Scientific Teaching and Interactive Learning... Diane Ebert-May Department of Plant Biology Michigan State University

The trouble with our times is that the future is not what it used to be. -Paul Valery, The Art of Poetry

Questions for you... What do you expect to gain from this workshop? What are your major teaching challenges? What challenges do your students face in learning? How did you learn science? How do your students learn science?

Engage

Question 1 Active learning strategies enable students to learn science better than passive lectures. Please respond on a scale of 1-5: 1=strongly agree; 2=agree; 3=neutral; 4= disagree; 5=strongly disagree

Question 2 Students learn science best by “doing” science. Please respond on a scale of 1-5: 1=strongly agree; 2=agree; 3=neutral; 4= disagree; 5=strongly disagree

Question 3 How important is it to use multiple kinds of assessments to determine students’ learning? Please respond on a scale of 0-100% in increments of 10:

Question 4 The proportion of assessments I use in my course that demonstrate students’ critical thinking abilities is.... Please respond on a scale of 0-100% in increments of 10:

Question 5 In my department, excellence in teaching is rewarded at a level comparable to excellence in research. Please respond on a scale of 1-5: 1=strongly agree; 2=agree; 3=neutral; 4= disagree; 5=strongly disagree

Question 1 Active learning strategies enable students to learn science better than passive lectures. Please respond on a scale of 1-5: 1=strongly agree; 2=agree; 3=neutral; 4= disagree; 5=strongly disagree

Students are the tie that binds us...

Class Meeting

Question 2 Students learn science best by “doing” science. Please respond on a scale of 1-5: 1=strongly agree; 2=agree; 3=neutral; 4= disagree; 5=strongly disagree

Lila Smith 1975; in Smith el al. 2005

Teacher- to Learner- Centered Classroom How does scientific teaching promote this transition?

Lila Smith 1975; in Smith el al. 2005

Question 3 How important is it to use multiple kinds of assessments to determine student learning? Please respond on a scale of in increments of 10:

Question 4 The proportion of assessments I use in my course that demonstrate students’ critical thinking abilities is.... Please respond on a scale of (%) in increments of 10:

Connections among concepts Organization of concepts Visual representations Model-based reasoning Test models Solve problems What is critical thinking?

Question 5 In my department, excellence in teaching is rewarded at a level comparable to excellence in research. Please respond on a scale of 1-5: 1=strongly agree; 2=agree; 3=neutral; 4= disagree; 5=strongly disagree

Explore

What’s up with Termites? 1. On a sheet of paper, draw two circles near each other on the center of the page. 2. Release termites onto paper. 3. Keep creatures safe. I shall collect them in their original habitat. 4. What do you observe about termite behavior? 5. Develop a question your group could explore if you had more time. (15 minutes - select a timekeeper)

Learning Objective Develop one possible learning objective for this ‘inquiry’. What do you want students to know and be able to do? What evidence is acceptable?

Give your students a roadmap to learning…. Benefits and costs?

Explore: Out of Thin Air

What is going on? Brainstorm: talk to your neighbor and diagnose the situation from both the teacher’s and learner’s perspective. What is the learning challenge?

Photosynthesis as Energy Biomass from Soil Energy as Biomass All Green Plant Altruism Thin Air Respiration as ‘breathing’ Misconceptions about Photosynthesis, Respiration, and the Carbon Cycle

How and when do you identify student learning difficulties? Pre-test (e.g., specific questions - identify misconceptions) Engagement activity - brain teaser, discussion starter, ‘need to know’ questions Surveys or polls (clickers?) Others?

Radish Problem in Ebert-May D, Batzli J, Lim H Bioscience 53: Experimental setup: Weighed out 3 batches of radish seeds each weighing 1.5 g. Experimental treatments: 1. Seeds placed on DRY paper towels in LIGHT 2. Seeds placed on WET paper towels in LIGHT 3. Seeds placed on WET paper towels in DARK

Problem (cont) After 1 week, all plant material was dried in an oven overnight (no water left) and plant biomass was measured in grams. Predict the biomass of the plant material in the various treatments. No Water, light Water, light Water dark No idea

Results Mass of Radish Seeds/Seedlings 1.46 g 1.63 g 1.20 g Write an explanation about the results. Explain the results. Write individually on carbonless paper.

Assessment on Final Exam Hypothetical scenario: Grandma Johnson had very sentimental feelings toward Johnson Canyon, Utah, where she and her late husband had honeymooned long ago. Her feelings toward this spot were such that upon her death she requested to be buried under a creosote bush overlooking the canyon. Trace the path of a carbon atom from Grandma Johnson’s remains to where it could become part of a coyote. NOTE: the coyote will not dig up Grandma Johnson and consume any of her remains.

How People Learn Bransford et al 1999, 2004

Explain

Cooperative Learning Eric Mazur - Harvard (Dept of Physics) - Peer Instruction Karl Smith - University of Minnesota (Civil Engineering Dept) Cooperative/ Collaborative Learning

Regrouping What are ways of putting students into cooperative groups? Individual accountability and group responsibility with common goal.....

Frustrated Student Reflecting on this case, consider the following: 1.What questions and issues does this case raise? 2.As an instructor, what would you do in this situation? 3.What are the learning objectives for each class? 4. What are the students’ expections for course? 5.How do the active, in-class problems in groups motivate students to learn, or not? 6.Have you faced a similar challenge? If so, what did you learn from it? Within groups: think-pair-share

What is assessment? Data collection with the purpose of answering questions about… students’ understanding students’ attitudes students’ skills instructional design and implementation curricular reform (at multiple grain sizes) Informing BOTH instructors and students about learning.

