Using Conceptual Frameworks in Teaching & Learning Physiology Jenny McFarland, PhD Edmonds Community College APS-ITL Workshop 22 June 2016, Madison WI Supported by NSF grant DUE

Outline 1.Background – Lessons from …  How People Learn  Backwards Design 2.What are the core concepts in biology & physiology? 3.What are Conceptual Frameworks? 4.Three Conceptual Frameworks – Flow down gradients (Flux) – Homeostasis – Cell-cell communications 4.Role for Conceptual Frameworks in helping students learn and helping faculty teach? 5.What other conceptual frameworks should be ‘unpacked’ and validated?

Core Concepts in Physiology This work has been done as part of our Conceptual Assessment for Physiology project. It has involved contributions by physiology and A&P faculty at community colleges, liberal arts institutions, research universities and medical schools. The CAP (Conceptual Assessment for Physiology) project team has been working together for several years. – Mary Pat Wenderoth (University of Washington – Seattle) – Ann Wright (Canisius College) – Bill Cliff (Niagara University) – Harold Modell (Bastyr University) – Joel Michael (Rush Medical School) – Jenny McFarland (Edmonds Community College) physiologyconcepts.org This work is aligned with the recommendations of Vision & Change and the work of PULSE (the Partnership for Undergraduate Life Science Education). This work has been supported by NSF grant DUE

National Research Council Address student’s preconceptions. (prior knowledge & misconceptions) 2. Build BOTH a deep foundation of factual knowledge & strong conceptual framework. 3. Enhance student’s ability to monitor their learning. (metacognition and self-assessment) Three major findings: How People Learn

What is Backwards Design? Think – Pair - Share

What should your students be able to DO at end of class? What evidence do you collect to show that they can DO it? What practice do you design to help them gain skill? Understanding by Design Wiggins and McTighe 1998 LEARNING OUTCOME ASSESSMENT CLASS ACTIVITIES Backward Design

What should your students be able to DO at end of class? What evidence do you collect to show that they can DO it? What practice do you design to help them gain skill? Wiggins and McTighe 1998 Core Concepts & Conceptual Framework Concept Inventory Misconceptions CLASS ACTIVITIES Backward Design

What is are the Core Concepts in Biology? in Physiology List– Pair - Share

Core Concepts in Biology (V&C) The Vision & Change report identified 5 core concepts for undergraduate biology Evolution Structure and Function Pathways and transformations of energy and matter Information flow, exchange and storage Systems: Living systems are interconnected and interacting AAAS 2011

Physiology General Models Harold Modell described 7 general models for analyzing physiological mechanisms in his 2000 paper in Advances in Physiology Education. Control systems Conservation of mass Mass & heat flow (Flux or “flow down gradients”) Elastic properties of tissues Transport across membranes Cell-to-cell communication Molecular interaction Modell 2000

Physiology Core Concepts Physiology core concepts identified from physiology faculty surveys Homeostasis Cell-Cell Communications Flow Down Gradients Structure / Function Mass Balance Levels of Organization Energy Cell Membrane & others … 15 total Michael and McFarland 2011

What are Conceptual Frameworks? Define/Describe – Pair - Share

Conceptual Framework Conceptual Frameworks are Hierarchical & Descriptive Often in outline format Can be scaffolded by adding constituent ideas to critical components in the hierarchical framework Describes an appropriate scope of understanding for a particular stage on the novice to expert progression

Conceptual Framework We have developed 3 conceptual frameworks – Flow down gradients (Flux) – Homeostasis – Cell-cell communications physiologyconcepts.org Steps: – “unpack” core concept – feedback from faculty on our team & via workshops & surveys – rewrite & – validate on “importance” to faculty via surveys

Homeostasis Conceptual Framework Overview: Organisms maintain a relatively stable internal environment while living in a changing external environment. This process involves a negative feedback system that requires a sensor(s), a controller (integrator) and effector(s). H1.The organism maintains a stable internal environment in the face of fluctuating external environment. H2.A substantial change to a regulated variable (a perturbation) will result in a physiological response to restore it toward to its normal range. H3.Homeostatic processes require a sensor inside the body (“what can’t be measured can’t be regulated”) H4.Homeostatic processes require a control center (which includes an integrator). H5.Homeostatic processes require target organs or tissues, i.e. “effectors”.

Conceptual Framework – negative feedback H2.A substantial change to a regulated variable (a perturbation) will result in a physiological response to restore it toward to its normal range. H2.1The regulated variable is held stable by a negative feedback system. H2.2Not all negative feedback systems are homeostatic. H2.3The process of responding to a perturbation requires an action by a sensor, a control center and an effector (the components of a negative feedback system). H2.4The sensor, control center, and effectors may be physically far from or near to each other in the body, and can even exist in the same cell.

