TABLE 2.

Student learning outcomes and Bloom's levels

Category	SLO	Bloom category		Example indicator
		Level	Activity
C, Concept map the introduction	Describe background information that is relevant to the project	LOCS	Understand	Concisely summarize information about the organism(s) or experimental system
		HOCS	Analyze	Make an obvious connection between the research question, hypothesis and background information
		HOCS	Analyze	Extensively incorporate background information describing the history of discovery and the establishment of techniques or research strategies used in the project (i.e., what has been done in the field? How did the discipline get here?)
		LOCS	Apply	References are cited for all background information
	Discuss big picture research questions being addressed by the project	LOCS	Understand	Clearly state research questions or problems
		HOCS	Analyze	Establish significance of the research question or problem (i.e., why is it important? Why are scientists motivated to study the research question?)
		HOCS	Analyze	Address broader impacts of the project by showing relevance of the research question or problem (i.e., how would answering this question or addressing this problem potentially impact modern science? Society? Our daily lives? Who benefits?)
R, Read and diagram methods	Summarize specific aims (experimental approaches) of the article	LOCS	Understand	Show clear list of aims or experimental approaches designed to test hypothesis or address research question
		HOCS	Analyze	Describe experimental approaches designed to address specific aims or hypotheses, including diagrams, flowcharts, or illustrations (break down steps in project plan, incorporating exptl detail for key steps)
	Explain why an experimental approach is appropriate for addressing the specific aims or hypotheses of project (rationale for methods)	HOCS	Evaluate	Cite examples from the literature as evidence
		HOCS	Analyze	State expected outcomes (results)
		HOCS	Analyze	Relate how an outcome (result) could address a hypothesis or model
		LOCS	Understand	Explain the theoretical basis of techniques or technology used in the article (i.e., appropriate background for potentially unfamiliar techniques)
	Critically think through experimental approaches	HOCS	Evaluate	Discuss procedural sources of bias or methodological limitations in detail
		HOCS	Evaluate	Acknowledge the challenges associated with all experimental protocols
E, Elucidate hypotheses	State project goal(s)	LOCS	Understand	Clearly state the overall goal of the project as it relates to the research question or problem
		LOCS	Understand	Give quantitative indication of project scope (i.e., the no. of genes, organisms, or assays under study are indicated)
		LOCS	Understand	Give qualitative indication of project scope (i.e., overall experimental approach; experimental flowchart)
	Rephrase the article's specific hypotheses	HOCS	Analyze	Hypothesis explicitly stated (well thought out, highly developed, engaging and interesting; not confused with specific aims)
		LOCS	Understand	Predict outcomes if results support the hypothesis. (For “If… Then…” statement, “then” is identified correctly as the expected outcome)
		LOCS	Apply	Use literature as rationale
A, Analysis	Analyze data	HOCS	Analyze	Show relevant data that addresses the hypothesis(es)
		LOCS	Apply	Figures and graphs are titled and axes labeled clearly
		HOCS	Analyze, evaluate	Results are presented with sufficient detail (i.e., controls, experimental conditions, key comparisons, etc., are indicated)
	Interpret and discuss results	LOCS	Understand	Concisely and insightfully summarize trends or patterns from graph or table
		HOCS	Evaluate	Present key results; do not focus on extraneous data
		HOCS	Analyze	State relationship between data and controls, standard thresholds, and/or statistical significance
TE, Think of the next Experiment and significance	Understand significance of results	LOCS	Understand	Summarize key results. Is there a “take-home message”?
		HOCS	Evaluate	Relate the results to the original hypothesis (support? refute?) or research questions
		HOCS	Evaluate	Recognize discoveries as novel or results as interesting or point out results support previous findings
		HOCS	Create	Generate future directions for research; future directions are reasonable and sufficiently detailed, using creative license
S, Synthesize a narrative	Create a cohesive presentation	LOCS	Understand	Entire presentation has the same style (writing and graphics), format, tone, and organization (consistent look or flow)
	Develop a narrative to connect scientific ideas into a cohesive story	HOCS	Analyze	Background has a narrative flow connecting the big picture to specific aims or hypotheses
		HOCS	Analyze	Content well-organized, concise, and presented in logical progression
		HOCS	Analyze	Transitions are used between key ideas or results. What do we know? What is the next question?