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Small Changes: Using Assessment to Direct Instructional Practices in Large-Enrollment Biochemistry Courses.
Xiaoying Xu1, Jennifer E Lewis1, Jennifer Loertscher2
1Department of Chemistry and Center for Improvement of Teaching and Research on Undergraduate STEM, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620.
CBE Life Sciences Education
|February 12, 2017
Summary
Multiple-choice tests effectively track student learning in large classes. Instructional interventions significantly improved student understanding of key biochemistry concepts like hydrogen bonding and pKa.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry education research
- Chemical education
Background:
- Multiple-choice assessments offer efficient data collection for large classes.
- Tracking student performance over time provides formative feedback on teaching effectiveness.
- Assessing instructional impact informs future teaching strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze student responses on optimized pretests and posttests in a large-enrollment biochemistry course.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of instructional interventions on fundamental concepts.
- To assess the utility of multiple-choice instruments for feedback in large-scale science education.
Main Methods:
- Administered optimized pretest and posttest assessments over four quarters.
- Focused on three core biochemistry concepts: hydrogen bonding, bond energy, and pKa.
- Analyzed changes in student performance before and after targeted instructional interventions.
Main Results:
- A greater proportion of students demonstrated knowledge of concepts post-intervention compared to pre-intervention.
- Student responses shifted from inconsistent to consistent and from incorrect to correct.
- Significant instructional effects were observed for hydrogen bonding and bond energy in later quarters.
Conclusions:
- Multiple-choice instruments are valuable tools for assessing instructional intervention effectiveness in large classes.
- These assessments provide quick, reliable feedback on student understanding of specific concepts.
- Data from these instruments can guide and improve future pedagogical approaches in science education.
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