Table 3.
Student ratings (X̄ ± 1 SE) of paired statements (SCQ) that describe some aspects of the two traditional courses of the original introductory curriculum (100-level Zoology and Botany), the two new first-semester courses (TCBL and BIA), and the renumbered (200-level) Zoology and Botany courses
| Statement A | Student responses in the original 100-level Zoology and Botany (n = 98) | Student responses in TCBL (n = 78) | Students responses in BIA (n = 95) | Student responses in 200-level Zoology and Botany (n = 83) | Statement B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course focuses on learning important science concepts | 1.88 ± 0.09A | 2.91 ± 0.12BC | 3.07 ± 0.10C | 2.63 ± 0.12B | Course focuses on learning how scientists think and work |
| Time for discussion of a topic is limited by the schedule on the syllabus | 2.91 ± 0.13AB | 2.56 ± 0.14A | 3.13 ± 0.12B | 2.54 ± 0.13A | The class stays on a topic until most students understand it |
| Knowledge to be learned is contained in the text and illustrated by in-class activities | 2.25 ± 0.10A | 2.48 ± 0.13A | 3.31 ± 0.11B | 2.48 ± 0.12A | Knowledge to be learned is generated by discussing the results of the in-class activities |
| Work in class is done individually | 2.74 ± 0.09A | 3.41 ± 0.14B | 4.04 ± 0.11C | 2.71 ± 0.12A | Work in class is done in groups |
| Concepts are discussed in class first, then experienced through inquiry-based activities | 2.61 ± 0.08A | 2.84 ± 0.15AB | 3.22 ± 0.10B | 2.65 ± 0.12A | Concepts are experience through inquiry-based activities, then discussed and elaborated on in class |
| Hands-on investigations are finished in one period | 2.19 ± 0.10A | NA | 3.77 ± 0.11C | 3.16 ± 0.14B | Inquiry-based activities extend over multiple periods |
| When investigating questions, the most important goal is getting the expected result | 3.42 ± 0.08A | 3.48 ± 0.14A | 3.93 ± 0.11B | 3.15 ± 0.12A | When investigating questions, the most important goal is making logical conclusions from the data |
| Grading is based mainly on how well you know terms and facts | 2.26 ± 0.09A | 2.70 ± 0.16B | 3.61 ± 0.10C | 2.79 ± 0.13B | Grading is based mainly on how well you analyze data, justify conclusions, and apply information to new situations |
Means within a row which share a letter superscript (e.g., A and AB) are not significantly different from each other (post hoc ANOVA, p > 0.05). Possible responses were: 1 = statement A much truer, 2 = statement A somewhat truer, 3 = both statements about the same, 4 = statement B somewhat truer, and 5 = statement B much truer. NA indicates not applicable.