Undergraduate Science Courses Research Articles

Characteristics of Sport Science Undergraduate Courses: Reflections on Coach Education

Characteristics of Sport Science Undergraduate Courses: Reflections on Coach Education

Problemas enfrentados por alunas de graduação em ciência da computação: uma revisão sistemática

Abstract This systematic literature review on the issues faced by female computer science undergraduates sought to examine the reported reasons for female evasion from computer science major. A full range of indexed journals was surveyed using the ACM Digital Library, IEEE Xplore, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Web of Science, and Springer databases. Of the 818 articles retrieved from the digital libraries, only 24 papers were selected for data extraction. The several issues cited as reasons for female evasion from computer science undergraduate courses were divided into six major categories and described. Initiatives that have been implemented to minimize the dropout rate among undergraduate computer science female students were also addressed. Pointing out the main issues faced by female computer science students and identifying the limitations of the initiatives taken to solve them is the first step for future work, proposing good ways around them and outlining specific solutions for the classroom, making education professionals and even classmates aware of these problem. Attention to these issues may pique the researchers’ interest, while pursuing a graduate STEM degree, in working to make the experience of female undergraduate students more positive, thus decreasing their chances of evasion. Moreover, based on the results of this research, it is possible to make theory-based academic, managerial and administrative decisions concerning gender issues.

Enhancing science literacy and communication among the next generation of scientists in an online learning environment.

Many large, undergraduate science courses, which still heavily rely on traditional lecture-based dissemination of content, passive learning, and exam-based assessments, have been forced online due to the Covid-19 pandemic. To address the challenges facing students in regards to engagement, self-directed learning, and the development of soft skills, we modified a large, lecture-based third-year undergraduate biochemistry course at the University of Toronto to foster active learning through interactive e-modules. We also adjusted the evaluation model to focus on the development of reflection, critical thinking, science literacy, and communication.

PSII-B-24 Use of the Elnady technique of tissue preservation to preserve specimens for use in undergraduate animal science courses

Abstract The use of tissue specimens for undergraduate instruction is a very valuable tool. However, fresh tissue specimens are not always available and many common preservation techniques can result in discoloration, offensive odors, and/or dangerous chemical residues. The Elnady Technique was developed as a means to produce tissue specimens that “are realistic, durable, have no offensive odor, and are dry, soft and flexible” (Elnady, F.A. 2016 The Elnady Technique: An innovative, new method for tissue preservation. Altex. 33:237–242. doi:10.14573/altex.1511091). Briefly for soft tissue, specimens were preserved by fixing in formalin for one week. The tissue specimen was then dehydrated with a series of acetone baths changed weekly. Once the tissue was fully dehydrated, the specimen was impregnated in glycerin by full immersion in a glycerin bath for one to two weeks. Excess glycerin was then removed by draining followed by immersion in cornstarch for one to two weeks. Cornstarch residue was removed with a soft brush, and the specimen was stored in a plastic bag. Multiple specimens (including female reproductive tract of the cat, goat, horse, and sow; digestive tract of barred owl, cat, chicken, and dog; one day old lamb stomach; goat rumen, reticulum, omasum, and abomasum; deer testicle; and sheep heart and kidney) have been preserved and used in various animal science course laboratories (75 laboratory sections and over 1000 students at Berry College). Some of the specimens have been in use for five years and are still in usable condition. The Elnady Technique has proven to be a useful means of preserving tissue samples used in undergraduate animal science courses.

Detecting and avoiding plagiarism in an academic context

É apresentada a proposta de um projeto de intervenção de combate ao plágio académico desenvolvida numa unidade curricular de um curso de graduação em Ciência da Informação, em que é adotado o ensino baseado em projetos (project based learning). A contextualização teórica do trabalho fundamenta-se numa revisão da literatura sobre o conceito de plágio e sobre ferramentas digitais de deteção de plágio. É descrita a metodologia e os objetivos do projeto de deteção e combate ao plágio, além de serem apresentados os outputs resultantes da sua implementação. É dada ênfase especial à identificação, análise e avaliação de 10 ferramentas digitais de deteção de plágio, com base numa grelha de critérios definidos para o efeito. Deste procedimento resultou a seleção das três melhores ferramentas (PlagScan, Urkund e Plag.pt), as quais são apresentadas com mais detalhe. Adicionalmente, são apresentados os materiais concebidos para usar numa estratégia de combate ao plágio numa comunidade académica. Fundamenta-se a relevância do trabalho no relato de experiência de práticas didáticas inovadoras na formação graduada em Ciência da Informação, através do recurso ao ensino baseado em projetos, e na divulgação e avaliação de ferramentas de deteção de plágio, enquadradas numa estratégia mais lata de combate ao plágio em ambiente académico.

