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. 2022 Spring;21(1):ar8. doi: 10.1187/cbe.21-03-0057

TABLE 2.

Codebook of pedagogical practices and associated educational aims

Pedagogical practice Definition Specific practices Associated educational aim
Provide scientific content A pedagogical practice in which background scientific information is provided to the student
  • Verbal explanation of scientific background for the technique being used

  • Reading of primary literature

  • Reference to lecture material

  • Procedure development

Explicit discussion of a CRE A pedagogical practice in which the specific characteristics of a CRE (authentic research experience) are explained to the student
  • Differentiation of CRE classes from traditional labs

  • Focus on the importance of generating authentic data

  • Positioning students as researchers and scientists

  • Being a scientist and generating data

Facing ambiguity A pedagogical practice in which students are made to face failure, uncertainty, and ambiguity in their scientific work
  • Allowing students to struggle with ambiguity and uncertainty

  • Explaining that failure is a central part of science and is to be expected

  • Holding back from providing quick answers

  • Being a scientist and generating data

Modeling scientific thinking A pedagogical practice in which the instructor models verbally for the students the processes of thinking as a scientist in relation to the issues or problems they present in their ongoing research
  • Thinking through problems with students

  • Modeling the design, planning, and methodological components of an experiment

  • Critically thinking through and discussing the questions and issues posed by student work

  • Procedure development

  • Being a scientist and generating data

Protocols and training A pedagogical practice in which the instructor presents, trains, and supervises students following a new protocol
  • Provision and reading of the protocol

  • Protocol practice and training

  • Supervision of the following of a protocol

  • Procedure development

  • Fostering ownership

Mentorship A pedagogical practice in which the instructor or a peer mentors an individual student during the research process by providing individual guidance and problem solving
  • Mentoring of individual students by instructor or teaching assistant

  • Peer mentoring and problem solving

  • Provision of specific individualized guidance in writing

  • Being a scientist and generating data

Peer collaboration A pedagogical practice that involves groups of students working together on their research
  • Team or small-group assignments

  • Shared responsibility across the team

  • Shared discussion and support for success and challenges

  • Fostering ownership

Encouraging independence in students A pedagogical practice designed to enhance the ability of students to work independently as researchers
  • Directing students to think independently

  • Asking students to problem solve themselves

  • Positioning students as the decision makers in their scientific work

  • Holding back from providing answers

  • Being a scientist and generating data

  • Fostering ownership

Fostering personal responsibility A pedagogical practice designed to enhance students’ understanding of their personal responsibility as researchers
  • Assigning specific work to be completed

  • Explaining the responsibility of authentic scientific data

  • Monitoring regular reporting of progress

  • Requiring clear and consistent documentation of research

  • Promoting personal reflection on the research that has been conducted

  • Fostering ownership

Encouraging enthusiasm A pedagogical practice designed to recognize success and encourage positive enthusiasm toward research
  • Facilitating and recognizing the joy of discovery

  • Instructor enthusiasm

  • Course recognition of successes

  • Being a scientist and generating data

Documentation of scientific practice A pedagogical practice involving the documentation of the research of the students
  • Lab notebook documentation

  • Notebook discussion

  • Notebook checking

  • Procedure development

Student presentation A pedagogical practice involved in creating situations in which the students present their ongoing research
  • Lab notebook meeting with other students present

  • Poster session for the presentation of outcomes

  • Conference participation

  • Being a scientist and generating data

  • Fostering ownership

Scientific output This code relates to the actual scientific output of an authentic research activity.
  • Specific products of research (such as an isolated phage, electron microscopy, annotated genome)

  • Procedure development

Future educational and career opportunities This code relates to the discussion of short- and long-term future educational and career opportunities.
  • Discussion of graduate school, internships, and related science careers

  • Facilitating future options for scientific development through instructor network

  • Fostering ownership

Ethical understanding This code relates to the discussion of ethical issues during course lab time with students
  • Discussion of ethics of research

  • Discussion of integrity in research

  • Fostering ownership

Encouraging perseverance This code relates to the encouragement a faculty member provided during lab work
  • Helping students overcome short-term frustrations

  • Providing support during difficult periods

  • Being a scientist and generating data