You are invited to attend this month’s STEM Active Learning Seminar:
Improving student learning through understanding reasoning and problem solving practices
Dr. Jenny Knight, PhD, Neuroscience Associate Professor in MCD Biology, University of Colorado
Thursday Feb 8th, 12pm-1pm
Biomed Bld, room 300, UCSC
Description: Classroom practices affect student behavior, and by extension, their learning. Through studying how students discuss clicker questions in active learning classrooms, we have found that students rarely use reasoning when answering in-class questions. However, their use of reasoning increases when they are cued to use reasoning by their instructors, by peer Learning Assistants, or when under pressure of accountability. Can students transfer in-class group practices to individual assessment opportunities that require reasoning and logic? To answer this, we are studying how students independently solve complex genetics problems through written documentation of their problem-solving processes. We analyze their answers for correctness, use of reasoning, and other cognitive and metacognitive processes. We have also collected data on whether giving students content “hints” improves their ability to solve similar problems, or changes their problem-solving process. Ideally, this work will lead to an understanding of how to better help students become life-long problem-solvers.
The STEM ActiveLearning Seminar is a series of monthly talks cultivating a STEM teaching community at UCSC.
Seminar speakers will share their research, insights, accomplishments, and/or challenges in teaching STEM classes, emphasizing scientifically-based teaching techniques. Held the second Thursday of each month, usually from 12:00-1:00PM (feel free to bring your lunch).
For more information on the STEM Active Learning Seminar Series and a full line up of future talks, see our website here.
If you would like to present or schedule an announcement, please let us know.
We look forward to seeing you at the next seminar, and appreciate you forwarding this announcement to colleagues who may be interested in this topic.
Thank you,
The STEM-ALS Team
STEM-ALS is sponsored by the Division of Physical & Biological Sciences, the Institute for Scientist & Engineer Educators and a grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, which combined with UCSC campus funding, is revising introductory STEM courses at UCSC.