Large Undergraduate Classes Research Articles

A Simple Educational Method for the Measurement of Liquid Binary Diffusivities

A simple low-cost experiment has been developed for the measurement of the binary diffusion coefficients of liquid substances. The experiment is suitable for demonstrating molecular diffusion to small or large undergraduate classes in chemistry or chemical engineering. Students use a cell phone camera in conjunction with open-source image processing software to measure concentrations of a colored species in a clear liquid, as a function of position and time. Three fundamental principles in mass transfer and spectrophotometry are demonstrated: Fick’s first and second laws of diffusion and the Beer-Lambert law for absorption of light. The measured value for the binary diffusion coefficient for potassium permanganate in water using this method was found to be within 10% of literature values at the 95% confidence interval.

Learning by teaching: undergraduate engineering students improving a community's response capability to an early warning system

This paper reports on a project in which students designed, constructed and tested a model of an existing early warning system with simulation of debris flow in a context of a landslide. Students also assessed rural community members’ knowledge of this system and subsequently taught them to estimate the time needed for evacuation of the community in the event of a landslide. Participants were four undergraduate students in a civil engineering programme at a university in Thailand, as well as nine community members and three external evaluators. Results illustrate project and problem-based, experiential learning and highlight the real-world applications and development of knowledge and of hard and soft skills. The discussion raises issues of scalability and feasibility for implementation of these types of projects in large undergraduate engineering classes.

Team-Designed Improvement of Writing and Critical Thinking in Large Undergraduate Courses

Helping students achieve advanced critical thinking and writing skills in large undergraduate classes is a challenge faced by many university faculty members. We addressed this challenge in a three-year project using team course design, built around a cognitive apprenticeship model, to enhance undergraduates’ writing, critical thinking, and research skills in courses ranging in size from 70 to over 400 students. Faculty members partnered with specialists from the university library, writing center, and teaching center, and with graduate student fellows who received supplemental training in those units. Together they designed progressive learning activities and written assignments based on meaningful, situated critical thinking scenarios. Instruction teams also developed rubrics for tracking students’ progress on each step, and they used this information to inform the next wave of course enhancements and generate continual and iterative improvement. Assessments developed by the instruction teams showed that students in the team-designed courses improved in their critical thinking and writing skills from the beginning to the end of the semester. Furthermore, an evaluation of student work from the team-designed courses using the AA C&U Value rubrics showed that these students displayed more advanced critical thinking and writing skills than students in roughly comparable but conventionally designed courses. Our results demonstrate that team design involving specialists and graduate students can be a feasible and worthwhile strategy for engaging faculty members in developing advanced instructional and assessment designs that enhance high-end learning in a large university setting.

Team-Designed Improvement of Writing and Critical Thinking in Large Undergraduate Courses

Helping students achieve advanced critical thinking and writing skills in large undergraduate classes is a challenge faced by many university faculty members. We addressed this challenge in a three-year project using team course design, built around a cognitive apprenticeship model, to enhance undergraduates’ writing, critical thinking, and research skills in courses ranging in size from 70 to over 400 students. Faculty members partnered with specialists from the university library, writing center, and teaching center, and with graduate student fellows who received supplemental training in those units. Together they designed progressive learning activities and written assignments based on meaningful, situated critical thinking scenarios. Instruction teams also developed rubrics for tracking students’ progress on each step, and they used this information to inform the next wave of course enhancements and generate continual and iterative improvement. Assessments developed by the instruction teams showed that students in the team-designed courses improved in their critical thinking and writing skills from the beginning to the end of the semester. Furthermore, an evaluation of student work from the team-designed courses using the AA C&U Value rubrics showed that these students displayed more advanced critical thinking and writing skills than students in roughly comparable but conventionally designed courses. Our results demonstrate that team design involving specialists and graduate students can be a feasible and worthwhile strategy for engaging faculty members in developing advanced instructional and assessment designs that enhance high-end learning in a large university setting.

Laboratory Logistics: Strategies for Integrating Information Literacy Instruction into Science Laboratory Classes.

