Students come into the classroom with a variety of background knowledge. Therefore, it is imperative that educators are able to help all students, regardless of their familiarity with the content. Since it can be challenging for some large enrollment classes to schedule recitation classes after lectures due to logistical constraints, this study…

In this study, we analyzed the literature on teaching or learning on a topic in Earth science, environmental science, or climate change between 1995 and 2017. We investigated the length of the intervention, intervention setting and instructional level, instructional purpose, pedagogical framing and pedagogical methods (including what materials and…

This article describes a weekly writing assignment named SelFeed (Self-Directed Learning with Feedback), in which students are asked to identify their own questions relevant to the lecture content and provide logical answers.

A climate-literate population, capable of making informed decisions related to climate change, is of critical importance as society faces ever-increasing global temperatures and changes in the climate system. This project evaluates the effectiveness of a novel instructional approach that incorporates climate change science into a first-year…

A capstone to the biology introductory curriculum was developed with the specific goals of enhancing integration of course content, promoting development of oral presentation skills and critical reading and thinking skills, and introducing ecological principles omitted from the rest of the core. Classes of 12 to 16 students were team taught by…

A well-structured independent literature research project with a poster session was used to introduce students to peer-reviewed literature in a general chemistry course. Overall, students reported an enhanced appreciation of the course due to performing research at some level, using peer-reviewed literature, and presenting their results in a…

Provides details of an advanced cell biology course that has as its overall design the critical reading and examination of primary literature. Contains guidelines to assist students in critical reading. (DDR)

Presents strategies to motivate at-risk students to take advantage of campus remediation resources. Strategies include identifying and responding to these students through a study skills remediation program and improvements in the general chemistry course. (DDR)

Describes an interdisciplinary course, Images of Creation in Science and Poetry, which was designed for science, humanities, and social studies majors. Explains the chronological time lines that serve as the course's organizing themes. Includes an outline, the table of contents of the class manual, and student reactions to the program. (ML)

Explains a summer research program which is a part of a required junior and senior independent study program. Provides information on selection of applicants, activities, outcomes, and a list of names and student projects. (RT)

The project described here involved the design, implementation, and evaluation of an upper level, undergraduate elective course for science majors. Specific course goals were to help students gain an appreciation of the interdisciplinary nature of astrobiology, understand key ideas in astrobiology, and develop the skills necessary to communicate…

Discusses a questionnaire sent to 763 Society for College Science Teaching members to identify problems of teaching nonmajors. Notes the questionnaire had a high return rate. Lists the eight major problems: post negative experiences; motivation; what to teach; abstractions; how to introduce relevance; staying power; inquiry material; and…

Describes a classroom technique designed to inject an interactive discussion framework into the classroom and to focus students' attention on reading and absorbing information from a textbook. (DDR)

Discusses the Bradford Plan's general education core curriculum which includes a course in scientific literacy. Advocates an understanding, awareness and appreciation of the science field. Provides the course objectives and outline. (MVL)