How could you choose avoiding a little pain over understanding a magic lightning

machine?

http://xkcd.com/c242.html

Background

“Just 1 credit”

BIO 3100 Cell and Molecular

BIO 3101 Cell and Molecular Biology Lab

Observations of student attitudes and student reviews (taught it 5 times over 4 semester):

3 times a week, 50 min lecture, 3 credits

Once a week, 2 hr 50 min - 1 CU

Unfair/Unreasonable amount of work for “just 1 credit.”

Response to the observations

Merge 3100 and 3101 into 3120, where there are two one-hour lecture and two two-hour lab (1-2-1-2) once a week, for 4 credits.

Question

Does the difference in class format change the student motivation for learning for this class?

Research

If the change in format does cause a change in student motivation, does this lead to improved learning gains?

Methods

Subjects (approx. 24 per session)

1 session of 3120, taught by Dr. Hung

1 session of 3101, taught by Dr. Bulla

2 sessions of 3120, taught by Dr. Menze

Instruments

One page reflective statements

Survey for standard demographic info, e.g. class standing, gender, ethnicity, expected course grade, etc.

Science Motivation Questionnaire by Glynn et al. 2009.

Concept inventories

Final course grade (summative evaluation)

Methods

Design

Give the Science Motivation Questionnaire 3 times

Give the demographic survey at the beginning

Obtain reflective statements 3 times

Do concept inventory twice

Lingering questions

Is the 3101 a good and useful comparison groups? Different sample size, different student background.

Should I try to access former students? Will it be useful? IRB?