Active learning is a hallmark of the traditional science laboratory class, making it a natural place for librarians to integrate active information literacy instruction. The course structure of science lab classes, particularly large entry-level undergraduate classes, can make the logistics of such integration a challenge. This paper presents two case studies, each highlighting a different method of providing information literacy instruction to large undergraduate science classes for non-majors. In the first, teaching assistants helped to provide instruction within scheduled lab periods; in the second, a set number of workshops occurred outside of the regular meeting times of the lab classes. To measure the success of these strategies, instructors, teaching assistants, and students provided formal and informal feedback. Evaluation of these results points to a third possible strategy for integrating library instruction into science lab classes. Moving librarian-led instruction online and reserving class time for activities mediated by teaching assistants may solve many of the logistical challenges to teaching information literacy in science labs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The TRIPSE: A process‐oriented exam for large undergraduate classes

The TRIPSE (tri-partite problem solving exercise), a process-oriented exam that mimics the scientific process, was used previously in small classes (15-25). Provided limited data, students frame explanations and design experimental tests that they later revise with additional information. Our 6-year experience using it with larger numbers (155-204) in a freshman biology course, suggests that it could provide a means of assessing individual student performance. Students rated the learning value of this experience to be significantly higher than a standard MCQ on a 10-point scale (TRIPSEs 8.2, CI 8.1/8.4 vs. MCQs 4.9, CI 4.8/5.1, n = 712). Additionally, we tested one cohort (n = 146) with a group TRIPSE (groups of 6), and found that this variant also provided a valuable learning experience (8.0, CI 7.7/8.3).

The UNSIN project: exploring the molecular physiology of sins

Although active learning works, promoting it in large undergraduate science classes is difficult. Here, three students (F. Naji, L. Salci, and G. Hoit) join their teacher (P. K. Rangachari) in describing one such attempt. Two cohorts in a first-year undergraduate biology course explored the molecular underpinnings of human misbehavior. Students were divided into 18 groups and randomly allotted to deal with one of the four deadly sins: sloth, gluttony, lust, and wrath. Students were expected to read primary sources to devise molecular ways to counter these sins. Group progress was monitored over the 12-wk period by the preceptor (P. K. Rangachari) at scheduled intervals. A single randomly selected student was questioned about the work done, and future directions were provided by the preceptor. At the end of the term, randomly selected students defended their group's approaches to the entire class. A final written report was graded. The following multiple target molecules were considered for each sin: gluttony (cholecystokinin, ghrelin, GABA, leptin, peptide YY, neuropeptide Y, and the melanocortin 4 receptor); sloth (dopamine, glutamate, GABA, and orexin); wrath (serotonin, GABA, glutamate, and corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 2); and lust (prolactin, testosterone, oxytocin, dopamine, and estrogen). Students noted that the project provided a valuable learning experience, and the random selection approach gave students a greater sense of responsibility to their group. The project helped students hone their skills at searching, synthesizing, sharing, and presenting information, fostered group interactions, and provided a solid knowledge base for subsequent courses.

Learning intercultural communication through group work oriented to the world beyond the classroom

Competence in intercultural communication has become a necessity for functioning effectively in our increasingly globalised and multicultural society. This study reports the use of a group project to enhance students’ learning of intercultural communication. Participants were from a large undergraduate class in an Australian university. The aim of the course is to encourage students to develop knowledge of intercultural communication by orienting themselves to the world beyond the classroom, and by learning from each other’s experiences and perspectives. In a group project assignment, students used the knowledge and skills gained in class to resolve practical problems that they encountered in intercultural interactions outside the classroom. This paper focused on students’ experience of working in groups, and links between this experience and performance on the group project. Our study confirms previous research that demonstrates active engagement in group work can enhance learning outcomes. It also goes further in showing that groups that more highly rated their learning of intercultural communication through the group work experience obtained higher grades on the project.

Impact of problem-based learning in a large classroom setting: student perception and problem-solving skills

Problem-based learning (PBL) can be described as a learning environment where the problem drives the learning. This technique usually involves learning in small groups, which are supervised by tutors. It is becoming evident that PBL in a small-group setting has a robust positive effect on student learning and skills, including better problem-solving skills and an increase in overall motivation. However, very little research has been done on the educational benefits of PBL in a large classroom setting. Here, we describe a PBL approach (using tutorless groups) that was introduced as a supplement to standard didactic lectures in University of British Columbia Okanagan undergraduate biochemistry classes consisting of 45-85 students. PBL was chosen as an effective method to assist students in learning biochemical and physiological processes. By monitoring student attendance and using informal and formal surveys, we demonstrated that PBL has a significant positive impact on student motivation to attend and participate in the course work. Student responses indicated that PBL is superior to traditional lecture format with regard to the understanding of course content and retention of information. We also demonstrated that student problem-solving skills are significantly improved, but additional controlled studies are needed to determine how much PBL exercises contribute to this improvement. These preliminary data indicated several positive outcomes of using PBL in a large classroom setting, although further studies aimed at assessing student learning are needed to further justify implementation of this technique in courses delivered to large undergraduate classes.

