Abstract Background Process skills such as critical thinking and information processing are commonly stated outcomes for STEM undergraduate degree programs, but instructors often do not explicitly assess these in their courses. Students more likely to develop crucial if there is constructive alignment between an instructor’s intended learning outcomes, the tasks that instructor students perform, assessment tools uses. Rubrics each process skill can enhance this by creating a shared...

In physical chemistry classrooms, mathematical and graphical representations are critical tools for reasoning about chemical phenomena. However, there is abundant evidence that to be successful in understanding complex thermodynamics topics, students must go beyond rote problem solving order connect their of the macroscopic submicroscopic phenomena they represent. Though traditional curricular materials such as textbooks may provide little support coordinating information across macroscopic,...

Recent science education reform efforts have emphasized scientific practices in addition to knowledge. Less work has been done at the tertiary level consider students' engagement practices. In this work, we physical chemistry argumentation and construction of causal explanations. Students two POGIL classrooms were videotaped as they engaged discourse while solving thermodynamics problems. Videos transcribed transcripts analyzed using Toulmin Argument Pattern (TAP). Arguments then...

Encouraging students to participate in collaborative discourse allows constructively engage one another, share ideas, develop joint understanding of the course content, and practice making scientific arguments. Argumentation is an important skill for learn, but need be given opportunity class argumentation. To investigate importance instructor facilitation on argumentation, two iterations instructor's Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning (POGIL) physical chemistry were studied using...

• Scholarly studies and national reports document failure of current efforts to achieve broad, sustained adoption research-based instructional practices, despite compelling bodies evidence su...

A photoacoustic contrast agent that is based on bis-carboxylic acid derivative of indocyanine green (ICG) covalently conjugated to single-wall carbon nanotubes (ICG/SWCNT) presented. Covalently attaching ICG the functionalized SWCNT provides a more robust system delivers much tumor site. The detection sensitivity new in mouse model demonstrated vivo by our custom-built imaging system. summation tomography (PAT) beam envelope, referred as "PAT summation," used demonstrate postinjection light...

[This paper is part of the Focused Collection on Preparing and Supporting University Physics Educators.] The physics education research community has produced a wealth knowledge about effective teaching learning college level physics. Based this knowledge, many research-proven instructional strategies materials have been developed are currently available to instructors. Unfortunately, these intensive development activities failed influence practices This describes interim results larger...

One aim of inquiry activities in science education is to promote students' participation the practices used build scientific knowledge by providing opportunities engage discourse. However, many factors influence actual outcomes and effect on learning when using materials. In this study, discourse from two physical chemistry classrooms Process-Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning (POGIL) approach was analyzed a lens argumentation. Analysis complexity reasoning arguments progression chemical...

The undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education community has developed a large number of innovative teaching strategies materials, but the majority these go unused by instructors. To help understand how to improve adoption evidence-based innovations, this study focuses on innovations that have become widely used in college-level STEM instruction. Innovations were identified via questionnaire emailed experts Descriptions validated preparing brief...

Several active-learning pedagogies involve groups of students working together to construct their own understanding course content. In these classrooms, the instructor serves as a facilitator learning, by interacting with every group, engaging in discussions, answering questions, and providing formative feedback. This type interaction can be challenging for instructors large enrollment classes. The use undergraduate teaching assistants (TAs) during "lecture" periods is an effective way...

Every year, significant effort and resources are expended around the world to develop innovative instructional strategies materials improve undergraduate Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics education. Despite convincing evidence of efficacy with respect student learning, most will struggle become successfully propagated reach widespread use. To help developers their propagation plans encourage sustained adoption, we have developed an assessment instrument that supports development,...

Recent science reform documents have called for incorporating authentic scientific discourse into classes as engaging in has shown to result numerous benefits. Whether these benefits are observed students depends upon the quality of which they engage. However, characterizing student–student can be an ambiguous task. In this work, we introduce decentering one feature effective interactions that used evaluate discourse. Decentering refers process differentiating between one's own perspective...

AbstractTo improve student process-skill development, a novel type of rubric was developed that goes beyond typical analytic by providing detailed feedback to students. Process skills are transferable such as information processing, critical thinking, communication, and teamwork; these necessary for success in all STEM courses well the workforce. In addition categories descriptors commonly found rubrics, "feedback-style" rubrics also contain observable characteristics suggestions...

A novel SN1–SN2 studio-based lab module that incorporates inquiry-based learning was designed and implemented. The studio taught in a newly renovated space with an integrated classroom. students were divided into two groups for the lesson one group conducting studio-module second running experiments expository format. performance of each is compared.

Assessments can provide instructors and students with valuable information regarding student's level of knowledge understanding, in order to improve both teaching learning. In this study, we analyzed departmental assessment quizzes given at the start Organic Chemistry 2, over an eight year period. This quiz was designed test on core concepts from 1 that require use symbolic representations, such as drawing Lewis structures using curved arrows. Using statistical analysis, it found performed...

Active learning environments are ideal settings to help students develop process skills such as teamwork, critical thinking, and problem solving. However, implementing active pedagogies where have the opportunity these can be challenging in large enrollment courses. With assistance of undergraduate teaching assistants (TAs), instructors provide an experience a team during typical "lecture" period. Most TAs little no with facilitating environments, even less identifying assessing skills....

In this study, we present a novel photoacoustic contrast agent which is based on bis-carboxylic acid derivative of Indocyanine green (ICG) covalently conjugated to single-wall carbon nanotubes (ICG/SWCNT). Covalently attaching ICG the functionalized SWCNT provides more robust system that delivers much tumor site. The detection sensitivity new in mouse model demonstrated vivo by our custom built imaging system. PAT summation signal defined show long-term light absorption areas injected mice...

The science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education communities have developed many innovative teaching strategies learning materials in the past few decades.While these innovations significant promise for improving undergraduate STEM they commonly go unused by other instructors.This study is an inquiry into relatively small number of that become widely used college-level disciplines.The disciplines include biology, chemistry, computer geoscience, mathematics, physics.The...