Learning Outcome Statement that indicates level of expectation of performance. What evidence will indicate whether students have achieved the learning objective? (actions, behaviors that can be assessed)

What level of learning do we ask of our students? Bloom (1956) Cognitive Domain of Educational Objectives 6 categories - Knowledge Comprehension Application Analysis Synthesis Evaluation

Characterize the Level of Expectation Return to the termite learning objective assign a Bloom level to each.

Department of Plant Biology % Total Qs Course Level *N items

Jigsaw Count off -- 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 All 1s work on same paper....2s, 3s, 4s, 5s Tomorrow, return to new groups and share what you found in each of the papers. Report out

Paper Assignments Group 1: Climate change.... Group 2: Novel assessments... Group 3: Unraveling complexity... Group 4: Unleashing problem solvers... Group 5: Active homework...

Jigsaw Tomorrow, return to your home group....and discuss. You should be able to answer the following: 1. What are the student learning goals? 2. What is the Bloom-level of each goal? 3. Describe the type of assessment used in the unit. 4. Do the assessments align with the goals? 5. What are the active learning strategies?

Groups 1s, 2s, 3s, 4s, 5s Group roles: Time keeper Reporter Recorder Encourager/facilitator

Groups 1s, 2s, 3s, 4s, 5s Consider one learning challenge of Marquette University Students and adapt the Pathways to Scientific Teaching ideas to one unit of instruction. Summaries the ideas on large flip chart paper. Reporter - gives synopsis to large group.

How do you go about developing a unit for your course? How would you start? What would you do? Instructional Design

Learning Objective Identify desired results Learning Outcome Determine acceptable evidence Assessments Data collected & Feedback given Instructional Design & Activities Planned learning experiences and instruction Backward Design Adapted from Wiggins and McTighe 1998, 2005

Backward Design

Hierarchy has Structure has Concept Maps Visual Diagrams Or Models are represent Knowledge or Understanding Concepts display connected with Linking Words Used for AssessmentOrganization Reflection & Learning promotes Context is constructed with New Information Prior Knowledge

For a course you teach Select a concept that is critical for your students to understand. 2. Identify 4 or 5 subconcepts that are important to understanding that concept e.g., DNA - Gene- Chromosome - Protein 3.Add linking lines to make connections between two concepts 4. Add linking lines that describe the relationship between concepts

Student’s Concept Map

Rubrics

Learning Objective Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of evolution and natural selection by developing and testing models and solving problems.

Changes in a population occur through a gradual change in individual members of a population. New traits in species are developed in response to need. All members of a population are genetically equivalent, variation and fitness are not considered. Traits acquired during an individual’s lifetime will be inherited by offspring. Misconceptions: Natural Selection

Pre-test: extended response. Explain the changes that occurred in the tree and animal. Use your current understanding of evolution by natural selection. (AAAS 1999)

How do we develop rubrics? Describe the objective for the activity, problem, task... Develop criteria and performance standards for the assessment Differentiate levels of responses based on clearly described criteria Rate (assign value) the categories

Student Responses MisconceptionsCorrect Change in the individualChange in the population Need to Change/ Must Change/ Choice Change due to genes All members of a population are equally fit Individuals within a population have varying fitness levels Traits acquired during a lifetime are passed on Genetic traits help the individual to survive and reproduce

Scoring Rubric for Quizzes and Homework Ebert-May

Advantages of Scoring Rubrics Improve the reliability of scoring written assignments and oral presentations Convey goals and performance expectations of students in an unambiguous way Convey “grading standards” or “point values” and relate them to performance goals Engage students in critical evaluation of their own performance Save time but spend it well

Avida-ED

homework.html#hw9 Avida-ED

How am I going to grade all this stuff??

Assessment Gradient High Ease of Assessment Low Multiple Choice, T/F Diagrams, Concept maps, Quantitative response Short answer Essay, Research papers/ reports Oral Interview Low Potential for Assessment of Learning High Theoretical Framework Ausubel 1968; meaningful learning Novak 1998; visual representations King and Kitchner 1994; reflective judgment National Research Council 1999; theoretical frameworks for assessment

Subsample= You don’t need to grade everything!! Classroom Assessment Techniques (Angelo & Cross 1993); Muddiest Point, Minute papers etc.. Pyramid Exams- Individual 75% + Group 25% Diagnostic Questions & Clickers Rubrics Assessment and Feedback Approaches

Action Plan What resources from this workshop will be most helpful to you in teaching? Reflect on your lectures. What topics are challenging to teach? List two colleagues who would help you brainstorm active learning techniques to address these challenges. What type of feedback would you value from a colleague? Handelsman, Miller & Pfund 2007

Action Plan...continued Our challenge to you, try one of the strategies that you and your colleague identify, next time you teach.

Open Mic

“...we note that successful people are the ones who take advantage of those around them to ultimately benefit students.” Ebert-May D, Weber R, Hodder J, Batzli J (2006) Finally...

Team at MSU Rett Weber - Plant Biology (postdoctoral researcher) Deb Linton - Plant Biology (C. Michigan University) Duncan Sibley - Geology Doug Luckie - Physiology Scott Harrison - Microbiology (graduate student) Tammy Long - Plant Biology Heejun Lim - Chemistry Education Rob Pennock - Philosophy Charles Ofria - Engineering Rich Lenski - Microbiolgy Janet Batzli - Plant Biology [U of Wisconsin]