Getting the most out of audience response systems: predicting student reactions

Audience response systems (ARS) are effective tools for improving learning outcomes and student engagement in large undergraduate classes. However, if students do not accept ARS and do not find them to be useful, ARS may be less effective. Predicting and improving student perceptions of ARS may help to ensure positive outcomes. The present study expands on previous work by simultaneously evaluating several student and practice variables that may predict student perceptions of ARS. Perceived learning outcomes, engagement, interaction in class, enjoyment of ARS, attendance, and preparation for class were examined using multivariate regression analysis in two undergraduate samples. Student variables, including gender, grade, and year of program predicted student perceptions of ARS. Practice variables, including the consistency of ARS use, question type, question difficulty, and ease of use also predicted student perceptions. The nature and implications of these findings are discussed.

Global Citizens Are Made, Not Born: Multiclass Role-Playing Simulation of Global Decision Making

Globalization, global citizenship, and political engagement have become such buzzwords and clichés that we often lose the sense of their meaning. Global citizenship in particular is an elusive concept to operationalize. This article proposes to look at three dimensions of global citizenship: legal (rights and obligations), psychological identification with the global community, and political ones. Heeding the calls to wed traditional liberal education with the experiential learning in pursuit of developing students' global values and competencies, we devised and implemented a simulation called the Global Summit on Sustainability, an active learning assignment we run in large, general education survey classes (Global Politics and Introduction to American Government & Politics) populated by mostly nonpolitical science majors. The total number of students involved in the summit range from 225 to 360 each semester. But how does having a Global Summit influence the development of global citizenship and its three dimensions in large general education undergraduate political science classes? By using (1) instructor observations at the summit; (2) statistical analyses of pre- and postsummit surveys; and (3) a qualitative review of students' written assignments, we find that the Global Summit influences the development of global citizenship skills.

Adapting Case-Based Teaching to Large Class Settings: An Action Research Approach

While literature points to significant benefits from using case-based teaching in accounting education, the extent to which these benefits can be obtained with large undergraduate classes is not evident. Using an action research approach, strategies for the use of case-based teaching in large classes at an Irish university were developed and evaluated. Insights into the nature of the challenges facing lecturers and students in the large class setting were obtained. The researchers found that, by using appropriate strategies, case studies can be successfully delivered in large class settings, as measured against criteria derived from the literature. The action research method proved effective in the reflection on and development of these strategies. However, despite the success of the strategies that were developed, there were important aspects of the students' and lecturers' responses in this setting that had an impact on the benefits realized.

Peer assessment in large undergraduate classes: an evaluation of a procedure for marking laboratory reports and a review of related practices

This study provides evidence that peer marking can be a reliable tool for assessing laboratory reports in large cohorts. It was conducted over a 4-yr period with first-year undergraduates (∼180 students/cohort) taking a mammalian physiology course, but the procedure adopted would be applicable to any other laboratory-based discipline. The process was found to be efficient in staff time, enabling a summative practical report to be marked in <1 h (<5% of the time that had previously been required for staff marking), facilitating rapid feedback to students on their performance. When samples of the peer-assessed reports were marked by a single member of staff, there was excellent correlation between peer and staff marks (r = 0.96-0.98), although peer-awarded marks exceeded staff marks by an average of 2.5-3.0%. The validity of peer marking was independent of both the sex of the marker and the staff score awarded to the marker for the same piece of work. Feedback from students was largely positive; they reported that the procedure adopted was effective in increasing their understanding of the underlying physiology and contributed to their understanding of best practice in presenting a laboratory report. Seventy percent of students agreed that it was acceptable for peer assessment to contribute a small (up to 5%) component of the overall mark for the course. The results are discussed in relation to other reports of peer marking, particularly when used to assess an academic product or process in a scientific discipline.

Lecture capture in large undergraduate classes: Student perceptions and academic performance

Many higher education institutions are now digitally capturing lectures in courses and making them available on the Web for students to view anytime and in anyplace. This study is an attempt to understand the relationship between student perceptions of lecture capture and academic performance in large undergraduate courses where the practice is most commonplace. Students in five large undergraduate courses (N = 439) responded to a survey on their perceptions of lecture capture used in their course and academic performance was measured by the final course grade. Results suggest that higher achieving students view recordings significantly less often than low achievers. High achievers also tend to fast forward and view certain sections of recordings only once, whereas low achievers view the entire recording multiple times. The conclusion is that lecture capture is more likely to be of benefit to low achieving students.

Using problem-based learning in large undergraduate fieldwork classes: an Australian example

Problem-based learning (PBL) is one of a suite of strategies based on the premise that placing students at the centre of the learning process ultimately improves skills, knowledge and understanding. To date, however, there remain relatively few reports on the application of PBL within geography curricula. This paper traces the evolution of a PBL project in a first-year geography course with large student enrolments. It shows that while the adoption of PBL was challenging, the majority of students found the approach rewarding and enjoyable. Student feedback indicated that the most valuable components of the project were independent learning and working “hands on”, while the least enjoyable included a sense of disorganisation and uncertainty that accompanied independence. The paper also reflects on the more general lessons drawn from the PBL project, focusing on issues such as assessment, staffing, resources and departmental culture.

