Low-cost, active teaching techniques—particularly group work and worksheets—substantially improve learning in university science classes, according to a new study involving 3,700 University of British Columbia (UBC) biology students.
“Many university STEM classes continue to rely on conventional lectures, despite substantial research that suggests active teaching techniques like peer instruction and group discussion are more effective,” said UBC researcher Patricia Schulte, senior author of the study, published today in PLOS-One.
“But this confirms that group work significantly enhances how well students grasp and retain concepts. And strikingly, having students go through worksheets in groups—an easily implemented, low cost classroom technique—resulted in particularly strong improvements in scores.”
Increasing class time dedicated to group work just 10 per cent (five minutes in a 50-minute class) correlated with roughly a three per cent improvement in student performance. That equates to almost one letter grade, depending on the institution. Using in-class worksheets—a wide variety of structured handouts that contain a few questions or tasks related to a concept—resulted in even more significant increases in student scores.
In general, classes had to spend half or more of their time in groupwork to see significant boost in learning.
The study is the first large-scale, direct observation of classes across a curriculum that examines the impact of different active learning approaches. The researchers observed classroom practices across 31 lecture sections in the biology program at UBC, classifying classes by the degree of group work conducted in each. They administered tests to more than 3,700 students at the beginning and end of term to assess the extent of their learning, independent of regular course exams. Most students were in first and second year.
Most of the previous work on active learning is based on instructor self-reports, qualitative surveys, or indirect observations of active learning, rather than direct assessments of teaching practices and independent assessments of learning.
Learn more: Small changes, big gains: Simple worksheets dramatically boost learning in STEM classes
The Latest on: STEM
[google_news title=”” keyword=”STEM ” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: STEM
- Behind-the scenes look at University of Nebraska Omaha's new STEM education buildingon April 29, 2024 at 2:44 pm
Two years of design and construction nears completion at the University of Nebraska Omaha's new STEM TRAIL Center.
- Father and daughter STEM program to ‘empower communication’ in Midlandon April 29, 2024 at 1:30 pm
A father and daughter event designed to empower positive communication between girls and their families through STEM activities will take place in Midland next month.
- A new intergovernmental group will try to stem abuses tied to critical mineral miningon April 29, 2024 at 1:16 pm
The newly established Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals includes representatives from close to 100 countries as well as nonprofit organizations and industry groups. It’s tasked with ...
- UTEP students earn prestigious STEM fellowshipson April 29, 2024 at 12:27 pm
Seven students and recent graduates from the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) have earned nationally recognized fellowships and scholarships. UTEP has received two of the most highly competitive ...
- Young man in Yerevan donates stem cells to help save his sister’s lifeon April 29, 2024 at 12:14 pm
Photos courtesy of the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry LOS ANGELES—On April 10, 2024, a young Yerevan resident, Garik Petrosyan, donated bone marrow stem cells for an urgent transplant that might ...
- Austin teacher recognized at national STEM competitionon April 29, 2024 at 11:55 am
Students around the world gathered in Houston over the weekend to participate in the Conrad Challenge. The annual STEM competition invites thousands of students to Space Center Houston, where they can ...
- VUSD wraps up on new STEM Night eventson April 29, 2024 at 11:00 am
Visalia Unified School District’s newly launched STEM Night events bring parents, students together through activities ...
- Stem cells improve memory, reduce inflammation in Alzheimer's mouse brainson April 29, 2024 at 10:27 am
When people think of Alzheimer's Disease and possible treatment, amyloid—and the accumulation of plaques that invade the cerebral cortex—is often brought up first. However, scientists are finding that ...
- Study uncovers the mechanism that avoids conflicts in the activity of brain stem cellson April 29, 2024 at 7:39 am
Researchers have discovered the mechanism which allows adult brain stem cells to express genes that maintain their identity and those for neuronal differentiation without conflicts in cellular ...
- BridgeUP STEM Graduates Second Cohorton April 29, 2024 at 5:00 am
BridgeUP STEM at Georgia Tech graduated its second cohort of high school girls and non-binary students earlier this month.
via Bing News