Engaging Undergraduate Students in Course-based Research Improved Student Learning of Course Material

Area of Science:

• Immunology Education
• Undergraduate Research

Background:

• Course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) provide valuable opportunities for critical thinking and problem-solving.
• Quantifying CUREs' impact on student learning is challenging due to the lack of control groups in most studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the impact of course-based research on student performance in an upper-division immunology course.
• To compare student outcomes between a traditional course format and a CURE format.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study was conducted between a traditional immunology course (2013-2016) and a CURE format (2017-2019).
• Summative assessments (quizzes, exams, reports) were used to evaluate student performance.
• Student academic levels, degree programs, and GPAs were analyzed as control variables.

Main Results:

• Students in the CURE format demonstrated significantly higher performance on quizzes, exams, and reports.
• No significant differences were observed in academic levels, degree programs, or GPAs between the two groups.
• Improved performance in the CURE group is attributed to increased student engagement in research activities.

Conclusions:

• Integrating research into undergraduate immunology courses through CUREs enhances student academic performance.
• CUREs foster greater student engagement, leading to improved learning outcomes without altering student demographics.
• This study provides quantitative evidence for the effectiveness of CUREs in higher education.