Creative Laboratory Model for Large Undergraduate Engineering Classes

Universities are under continual pressure to reduce the expense associated with the laboratory education of undergraduate engineering students. Many alternatives to traditional laboratory instruction have been tested to improve educational benefits and to reduce academic input. This paper describes the benefits of laboratory classes run in an interactive competitive framework to enhance the teaching of structural engineering and construction materials. A creative framework that defines limits and quantifies performance encourages student engagement and allows reasonable control without stifling creativity. Two examples are presented in this paper: a wood bridge competition as part of an introductory structural engineering design course and a concrete technology competition within a structural concrete course. The educational benefits of this broad-based approach are compared with other laboratory methods. Course surveys suggest that students view this method of laboratory education positively when it is w...

Electronics From the Bottom Up: Strategies for Teaching Nanoelectronics at the Undergraduate Level

Nanoelectronics is an emerging area of electrical and computer engineering that deals with the current-voltage behavior of atomic-scale electronic devices. As the trend toward ever smaller devices continues, there is a need to update traditional undergraduate curricula to introduce electrical engineers to the fundamentals of the field. These fundamentals encompass topics from quantum mechanics and condensed-matter physics, and they pose new teaching challenges in electronics education; specifically, unconventional ideas must be presented in a rapid and yet complete way so that engineering undergraduates can quickly yet satisfyingly absorb the key concepts, and then apply these concepts to emerging devices. This paper describes the strategies employed by the author in teaching the subject to large undergraduate classes at his institution. These strategies include the use of computer visualization, a careful introduction of quantum mechanics, and a constant demonstration of the relevance of theory by practical examples and calculations. The effectiveness of the approach is illustrated through survey results of the Universal Student Ratings of Instruction at the author's institution and by way of typical assignment and exam questions that demonstrate the level of sophistication that students can attain in what might otherwise be viewed as a purely mathematical and esoteric subject.

Notes From the Field: Brokering Service Learning Between a Rural Community and Large Undergraduate Class: Insights From a Case Study

This article describes a service-learning partnership between a first-year Environmental Studies/Science course at Trent University and the Haliburton–Muskoka Children's Water Festival, an event held in rural Ontario about 125 km from the university. The partnership was brokered by the U-Links Centre for Community-Based Research, an independent, Haliburton-based nonprofit. Key issues explored in the article include the challenges of rural service learning, striking an equitable partnership between university and community, and offering service learning within a large class setting. The article concludes with a series of lessons learned from the case.

Understanding Protein Synthesis: A Role Play Approach in Large Undergraduate Human Anatomy and Physiology Classes

The study investigated the effectiveness of role play in a large undergraduate science class. The targeted population consisted of 298 students enrolled in two sections of an undergraduate Human Anatomy and Physiology course taught by the same instructor. The section engaged in the role play activity served as a Study group, while the section presented with a traditional lecture served as a Control group. A pre/posttest assessment and a survey were administered to both sections and used in data analysis. In addition, overall test scores and item analysis were examined. The analysis revealed that participants in both groups improved significantly from pretest to posttest, but there was not a significant difference between the groups in the posttest score. Neither group showed a significant change from posttest to the exam. However, there was a moderate positive effect on engagement and satisfaction survey questions from being in the Study group (based on 255 total surveys returned by both groups). Role play activity was at least as effective as the lecture in terms of students' performance on the abovementioned assessments. In addition, it proved successful in engaging students in the learning process and increasing their satisfaction. No research support sources.

A Compulsory Bioethics Module for a Large Final Year Undergraduate Class

AbstractThe article describes a compulsory bioethics module delivered to ~120 biology students in their final year. The main intended learning outcome is that students should be able to analyse and reason about bioethical issues. Interactive lectures explain and illustrate bioethics. Underlying principles and example issues are used to foster thinking skills. Three assessed seminars, each contributing 10% to the final mark, give practice in analysis and reasoning. In the seminars students work in groups of six and productive discussion is fostered through set procedures and demonstrator help. Generic feedback, along with specific feedback, helps to foster thinking skills. This is assessed in an examination accounting for 70% of marks in which students answer questions that test analysis and reasoning, as well as knowledge. Feedback from students indicated positive approval for the opportunity to think. However, it also identified concerns that reflected the unfamiliar demands of the module compared to dem...