Title: SoTL and the Use of Cases and PBL
1SoTL and the Use of Cases and PBL
- Presented by
- SCN and the ASM Biology Scholars Program
- May 16, 2013
- SCN PreConference Workshop
- ASMCUE, Denver CO
SCN is funded by NSF RCN-UBE 1062049
2What is SoTL?
- Scholarly Teaching using research findings to
made pedagogical decisions - Also called DBER Discipline Based Educational
Research
3The SoTL Cycle Research leading to action
Identify Innovation
Design the Study
Develop Action Plan
Gather Data
Interpret Data
Analyze Data
4SoTL on Effectiveness of Cases and PBL
- Many possible variables to look at, e.g.,
- Who is learning
- How the case is being taught
- The content of the case
- The story of the case
- What is being learned
5SoTL Often Uses These Kinds of Methods to Gather
Data
Observations
Surveys
Interviews
Artifact Analysis
6Three Methods to Gather Data
- Make observations
- Unstructured or structured observations
- Ask questions
- Surveys
- Interviews
- Examine and Score Artifacts
- Tests, portfolios, student comments
- Must design scoring guide
7Common SoTL Research Designs
- Quantitative Designs
- Weak One section, only do post test
- Stronger One section, do pre and post tests
- Stronger two sections, one with and one without
innovation,do pre and post tests - Qualitative Designs
- case study Collect information about a
small sample from multiple sources with the aim
of description.
8Some Keys to Success
- Talk about your design and instruments with SCN
members or other colleagues. - Pilot test your instruments
- Keep your data collection focused.
- Try to keep the project reasonable in scope for
the time you have available.
9To create your own plans answer the questions
below
- From whom are you gathering data?
- More than one class, subgroups?
- When will you gather data?
- First week of classes? After the new thing has
been introduced? Fall? Spring? - How will you gather data?
- Questions, artifacts, observations?
- Where will you gather data?
- Classroom, online forum, dropbox survey?
10Human Subjects
- Because you are working with humans, you must
submit a Human Subjects or IRB application
according to your institutions procedures. - This is required if you plan to publish your
results - Most projects are Category I - what one might do
in the normal course of teaching
11Give SoTL a try!Form a group at SCN!Share what
you learn at ASMCUE and SCN!
12The Biology Scholars Program
- Kari Sherwood
- Michele Shuster
- Link to www.BiologyScholars.org
13Some great starter readings
- The Use of Personal Narrative in Classroom Case
Study Analysis to Improve Long-term Knowledge
Retention and Cultivate Professional Qualities in
Allied Health Students (2010) by Linda M. Young
and Rodney P. Anderson - http//jmbe.asm.org/index.php/jmbe/article/view/20
4 - Its All Their Fault? (2010) by Clyde Freeman
Herreid - http//jmbe.asm.org/index.php/jmbe/article/view/13
8 - The Use of Interrupted Case Studies to Enhance
Critical Thinking Skills in Biology (2009) by
Tracy K. White, et al. - http//jmbe.asm.org/index.php/jmbe/article/view/96
14Structured Observations
- Examples
- Use a class map to keep track of who asks
questions, answers questions, makes comments. - Make a list, from a recorded class discussion, of
the kinds of questions you asked.
15Additional Methods Information
16Methods Unstructured Observations
- Examples
- A journal that an instructor keeps to record
personal impressions of how a class is going. - A written remembrance of interactions with one or
a few students that are being tracked over time. - A written set of impressions made while watching
a videotape of a class.
17Methods Questioning with Surveys
- Examples
- A survey of attitudes toward science
- Student ratings of instruction
- May include open-ended questions, e.g., what
element of this course most helped you to learn? - May include some content, but if only content,
its a test and is an artifact of the course.
18Methods Questioning with Interviews
- Advantage over surveys can ask follow-ups, more
personal contact. - Examples
- Solve a genetics problem aloud, explaining
thinking - A focus group
- Interview of team members in small groups
19Method Examine and Score Artifacts
- Examples of artifacts
- Diagrams of cells before and after instruction
- Wear on computer keys to see which are hit most
- Answers to a test question
- Portfolios
- Term papers
- Case analyses