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Updated: Jun 6, 2026
10:26
Problem-Solving Before Instruction (PS-I): A Protocol for Assessment and Intervention in Students with Different Abilities
Published on: September 11, 2021
A model for using a concept inventory as a tool for students' assessment and faculty professional development.
Gili Marbach-Ad1, Katherine C McAdams, Spencer Benson
1University of Maryland, College Park, 20742, USA. gilim@umd.edu
CBE Life Sciences Education
|December 3, 2010
Summary
A Host Pathogen Interactions (HPI) concept inventory improved faculty professional development and curriculum reform. This tool assesses student understanding, identifies learning gaps, and supports evidence-based teaching strategies in microbiology.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology Education
- Infectious Disease Research
Background:
- Faculty teaching communities aim to enhance student learning experiences.
- Evidence-based curriculum reform requires effective assessment tools.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of a Host Pathogen Interactions (HPI) concept inventory on faculty development and curriculum reform.
- To assess student understanding of HPI concepts and identify learning gaps.
Main Methods:
- Administered the HPI Concept Inventory as a pre- and postsurvey to ~400 undergraduate microbiology students annually since 2006.
- Collected student scores and open-ended explanations for incorrect answers.
- Analyzed data to inform curriculum reform goals and faculty discussions.
Main Results:
- The concept inventory data facilitated discussions on student learning, revealing discrepancies between faculty expectations and student comprehension.
- Enabled assessment of student learning across institutions and the impact of teaching techniques.
- Demonstrated the collective formation of a learning progression across nine linked courses.
Conclusions:
- The HPI Concept Inventory serves as a valuable tool for assessing student understanding in microbiology.
- The data generated supports evidence-based curriculum reform and faculty professional development.
- Utilizing concept inventories deepens faculty understanding of student learning processes.
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