Exploring International Students’ Perceptions and Use of Peer Review in a First-Year Science Communications Course
Project Investigator(s): Ashley Welsh, Faculty Liaison (Science); Joanne Fox, Principal, Vantage College Project Description This research aims to investigate how international first-year students’ engagement with peer review activities in a first year science communications course influences their perception of peer review and their own approaches to writing. Analysis of a survey instrument, student coursework, classroom […]
Two Stage Review as an Approach to Improving Student Application of Concepts
Project Investigator(s): Tara Ivanochko, Instructor, Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences; Sara Harris, Instructor, Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences; Phil Austin, Instructor, Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences Project Description EOSC 340: Global Climate Change is a math- and physics-intensive course open to science and engineering students at UBC. This project […]
Improving Teamwork Skills in Geological Engineering
Project Investigator(s): Susan Hollingshead, Instructor, Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences Project Description The purpose of this project is to research ways to improve student learning outcomes related to teamwork skills in a six-credit, group-project-based, capstone course for fourth-year undergraduate geological engineering students. This research will use pre-post self-assessments of teamwork skills as well […]
Negotiating Change: Determining the readiness of second-year students for self-directed learning
Project Investigator(s): Gail Hammond, Lecturer, Food, Nutrition and Health (LFS); Alice Cassidy, Course co-ordinator, Food, Nutrition and Health (LFS) Project Description This project is unique in being a multi-level needs assessment that investigates the experiences, understanding and perceptions of self-directed learning (SDL) held by current students registered in two large introductory nutrition classes (same course) […]
On being strategic in selecting active learning techniques
Project Investigator(s): Jenny H Peterson, Instructor, Department of Political Science Project Description This study will present evidence and analysis of the specific impacts of different modes of active learning (e.g. simulations, role playing, peer teaching, reflective writing), on specific course learning objectives (e.g. improving basic comprehension of topic area, developing critical thinking skills, communicating complex […]
Flexible learning student engagement: a case study
Project Investigator(s): Phaedra Burke, Sessional lecturer, Sauder School of Business Project Description The intent of this research is to improve (or strengthen) student engagement in a Flexible Learning course by understanding student interest and motivation in learning. The project will involve quantitative data from questionnaires (students’ background, their interest and motivation), qualitative data from interviews, […]
Measuring Student Aptitude for Knowledge Transfer Across Disciplinary Boundaries
Project Investigator(s): Chris Addison, Instructor, Department of Chemistry; James Charbonneau, Lecturer, Department of Physics and Astronomy Project Description This project involves developing an instrument that will allow us to quantify student ability to transfer knowledge across discipline boundaries, and to assess the ability of the Science One Program to promote this knowledge transfer. We will […]
Productive Failure in biology classrooms
Project Investigator(s): Sunita Chowrira, Professor of Teaching, Botany; Karen Smith, Lecturer, Microbiology Project Description Students were required to complete various learning activities (readings, quizzes, worksheets and problems) in a specific sequence i.e., pre-class, in-class, post-class. Research Questions Are all in-class activities created equal? Will all in-class activities lead to learning gains? What kind of activities […]