Students will be presented well designed classes to facilitate mastering of the materials identified as a core foundation in biology – Botany, Zoology and Cell Biology
Objective
Mastery Of Core Curriculum
Students will demonstrate a mastery of the core fields in biology: Botany, Zoology, Cell Biology, Microbiology, Genetics, Ecology and Evolution.
Indicator
Assessment Exam For Core Classes
All graduating seniors will take an exiting Biology Assessment Exam (BAE), written by the Biology Faculty. We will analyze the BAE scores from the following areas: botany, zoology, cell biology, microbiology, genetics, evolution & ecology to evaluate whether students have a significant level of understanding of each of these fields.
Criterion
BAE Analysis For Core Classes
All Biology majors will be expected to score significantly better than a failing grade in all core areas: botany, zoology, cell biology, microbiology, genetics, evolution and ecology.
Finding
Exit Exam Core Results
49% of all graduating seniors in Biology took the departmental exit exam. Based on this results from this exam, on average graduating seniors scored significanlty higher than expected at random on all major core areas. This indicates students knowledge of core concepts in Biology increased during their training in the Department of Biological Sciences.
See attachement for additional data and analyses
Action
Increase Return Rate And Core Scores
We will make a concerted effort to reach additional students so more in depth analyses can be conducted.
We also will visit results as a faculty and try to develop a method to decrease the number of questions missed per section.
Objective
Understanding The Scientific Method And Develop Critical Thinking
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the general nature of scientific knowledge and how scientific knowledge is gained (the scientific method). They also will be able to critically evaluate scientific data to draw informed conclusions.
Indicator
BAE Analysis
All graduating seniors will take the Biology Assessment Exam (BAE). We will use BAE exam scores from analytical questions to evaluate a student’s understanding of the scientific method and critical thinking.
Criterion
BAE Analysis
All Biology majors will be expected to score significantly better than failing on analytical questions related to the scientific method and critical thinking.
Finding
Exit Exam Critical Thinking Results
On aveage student scored better (missed fewer qeustions) on questions that did not involve critical thinking. The number of questions missed was consitantly greater for questions that involved critical thinking.
Students missed fewer questions that required graphical interpretatio but missed more questions requiring analytical calculations.
See attachements for further data and analyses.
Action
Address Critical Thinking
We will work as a faculty to address lower scores in critical thinking questions and discuss adopting methodology for increasing those scores.
Specifically, faculty will be encourage to address critical thinking and analytics in the classroom, and will be asked to increase the number of critical thinking and analytical questions in course tests and final exams.