Wilderness Water Crisis: Next Generation Science Standards–Aligned Assessments for an Energy Activity

Journal Article | December 2017

Use a real-world scenario to engage in the scientific practice of collecting, analyzing, graphing, and interpreting data.

Research and Teaching: The Use of Classroom Clickers to Support Improved Self-Assessment in Introductory Chemistry

Journal Article | April 2018

With only minimal changes to the course structure, classroom clickers were introduced in introductory chemistry to allow students to regularly compare their perceived abilities with their actual abilities, a measurement…

Assessing Climate Literacy Content in Higher Education Science Courses: Distribution, Challenges, and Needs

Journal Article | June 2016

The study described in this article is part of the Maryland and Delaware Climate Change Education Assessment and Research (MADE CLEAR) project, which aims to improve climate literacy in the K–16 population through…

Point of View: What Does Formative Assessment Look Like in the College Science Classroom?

Journal Article | June 2016

This column shares reflections or thoughtful opinions on issues of broad interest to the community. This month’s issue discusses tools of formative assessment.

Two-Year Community: The Use of Journaling to Assess Student Learning and Acceptance of Evolutionary Science

Journal Article | August 2015

Journal writing was introduced as a means to assess student learning and acceptance of evolutionary science in a nonmajors’ biology course taught at a community college. Fourteen weeks of instruction were performed,…

Research and Teaching: Assessing the Effect of Problem-Based Learning on Undergraduate Student Learning in Biomechanics

Journal Article | August 2015

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of using the problem-based learning (PBL) teaching strategy on student academic achievement and secondary learning outcomes when compared with the traditional lecture (TL)…

Research and Teaching: Blooming, SOLO Taxonomy, and Phenomenography as Assessment Strategies in Undergraduate Science Education

Journal Article | October 2013

This article discusses three alternative approaches to assessment of exam responses in an undergraduate biochemistry course.

Too Long to Read: Assessing the Motivation Behind Graduate Student Attendance in Reading Groups

Journal Article | October 2014

Graduate-level reading groups serve as a primary forum for students to learn current and complex concepts in their field. Because graduate students lament that reading "abnormally long" articles discourage them from…

Closing the Loop: Involving Faculty in the Assessment of Scientific and Quantitative Reasoning Skills of Biology Majors

Journal Article | June 2011

The Biology Department at James Madison University assesses scientific and quantitative reasoning skills in STEM majors in a content-independent manner by using a multiple-choice exam called the Natural World-9. The…

Formative Assessment Probes: When Is the Next Full Moon? Using K–2 Concept Cartoons

Journal Article | August 2013

This column focuses on promoting learning through assessment. This month’s issue uses concept cartoons to assess students' ideas about the moon.