Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 16, 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
Less teaching, more learning: 10-yr study supports increasing student learning through less coverage and more
Douglas B Luckie1, Jacob R Aubry, Benjamin J Marengo
1Lyman Briggs College, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA. luckie@msu.edu
Advances in Physiology Education
|December 5, 2012
Summary
Increasing student-led inquiry in introductory biology labs enhances learning gains. Longer inquiry-based labs improved content knowledge and student satisfaction compared to traditional, shorter formats.
Area of Science:
- Biology Education
- Curriculum Development
- Inquiry-Based Learning
Background:
- Traditional introductory biology labs often use "cookbook" formats with limited student inquiry.
- Curriculum reform aimed to increase inquiry and decrease content coverage over a decade.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare student content learning gains across different introductory biology laboratory formats.
- To assess the impact of increased inquiry and reduced content on student learning and opinions.
Main Methods:
- Compared three lab formats: traditional 1-week, 7-week inquiry, and 14-week inquiry.
- Assessed quantitative content knowledge using Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) style questions.
- Gathered qualitative student opinions through end-of-semester surveys.
Main Results:
- Student learning gains on content exams trended upward with increased inquiry, despite decreased content coverage.
- Students in the 14-week inquiry lab scored significantly higher on MCAT questions (64.73%) than those in 7-week (61.97%) or 1-week (53.48%) labs.
- Qualitative data showed overwhelmingly positive student reviews for inquiry labs (71-96%) versus traditional labs (20%).
Conclusions:
- Greater student-driven inquiry in biology labs leads to deeper learning and improved scientific thinking.
- Inquiry-based learning, even with reduced content, enhances fundamental understanding applicable to broader topics.
- Longer inquiry-based laboratory experiences are more effective for student learning and engagement.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Case Studies
There are many research methods available to psychologists in their efforts to understand, describe, and explain behavior and the cognitive and biological processes that underlie it.
01:21Cognitive Learning
Cognitive learning is based on purposive behavior, incidental learning, and insight learning.
E. C. Tolman's theory of purposive behavior emphasizes that much behavior is goal-directed. He argued that to understand behavior, we must look at the entire sequence of actions leading to a goal. For instance, high school students study hard, not just due to past reinforcement but also to achieve the goal of getting into a good college.
Tolman introduced the idea that behavior is influenced by...
E. C. Tolman's theory of purposive behavior emphasizes that much behavior is goal-directed. He argued that to understand behavior, we must look at the entire sequence of actions leading to a goal. For instance, high school students study hard, not just due to past reinforcement but also to achieve the goal of getting into a good college.
Tolman introduced the idea that behavior is influenced by...
01:20Nursing Process for Patient and Caregiver Teaching III: Evaluation and Documentation
Evaluation of the teaching process enables the nurse to determine if the patient's learning needs were met and if training was effective. If the expected outcomes are not met, the care plan is revised, and additional education or reinforcement is provided. Nurses can ask questions after the session or obtain feedback to assess the patient's understanding of the topic.
Nurses can use several methods to evaluate patient outcomes. For example, oral questions can assess cognitive learning, patient...
Nurses can use several methods to evaluate patient outcomes. For example, oral questions can assess cognitive learning, patient...
01:24Nursing Process for Patient and Caregiver Teaching II: Planning and Implementation
Planning for learning involves the development of a teaching plan. Teaching plans are similar to nursing care plans—both follow the steps of the nursing process. Planning in the teaching process involves setting goals and outcomes. Here, goals identify what a patient needs to achieve to understand a healthcare topic better, whereas the outcomes are the action to be performed by the patient to achieve the goal within a timeframe. For example, if the goal is to educate the patient about insulin...
01:22Purposive Learning
E. C. Tolman emphasized the purposiveness of behavior — the idea that much of our behavior is goal-directed. For instance, employees who aim for a promotion work diligently to meet their targets. Tolman argued that when classical conditioning and operant conditioning occur, the organism acquires certain expectations. In classical conditioning, a child might fear a dog because they expect it to bite. In operant conditioning, a person might consistently work overtime because they expect a bonus...
01:19Critical Thinking
Critical thinking involves reflective and productive thinking and the evaluation of evidence. Critical thinkers seek to understand the deeper meaning of ideas, question assumptions, and make independent decisions about what to believe or do. Scientists, for instance, are often critical thinkers. Critical thinking also requires humility about what we know and don't know and the motivation to look beyond the obvious. It is essential for effective problem-solving.
Colleges and universities are...
Colleges and universities are...