Conceptual Framework – sensors H3.Homeostatic processes require a sensor inside the body (“what can’t be measured can’t be regulated”) H3.1Sensors detect the regulated variable and respond by transducing that stimulus into a different signal. H3.2Sensors respond within a limited range of stimulus values. H3.3.Sensors generate an output whose value is proportional to the magnitude of the input to the sensor (i.e. the stimulus). H3.4Sensors are constantly active (not just active when the regulated variable is not at the set point value). H3.5An organ system may employ a variety of types of sensors (e.g. chemoreceptors, baroreceptors, mechanoreceptors, etc.) to regulate variables associated with that organ system.

How can Conceptual Framework be useful For student learning? What can students do? For faculty in a course? What can faculty do? For departments and curriculum &/or programs? What academics organizations (programs, depts) do? Think – Pair - Share

A conceptual framework can HELP DEFINE AND EXPLAIN THE DISCIPLINE provides a hierarchical organizational structure of ideas reveals connections between provides a scaffold to make new connections as more complex ideas are introduced integrates understanding of interactions among core concepts HELP STUDENTS LEARN THE DISCIPLINE provides an important teaching and learning tool when the goal of learning is to use information rather than rote learning a list of facts as it gives a context and structure for the student makes explicit the tacit knowledge, underlying assumptions of experts (faculty) so that novices (students) can make sense of them HELP THE INSTRUCTOR ORGANIZE A COURSE allows for development of a learning progression: a lower level or simpler framework for an introductory course, inform and direct course, curriculum and program design

“Alternative conceptions” or “Misconceptions” Alternative conceptions, naïve conceptions, common-sense understanding or misconceptions that are obstacles to student learning. – a scientifically inaccurate belief about a scientific concept (homeostasis, in this case). These scientifically inaccurate beliefs may occur before and persist after instruction. Assessments to reveal misconceptions are can help address obstacles to students’ conceptual understanding. Effective learning activities must address student’s alternative conceptions / misconceptions.

Use conceptual framework to design learning opportunity 1.Identify a ‘unit’ (a single class, topic, chapter …) that you ‘teach’ often that is particularly “content driven”. 2.Imagine that you were designing this instructional unit focused understanding, application & assessment of one core concept (and integrating enough “content coverage” for students to learn the concept). 3.How would you use a conceptual framework (and knowledge of student misconceptions) to design effective active learning and assessment?

Which Conceptual Frameworks would be helpful to do next? Physiology core concepts Homeostasis Cell-Cell Communications Flow Down Gradients Structure / Function Mass Balance Levels of Organization Energy Cell Membrane Interdependence Other? Michael and McFarland 2011 Think – Pair - Share

Our group’s work on homeostasis Other homeostasis projects: A Physiologist’s View of Homeostasis: Modell et al (Dec). Recommendations about how to teach homeostasis. – Recommended diagram / model for undergraduate physiology – Definition of terms (and recommendations) – List of homeostatically regulated variables Homeostasis conceptual framework (HCF): McFarland et al (June). We have a concept inventory for homeostasis (HCI) with 20 MCQs that assess aspects of our conceptual framework for homeostasis. (paper in progress) You can use the HCI for pretest or post-test for your courses by contacting me We have gathered and organized student misconceptions (alternative conceptions) regarding homeostasis. (paper in progress)

Acknowledgements The CAP (Conceptual Assessment for Physiology) project team: – Mary Pat Wenderoth (University of Washington – Seattle) – Ann Wright (Canisius College) – Bill Cliff (Niagara University) – Harold Modell (Bastyr University) – Joel Michael (Rush Medical School) The many physiology faculty who have responded to our surveys, participated in our workshops, come to our posters and talks. We are grateful to your continued support for this project. The students, who have responded to our questions, participated in interviews and who inspire us. This work has been supported by NSF grant DUE

References American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Vision and Change in Undergraduate Biology Education: A Call to Action, Washington, DC: AAAS. Association of American Medical Colleges Scientific Foundations for Future Physicians. Washington, DC: AAMC. McFarland, J., Wenderoth, M.P., Michael, J., Cliff, W., Wright, A. and Modell, H A conceptual framework for homeostasis: development and validation. Advances in Physiology Education. 25: Michael, J. and McFarland, J The core principles (“big ideas”) of physiology: results of faculty surveys. Advances in Physiology Education. 25: Michael, J.,Martinkova, P., McFarland, J., Wright, A. Cliff, W., Modell, H. and Wenderoth, M.P., (in review). Validating a conceptual framework for the core concept of “cell-cell communications” Modell, H.I How to help students understand physiology? Emphasize general models. Biochemistry and Advances in Physiology Education. 23: Modell, H, Cliff, W., Michael, J., McFarland, J., Wenderoth, M.P. and Wright, A A physiologist’s view of homeostasis. Advances in Physiology Education. 23: National Research Council (NRC) How people learn: brain, mind, experience, and school, expanded edition. Bransford J. D., Brown A. L., Cocking R. R., editors. National Academies Press; Washington, DC. Wiggins G, McTighe J Understanding by Design, Upper Saddle River NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.

Thank you! Thank you for your time and participation.