Journal of College Science Teaching—November/December 2021

The November/December issue of JCST highlights more research on teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic. Feature articles include a comparison of ground-based versus online student performance in a biological science course, and a look at online versus in-person student performance and satisfaction in a general science course. Other features examine learning progressions, strategies to increase workforce development of traditionally underrepresented groups, student-centered learning in an ecosystems course, and integrating science communication skills into a large STEM classroom. Research and Teaching articles this issue feature the use of long-term climate data in an interdisciplinary research project, barriers to the use of evidence-based instructional practices, a study of how student anxiety varies by seating location, and an inquiry-based paleoecologic lesson using simulated fossils and rocks.

Journal Article

Student Performance in Ground Versus Online Sections of a Biological Science I College Course

This study is a comparison of ground-based versus online student performance using a combination of common final examination scores and associated dem...

By Peggy Romeo, Marcela Trevino, Frederick Posey, and Scott Romeo

Postsecondary Assessment Biology Teacher Preparation Technology

Journal Article

Comparing Student Performance and Satisfaction Between Face-to-Face and Online Education of a Science Course in a Liberal Arts University

This study presents a quasi-experiment to assess differences in student performance and satisfaction between two different delivery modes—online and...

By Hongyan Geng and Mark McGinley

Postsecondary Preservice Science Education Teacher Preparation Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Strategies to Increase the Workforce Development of Interdisciplinary Cohorts of Traditionally Underrepresented Students in STEM

This article presents results from a Scholarships in STEM (S-STEM) grant from the National Science Foundation that supported students from three major...

By Joanna Joyner-Matos and Kayleen Islam-Zwart

Postsecondary Equity Inclusion Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Are Learning Progressions a Useful Pedagogical Tool for Instructors?

Learning progressions (LPs) present a potential tool to guide students toward deeper understanding of core concepts as they move through a curriculum....

By Charlotte R. Reed and Adele J. Wolfson

Postsecondary Chemistry Pedagogy Teacher Preparation Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Incorporating Student-Centered Learning in an Ecosystems Course

Student-centered learning broadly encompasses teaching approaches that shift the focus of instruction from teacher to student by placing an emphasis o...

By Suchinta Arif

New Science Teachers Pedagogy Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Integrating Science Communication Into a Large STEM Classroom

The communication of scientific findings through writing is an important skill for undergraduate science majors to develop as they move through their ...

By Kerri Donohue, Katherine VanDenburgh, Cathrine Reck, and Gayle Buck

Instructional Materials Pedagogy STEM Teaching Strategies Technology

Journal Article

Using Publicly Available Long-Term Climate Records in Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Big Data Curriculum

Understanding data analysis and interpreting data are key components of teaching interdisciplinary undergraduate students. We detail a semester-long r...

By Richelle L. Tanner and Lisa E. Collins

Postsecondary Computer Science Instructional Materials Interdisciplinary Teaching Strategies Technology

Journal Article

Exploring Barriers to the Use of Evidence-Based Instructional Practices

Recent reform documents in postsecondary science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields recommend the use of evidence-based instructi...

By Grant E. Gardner, Evelyn Brown, Zachary Grimes, and Gina Bishara

Postsecondary Pedagogy Teacher Preparation Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Student Active Learning Anxieties Differ by Preferred Seating Location in Introductory Biology Classes

As undergraduates’ academic distress continues to rise, it is important to consider factors related to classroom anxiety. This study investigated ho...

By Elisabeth E. Schussler, Brianna Reynolds, Benjamin J. England, and Jennifer R. Brigati

Postsecondary Biology Pedagogy Teacher Preparation Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Engaging Students at All Academic Levels in an Inquiry-Based Paleoecologic Learning Activity—Even When You Don’t Have the Rocks

Inquiry-based learning is an educational strategy that emphasizes the student’s role in the learning process by having them propose and test hypothe...

By René A. Shroat-Lewis and Melissa Hage

Postsecondary Earth & Space Science Pedagogy Teacher Preparation Teaching Strategies