492 A New Approach to Teach Laboratory Sessions in an Online Environment to Undergraduate Introductory to Animal Sciences Course

Due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic, most of the universities across United States limited the amount of in person instruction. This brought a challenging situation in animal sciences courses that required laboratory sessions and hands-on experiences. There is not a real solution to replace the in-person labs, however several approaches can be implemented to overcome some of the challenges for laboratory sessions. Some of the on-line approaches implemented in an introductory class of Animal Sciences during the semester of spring and fall 2020 were live (synchronous) laboratory sessions (live interactions with animals, pre-recorded sessions of the laboratory session, and 360-degree videos of tours to the farms). The main objective of the present report is to assess the usefulness and feedback of these approaches to teach laboratory sessions to an undergraduate introductory animal science course. The official (Blue) university student responses in the course were used to determine the perception and feedback to these approaches. A total of 123 responses were recorded (Spring: 42/96, Fall: 81/174). Overall, no significant differences were observed in terms of the student perception. Overall, the responses were positive toward the laboratory sessions even in an online environment. During the spring semester 40/42 (95%), whereas in 72/81 (88%) strongly agree/mildly agree that labs help them to learn respectively. In terms of the videos used in class and labs, during the spring semester 35/41 (85%) and 68/81 (83%) strongly agree/mildly agree that labs help them to learn. In summary, the new reality due to COVID pandemic is very challenging for Animal Science courses that have laboratory sessions that involves hands-on experiences. Despite this, in conclusion some approaches can be implemented to still provide meaningful experiences to undergraduate students to support their learning and engagement in the introductory animal science course.

Teaching speech acoustics concepts in an undergraduate speech science course: Are distributed or massed practice lab assignments more effective?

Educational research holds that individuals learn concepts more effectively when practice applying these concepts is distributed rather than massed. However, few studies have investigated distributed versus massed practice for student learning of a set of related concepts. This study investigated student learning and retention of speech acoustics concepts in an undergraduate speech science course. In one class design, students completed several short speech acoustics labs spaced throughout the semester to practice applying learned concepts as the semester progressed. In another class design, students completed one extensive speech acoustics lab at the end of the semester to apply concepts learned throughout the semester. Students in all courses completed a comprehensive examination at the end of the semester. An analysis of summative assessment data indicates that distributed practice may be more effective in facilitating student learning and recall of individual concepts. However, massed practice may promote broader conceptual learning of related concepts, possibly by facilitating discovery of connections across concepts.

Meta-analysis of Gender Performance Gaps in Undergraduate Natural Science Courses.

To investigate patterns of gender-based performance gaps, we conducted a meta-analysis of published studies and unpublished data collected across 169 undergraduate biology and chemistry courses. While we did not detect an overall gender gap in performance, heterogeneity analyses suggested further analysis was warranted, so we investigated whether attributes of the learning environment impacted performance disparities on the basis of gender. Several factors moderated performance differences, including class size, assessment type, and pedagogy. Specifically, we found evidence that larger classes, reliance on exams, and undisrupted, traditional lecture were associated with lower grades for women. We discuss our results in the context of natural science courses and conclude by making recommendations for instructional practices and future research to promote gender equity.

Gender differences in perceived stress and coping among college students

BackgroundMany college students register each semester for courses, leading to productive careers and fulfilled lives. During this time, the students have to manage many stressors stemming from academic, personal, and, sometimes, work lives. Students, who lack appropriate stress management skills, may find it difficult to balance these responsibilities.ObjectivesThis study examined stress, coping mechanisms, and gender differences in undergraduate students towards the end of the semester.Design and methodUniversity students (n = 448) enrolled in three different undergraduate exercise science courses were assessed. Two instruments, the Perceived Stress Scale and Brief Cope, were administered during the twelfth week of the semester, four weeks prior to final exams. T-tests were used to detect gender differences for the stress levels and coping strategies.ResultsOverall, females indicated higher levels of stress than their male counterparts. Gender differences were evident in both coping dimensions and individual coping strategies used. Females were found to utilize the emotion-focused coping dimension and endorsed the use of four coping strategies more often than males. These included self-distraction, emotional support, instrumental support, and venting.ConclusionsThis research adds to the existing literature by illuminating the level of perceived stress and different coping strategies used by undergraduate female and male students. In turn, students may need educational interventions to develop effective and healthy coping strategies to last a lifetime. Faculty and other university officials may want to highlight and understand these various factors to protect the students’ wellbeing in their classes.

