable feedback from students? 1. Questions asked by students. 2. Statements made by students. 3. Performance on exams. 4. Writing produced by students. 5. End of semester course evaluations.

3. Which of the following provides the most valuable feedback from students? 1. Questions asked by students. 2. Statements made by students.

Key Points What is feedback FROM students? What is VALUABLE feedback? What can you do with feedback? assess ZPD adjust teaching

What is feedback FROM students?

What is VALUABLE feedback?

What can you do with feedback?

assess ZPD

adjust teaching

Traditional Course

Redesigned Course

4. Animal cells don't have chloroplasts and plant cells don't have mitochondria. 1. True. 2. False.

5. The self renewal signaling pathway in a particular stem cell type has an additional kinase, TK3 that targetsTK1. How would TK3 change the behavior of the pathway? 1. It would become a temporary circuit, even when signal is still present. 2. It would become a permanent circuit, even when signal is absent. 3. It would not change.

Model-based Reasoning Model-choosing Model-using Model-elaborating Model-revising

Model-choosing

Model-using

Model-elaborating

Model-revising

Models signal transduction gene expression glycolosis citric-acid cycle oxidative phosphorlyation photosynthesis cell cycle transcription rna-processing translation inheritance meiosis fatty-acid synthesis

signal transduction

gene expression

glycolosis

citric-acid cycle

oxidative phosphorlyation

photosynthesis

cell cycle

transcription

rna-processing

translation

inheritance

meiosis

fatty-acid synthesis

“ But when do you do the tour of the cell?” (never)

Classroom Behaviors

Time Usage

Time Usage

Student Discussion On-topic

Transfer

Engagement >90% Participate in small group events Discussion in small groups is on target Exam performance reflects significant learning of reasoning skills Quality of questions matter Skills learned can be applied to novel problems

>90% Participate in small group events

Discussion in small groups is on target

Exam performance reflects significant learning of reasoning skills

Quality of questions matter

Skills learned can be applied to novel problems

Acknowledgments Randy Phillis Elizabeth Connor Zane Barlow Tom Hoogendyk George Drake & Technical Staff Intro Biology Students

Randy Phillis

Elizabeth Connor

Zane Barlow

Tom Hoogendyk

George Drake & Technical Staff

Intro Biology Students

Thanks!