Small Stakes Assessments Contribute to Increasing Average Total Scores for Physiology and Biomedical Engineering Majors

Abstract

Principles of Physiology (PHSL3061/5061) is a required course for Physiology and Biomedical Engineering Majors. This is a team-taught course covering the major areas of physiology: Cell, Muscle, Endocrine, Reproduction, Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Gastrointestinal, Metabolism, and Renal. Instructors are generally teaching in their area(s) of expertise. In 2018, there was a significant gap in overall average total scores between physiology (72.7%) and biomedical engineering (79.8%) majors, we believe in part due to higher admission requirements for the biomedical engineering major. Physiology majors do not take a lower level physiology course prior to taking PHSL3061/5061. Moreover, about 25% of physiology majors achieved a non-passing grade. Up to 2018, only four exams were given as assessments. Given this performance disparity between physiology and biomedical engineering majors, we incorporated additional activities with the intension of narrowing the academic performance gap. Starting in 2019 small stakes assessments (quizzes and practice exams) were added. The gap narrowed (73.42% for physiology majors, 78.16% for biomedical engineering majors) but widened in 2020 (76.25% for physiology majors, 83.67% for biomedical engineering majors). Further analysis of grade distribution revealed that the percentage of bioengineering majors with total scores of 85% or above went from 30% in 2019 to 60% in 2020. Physiology majors earning a non-passing grade was reduced to 10%. Taken together, the addition of small stakes assessments contributed to increasing average total scores for both physiology and biomedical engineering majors. Future considerations to improve outcomes for physiology students include the addition of a required lower level physiology course and lab to prepare students for this upper level physiology course.