Cardiac Cycle Puzzle: Development and Analysis of Students’ Perception of an Online Digital Version for Teaching Cardiac Physiology

Cardiac physiology is a basic subject in the curriculum of health Science undergraduate courses, which allow students to understand the functional mechanisms of cardiovascular organs as well as the physiopathology of cardiovascular diseases. The puzzle of cardiac cycle has been developed to help students to understand and integrate the concepts of morphology and physiology of normal and pathological states of the heart. Considering the good acceptance of the printed puzzle by students and professors, its online version has been developed as a digital educational tool. The aims of this work were to describe the development of the online digital version of this educational game and to evaluate the students’ perception of the utility of the digital game for their learning. The digital version was developed using the figures and answers of the original printed cardiac cycle puzzle, including stages 1 and 2, in three languages: Portuguese, English and Spanish. The digital version was tested by professors of Physiology from different university institutions for validation. The final version of game was used in remote teaching in three courses in the health area, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The opinion of students about the usefulness of the game activity for their learning was analyzed by using a survey. In the opinion of participants in this study, the activity with the online digital version of the cardiac cycle puzzle was useful for their learning.

Establishing a baseline of science communication skills in an undergraduate environmental science course

BackgroundSeminal reports, based on recommendations by educators, scientists, and in collaboration with students, have called for undergraduate curricula to engage students in some of the same practices as scientists—one of which is communicating science with a general, non-scientific audience (SciComm). Unfortunately, very little research has focused on helping students develop these skills. An important early step in creating effective and efficient curricula is understanding what baseline skills students have prior to instruction. Here, we used the Essential Elements for Effective Science Communication (EEES) framework to survey the SciComm skills of students in an environmental science course in which they had little SciComm training.ResultsOur analyses revealed that, despite not being given the framework, students included several of the 13 elements, especially those which were explicitly asked for in the assignment instructions. Students commonly targeted broad audiences composed of interested adults, aimed to increase the knowledge and awareness of their audience, and planned and executed remote projects using print on social media. Additionally, students demonstrated flexibility in their skills by slightly differing their choices depending on the context of the assignment, such as creating more engaging content than they had planned for.ConclusionsThe students exhibited several key baseline skills, even though they had minimal training on the best practices of SciComm; however, more support is required to help students become better communicators, and more work in different contexts may be beneficial to acquire additional perspectives on SciComm skills among a variety of science students. The few elements that were not well highlighted in the students’ projects may not have been as intuitive to novice communicators. Thus, we provide recommendations for how educators can help their undergraduate science students develop valuable, prescribed SciComm skills. Some of these recommendations include helping students determine the right audience for their communication project, providing opportunities for students to try multiple media types, determining the type of language that is appropriate for the audience, and encouraging students to aim for a mix of communication objectives. With this guidance, educators can better prepare their students to become a more open and communicative generation of scientists and citizens.

Training transfer model as a possibility for the mandatory internship at sport science undergraduate courses

PurposeThis article aims to explain the transfer of training model used in the training of human resources within organizations and its possibilities for the mandatory internship (MI) in sport science (SS) higher education.Design/methodology/approachA review that argues the concept of transfer of learning, the model of factors that affect the transfer of training and its evolution was undertaken.FindingsThe possibilities and implications of thinking about the MI in the SS undergraduate courses are listed based on the transfer of learning and of training model. It is concluded that different factors such as the students' characteristics, the characteristics of the different spaces of SS professional's intervention, the evaluation, the academic and technical supervisors, the host organization and peers, as well as other elements of the transfer of training model, are important to develop the MI at the SS undergraduate courses.Originality/valueThe consideration of this model of factors could be relevant to improve the teaching and learning processes within the MI at the SS undergraduate courses.

