SoTL Institute Presentation Samantha Elliott Kerry July 18, 2008

Context Roleplay exercise to introduce how an immune response works Needed to scale up to a larger class Preliminary work – Pre-test/post-test (10 multiple choice questions on basic content) – It’s fun but do they learn anything? – Will I see differences in learning between the small and large classes? – How much will students who observe the roleplay learn compared with those directly participating?

What’s my problem? What is the efficacy of using roleplay to introduce basic concepts in Immunology compared to a traditional lecture?

Sub-questions Do students answer more total questions correctly after participating in/observing the roleplay, as compared to students who listened to lecture? Do students who participate in/observe the roleplay answer more higher order thinking questions correctly compared to students who listened to lecture? Is there a gain in knowledge when the roleplay is reinforced/reviewed using lecture (or vice versa)? Does the order matter (is lecture  roleplay more beneficial than roleplay  lecture?)

Methods Adapt original 10 multiple choice pre- test/post-test – Add 5 higher order thinking questions (Bloom’s) – Add 1 question to determine whether students read the book and/or notes before class Use in Principles of Biology course – Two sections, approximately 60 students each – Check class average GPA to determine if sections are truly identical

Methods (cont.) Both sections get pre-test on first day of Immunology content (last week of the Fall semester) Section 1 listens to traditional lecture, Section 2 performs/observes roleplay Both sections get post-test #1 Next class period, information is reinforced by the opposite method (Section 1 gets roleplay, etc.) Both sections get post-test #2

Long-term information retention? Include questions on final exam – Only approximately 1 week after content is covered!

Affective data SALG survey of student opinions on their learning – Demographic questions Yes/no: did you experience the roleplay before hearing the lecture about immunology? Yes/no: did you hear lecture before experiencing the roleplay? Yes/no: did you directly participate in the roleplay? Yes/no: did you observe the roleplay? – Likert scale questions Did the roleplay help you learn how an immune response works? Do you wish the order that you were introduced to the topic was reversed? (lecture before lab or vice versa)? – Free response question Did you enjoy learning about immunology through use of roleplay? Why or why not?

Data analysis Look at # of correct questions on pre-test compared to post-test(s). Look at # of correct questions on final exam Score Likert scale questions from student survey Code free response questions on survey