All Journal of College Science Teaching resources

Journal Article

SCST: Society for College Science Teachers—“Darn it, Professor. Just Tell Us What We Need to Know to Pass Your Course”

Many of today’s college students come to class expecting the professor to tell them exactly what they need to study for the exam. They have little interest in reading the textbook, drawing answers from analogies, or coming to conclusions from case ...

Journal Article

Research and Teaching: Do Students’ Grades in High School Biology Accurately Predict Their Grades in College Biology?

In this study, the authors analyzed how students’ grades in high school biology courses are associated with their predicted and actual grades in college courses. The results of the study revealed a disconnect between high school and college biology...

Journal Article

Swivel Seating in Large Lecture Theaters and Its Impact on Student Discussions and Learning

This paper compares two different designs of remodeled, large lecture-theater designs: one with traditional tiered rows and one with swivel seating to facilitate face-to-face discussions during lectures and the impact these designs had on student lea...

Journal Article

Research and Teaching: Are Students’ Performances in Labs Related to Their Performances in Lecture Portions of Introductory Science Courses?

In this study, the author examined how attendance in the lab is associated with students’ lab grades and overall course grades in an introductory biology course. Results from this study indicate that academic motivation, as expressed by high rates ...

Journal Article

Evaluating a New Online Course in the Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases by Studying Student Learning Styles

At RMIT University, students may now elect to study infectious diseases through a course called Outbreak—The Detection and Control of Infectious Disease. Outbreak was designed to simulate in an online class the effective teamwork required to bring ...

Journal Article

Case Study: Introducing Students to Cases

Strategically introducing students to a controversial science case—before they read it, watch it, or listen to it—motivates them to learn from it and paves the way for successful discussion and debate. A strategic introduction also provides an op...

Journal Article

Engaging General Biology Students With Learning Contracts

Students in a general biology class used a learning contract where they selected chapter-relevant activities they could complete through several formats: oral, written, or artistic. The majority of students felt they learned a lot with this method, t...

Journal Article

Research and Teaching: Location, Location, Location—Does Seat Location Affect Performance in Large Classes?

This study found no evidence that seat location affects student achievement even in very large classes where students sitting in the back are a considerable distance from the instructor. Rather, the differences in performance observed were consistent...

Journal Article

Point of View: In Defense of the Lecture

Science education research has produced empirical data supporting good teaching techniques. An awareness of this body of knowledge can be helpful in deciding what to do with your 50 minutes to increase the effectiveness of your lecture. Some simple b...

Journal Article

Developing an Interdisciplinary Curriculum Framework for Aquatic-Ecosystem Modeling

This paper presents results from a July 2005 workshop and course aimed at developing an interdisciplinary course on modeling aquatic ecosystems that will provide the next generation of practitioners with critical skills for which formal training is p...

Journal Article

Favorite Demonstration: Demonstrating Inquiry-Based Teaching Competencies in the Life Sciences—Part 2

This set of botany demonstrations is a continuation of the inquiry-based lecture activities that provide realistic connections to the history and nature of science and employ technology in data collection (see the September/October issue of JCST fo...

Journal Article

Society for College Science Teachers: Revisiting the Cone of Learning—Is it a Reliable Way to Link Instruction Method with Knowledge Recall?

In his article, Dale had constructed a tiered triangle to rank students’ ability to recall information that had been taught six weeks earlier (Dale 1969). Dale had found that only 5% of the knowledge gained through lecture was remembered by student...