Does a Wikipedia-based assignment increase self-efficacy among female students? A qualified maybe

Wikipedia has become one of the most used reference works, by students, educators, academics, and the general public, and there is a growing body of research exploring when and how students use the online encyclopedia. A smaller body of work examines the role of Wikipedia as a pedagogical tool for teaching information literacy and subject-matter expertise. Yet, despite the ubiquitous nature of the resource on campus, there remains a well-documented gender gap in contributions to the site. We build on previous scholarship to explore how the use of Wikipedia as a pedagogical tool can improve female self-efficacy and bridge the gender gap prevalent in contributions to open access resources. A survey of two undergraduate political science courses suggests an assignment in which students create original content for Wikipedia increases confidence in using the platform and information-seeking behavior among both female and male students, although the advantages continue to be greater for men. Furthermore, while female students are more confident in creating content after the Wikipedia assignment, once accounting for confidence there appears to be no significant difference between male and female contributions to Wikipedia. Because the assignment does lead to slight increases in confidence for women, however, it could be considered a promising first step in increasing female contributions to the site and the confidence of female students in evaluating information, more generally. We also include assignment details and recommendations for implementation.

Self-Regulated Learning in Undergraduate Science

Undergraduate science courses are particularly challenging for students transitioning into university. The departure from supportive high school environments can be difficult for students lacking self-directed and self-motivated learning skills. Many high-achieving school graduates entering higher education are surprised to discover they are ill-prepared to be accountable for their learning (Stanton et al., 2015). Over the past two decades, there has been a mounting interest in the pedagogical approaches aimed at equipping students with the capabilities of a lifelong learner (Australian Qualifications Framework, 2013; Oliver & Jorre de St Jorre, 2018; Boud & Dochy, 2010). Consequently, research efforts in higher education have attempted to identify the behavioural strategies and motivational states associated with academic success. Self-regulated learning (SRL) is an umbrella term encompassing the independent and self-directed strategies that allow students to recognise and regulate their learning (Dinsmore et al., 2008). In brief, self-regulation is what a lifelong learner does. In science disciplines, much attention has been directed towards curricula that facilitate the development of SRL in students, such that they become aware of, and maintain control over their learning of complex scientific concepts. This study reviews the current theoretical perspectives, methodological approaches, and emerging trends from research on SRL in higher education science.

Metabolism in Motion: Engaging Biochemistry Students with Animation

Metabolism, including cellular respiration, encompasses a large component of the topics covered in foundational biochemistry and life science undergraduate courses. The difficulty in instruction and student retention of this topic lies in the conceptualization of the numerous enzymatic reactions involving various substrates/products and their regulation. Learners typically end up focusing on memorizing individual metabolic pathways and their subcomponents (e.g., enzymes, substrates, and products) rather than developing a high-level understanding of the interplay and regulation occurring between pathways and appreciating the real-life application of this knowledge. To address this challenge, we created a 3D animation that introduces students to the fundamental concepts of glucose and fat metabolism, energy production by the citric acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation, as well as the major points of regulation that emphasize the integration and flux of these metabolic pathways. Survey feedback from cohorts of University of Toronto second-year undergraduate life science students and School of Continuing Studies learners indicated that the animation increased their engagement with the material and confidence in understanding the connectivity between competing pathways and the regulation of metabolism.

Titrating Teaching: An Interdisciplinary Case Study of Online and Face-to-Face Undergraduate Biochemistry Instruction.

Although many science education researchers have investigated developing science education at the K–12 levels to meet the needs of underrepresented students in science, far fewer have considered how shifts to online instruction in undergraduate science courses might provide insights into better supporting the achievement of students from diverse backgrounds at the university level. This case study aims to fill this gap by engaging in a reflective interdisciplinary “deep dive” into the instruction of one biochemistry professor at a designated Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), across two distinct modalities: face-to-face and online. The findings reported here suggest that the use of formative assessments and student feedback surveys, as well as responsive instructional strategies, facilitate access to and comprehension of complex material in the online modality, without diminishing achievement. Additionally, the reflective collaboration deployed methodologically in this study highlights how higher education faculty can marshal intellectual resources across distinct disciplines to identify and develop responsive pedagogy in advanced science courses at the university level.

