We reported a redesign of a physical chemistry laboratory course (CHEM 166) for our chemistry majors at the University of Vermont carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic. We started to teach this course after a curriculum reform, which split an upper-division undergraduate laboratory course into physical and analytical chemistry laboratories. To…

The ability to synthesize and communicate complicated problems with confidence is paramount for success in STEM fields, but programs tend to overemphasize memorization. We conducted a preliminary study to determine if asking students to repeatedly link materials: (1) improved students' ability to build connections; and (2) increased students'…

Nolan and Temple Lang's "Computing in the Statistics Curricula" (2010) advocated for a shift in statistical education to broadly include computing. In the time since, individuals with training in both computing and statistics have become increasingly employable in the burgeoning data science field. In response, universities have…

Differentiated geographical and institutional contexts imply the need to examine the effectiveness of non-conventional approach learning methods in contrast to generalist assumptions. One way is to examine the perceptions of undergraduates of a teaching method applied to specific individuals, geographical contexts, and their relationship to…

This paper explores the design and initial implementation of a political science capstone. The capstone was organized around the theme of critical thinking. The course made the case to students that critical thinking was important and that political science provides uniquely valuable training for good critical thinking by teaching students methods…

Most higher education institutions employ a traditional, summative scoring system to report student grades at the end of each semester. This system is limited in that it offers a final grade based on individual assignments completed throughout the semester without testing whether students have sufficiently understood the learning objectives of the…

What do students expect before starting a Virtual Exchange (VE) with peers? Are their initial expectations mirrored in the final outcomes they perceive after the VE experience? Or, else, do students acknowledge benefits and acquired skills which they did not expect at first? This study draws on qualitative and quantitative data collected across a…

The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to compare the expectations and fulfillment of undergraduate students enrolled in a skills class that utilized iPads in the classroom. Pre- and post-surveys were administered to students at the beginning and end of the semester. A series of t-tests (n = 78) showed the tablet did not meet their…

Although instructors express concerns about social work students' writing skills, little research has been conducted. One remedy is a social work-focused writing course. This study assessed a required writing course with a sample of 49 baccalaureate students. From online pre- and posttest surveys, 2 student outcomes improved significantly:…