Skip to main content
 

point of view

Maximizing Learning Objectives in Undergraduate Research Journals

Journal of College Science Teaching—May/June 2023 (Volume 52, Issue 5)

By Shamel Basaria, Taylor S. Ginieczki, Shloka V. Janapaty, Rohan Nigam, and Davis H. Smith

Undergraduate research journals (URJs) introduce students to the peer review and publication processes, teaching them to write manuscripts that will be reviewed for scientific rigor. Although the merits of URJs have been debated, this article argues that URJs can achieve learning objectives for both student authors and editorial teams. We suggest several guiding principles to maximize URJs’ potential, including robust social support and official institutionalization. This process involves developing a closer relationship between graduate mentors and undergraduate editors, rigorous peer review standards, long-standing relationships with faculty, and publicity committees that give the journal visibility from the moment a student steps foot on campus. We also propose measures to enhance URJs’ accessibility, such as registration with university libraries or crawlable databases. 

 

Undergraduate research journals (URJs) introduce students to the peer review and publication processes, teaching them to write manuscripts that will be reviewed for scientific rigor. Although the merits of URJs have been debated, this article argues that URJs can achieve learning objectives for both student authors and editorial teams. We suggest several guiding principles to maximize URJs’ potential, including robust social support and official institutionalization.
Undergraduate research journals (URJs) introduce students to the peer review and publication processes, teaching them to write manuscripts that will be reviewed for scientific rigor. Although the merits of URJs have been debated, this article argues that URJs can achieve learning objectives for both student authors and editorial teams. We suggest several guiding principles to maximize URJs’ potential, including robust social support and official institutionalization.
 

Legislative Update

U. S. Senate Takes On Reauthorization of the Education Sciences Reform Act

By Ralph Forsht, Manager, Advocacy & Legislative Affairs

Posted on 2023-05-03

U. S. Senate Takes On Reauthorization of the Education Sciences Reform Act

 

science 101

Q: What Are Some Fun Activities Related to Thunderstorms?

Science and Children—May/June 2023 (Volume 60, Issue 5)

By Matt Bobrowsky

Q: What Are Some Fun Activities Related to Thunderstorms?

 

Teaching Teachers

Walking the Walk and Talking the Talk

Symmetry in NGSS teacher professional learning

Science and Children—May/June 2023 (Volume 60, Issue 5)

By Alison Haas, Abigail Schwenger, Leah Master, Scott E. Grapin, and Okhee Lee

 

start with phenomena

Rainfall, River Height, and Local Relevance

Supporting students’ use of real-world data to explore flash floods

Science and Children—May/June 2023 (Volume 60, Issue 5)

By Lauren E. Brase, Lindsay C. Mossa, and Edward C. Robeck

 

engineering encounters

Fostering Community-Engaged Problem-Solvers

Utilizing engineering design process to mitigate impacts of natural disasters

Science and Children—May/June 2023 (Volume 60, Issue 5)

By Amanda Rapstad, Rebekah Hammack, and Nicholas Lux

Fostering Community-Engaged Problem-Solvers

 

methods & strategies

It Takes a Village

Fostering community partnerships to create a citizen science project for elementary students

Science and Children—May/June 2023 (Volume 60, Issue 5)

By Richard Schaen, Janet Zydney, and Lauren Angelone

It Takes a Village

 

feature

Extreme Weather

Science and Children—May/June 2023 (Volume 60, Issue 5)

By Tiffany Pace

Extreme Weather

 

feature

Garden Variety

Flexible lessons for exploring ideas about biological variation using indoor and outdoor gardens

Science and Children—May/June 2023 (Volume 60, Issue 5)

By Sky Feller, Stacey Halpern, and Nora Underwood

Garden Variety

 

feature

River’s Edge Construction

Third-grade students engineer solutions to prevent local flooding

Science and Children—May/June 2023 (Volume 60, Issue 5)

By Tyneezha Harris, Min Jung Lee, Kristie Gutierrez, and Jennifer Kidd

River’s Edge Construction

Subscribe to
Asset 2