Supporting Undergraduate STEMM Education: Perspectives from Faculty Mentors and Learning Assistants in Calculus II

In higher education, Learning Assistants (LAs)—a relatively recent evolution grounded in peer mentorship models—are gaining popularity in classrooms as universities strive to meet the needs of undergraduate learners. Unlike Teaching Assistants, LAs are undergraduate students who receive continuous training from faculty mentors in content-area coaching and pedagogical skills. As near-peers, they assist assigned groups of undergraduates (students) during class. Research on LAs suggests that they are significant in mitigating high Drop-Fail-Withdrawal rates of large enrollment undergraduate science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medical (STEMM) courses. However, there is a dearth of description regarding the learning between LAs and STEMM faculty mentors. This paper reports on perspectives of faculty mentors and their cooperating LAs in regard to their learning relationships during a Calculus II at a research-oriented university during Spring of 2020. Using an exploratory-descriptive qualitative design, faculty (oral responses) and LAs (written responses) reflected on their relationship. Content analysis (coding) resulted in four salient categories (by faculty and LA percentages, respectively) in: Showing Care and Fostering Relationships (47%, 23%); Honing Pedagogical Skills (27%, 36%); Being Prepared for Class and Students (23%, 28%); and Developing Content Knowledge in Calculus (3%, 13%). Benefits of LAs to faculty and ways to commence LA programs at institutions are also discussed.

Build-Your-Own Exam: Involving Undergraduate Students in Assessment Design and Evaluation to Enhance Self-Regulated Learning.

ABSTRACT Teaching students how to critically assess their own learning progress is a persistent challenge in undergraduate science education. Engaging students in the design and evaluation of assessments is an emerging method for enhancing self-awareness of one's own competencies, to identify knowledge gaps, and to develop strategies for improved learning. Here, I describe an assessment activity for mid-level undergraduate science courses that directly involves students in the composition, revision, and evaluation of written exams. This activity uses a combination of faculty instruction, peer feedback, and self-assessment to facilitate deep comprehension of the curriculum and to ultimately help increase students' cognitive reasoning and ability to self-regulate their own learning. Instructional resources and alternative activity timelines are provided to promote easy implementation in a variety of course contexts at the post-secondary level.

Integrating Clinical Reasoning Skills in a Pre-professional Undergraduate Human Anatomy Course.

Clinically integrated curricula in health science education has been shown to promote the development of problem-solving schema and positively impact knowledge acquisition. Despite its' purported benefits, this type of curricula can impose a high cognitive load, which may negatively impact novice learners' knowledge acquisition and problem-solving schema development. Introducing explicit clinical reasoning instruction within pre-professional undergraduate basic science courses may limit factors that increase cognitive load, enhance knowledge acquisition, and foster developing clinical problem-solving skills. This study, conducted over the Fall and Spring semesters of the 2018-2019 school year, sought to evaluate whether the implementation of a clinical reasoning instructional intervention within a clinically integrated pre-professional undergraduate general human anatomy course influenced students' acquisition of anatomical knowledge and development of clinical problem-solving skills. Results of the study were mixed regarding the acquisition of anatomical knowledge. Both the intervention and comparison groups performed similarly on multiple choice examinations of anatomical knowledge. However, the clinical reasoning intervention positively impacted students' ability to apply clinical reasoning skills to anatomically based clinical case studies. Results from M\mixed between-within subjects analysis of variance comparing scores on Written Clinical Reasoning Assessments revealed a significant interaction between time and group affiliation, with the groups receiving the interventions outperforming the comparison groups: Fall, P<0.001; Spring, P<0.001. The results of this study may imply that explicit clinical reasoning instruction within a clinically integrated undergraduate Human Anatomy course could hold potential for fostering students' early clinical reasoning skills.

Teaching sciences and mathematics – A challenge for higher education institutions: A systematic review

The current job market requires scientifically literate human resources. At a time in which scientific reasoning should be part of the higher education curriculum, the general population is pulling away from it. This review aims to identify how students’ and teachers’ attitudes and values influence academic performance in science courses. PICO and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) approaches were used to explore four databases and 6488 articles were retrieved. Articles had to be relevant to the research question and published within the last 10 years. Articles without an identifiable author or articles unrelated to the research question were excluded. Following three rounds of quality screening, 10 articles were finally selected for analysis. Study designs and quality varied across the selected articles. Self‐efficacy, having mastery goals, perceiving the course as valuable, and having a student identity were consistently associated with good learning outcomes. Cooperation was found to increase task value and autonomy when taking science courses; conversely, a performance approach and a consumer identity were negatively correlated with good learning outcomes. In the past 10 years, there was paucity in research studying the role of teacher attitudes towards science courses on learning outcomes. This article proposes a hypothetical model that describes how attitudes and values may lead to mastery and a good academic performance in undergraduate science courses. With this model, we seek to enhance and strengthen the nature and scope of science education in universities.