Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Published Version
Publication Date
11-2013
Journal or Book Title
Journal of College Science Teaching
Volume
43
Issue
2
First Page
22
Last Page
29
Abstract
Recent national reports have indicated a need for significant changes in science higher education, with the inclusion of more studentcentered learning. However, substantial barriers to change exist. These include a lack of faculty awareness and understanding of appropriate pedagogical approaches, large class sizes, the time commitment needed to make these changes, and lack of resources and support. At Iowa State University, the implementation of student-centered learning in introductory biology classes is being facilitated by the use of faculty learning communities (FLCs). Progress toward this goal was assessed via surveys of faculty, including both FLC participants and nonparticipants, to determine their teaching practices and attitudes toward biology education. Two years after the formation of the FLCs, a majority of FLC participants indicated that they had experimented with teaching methods and had worked to clarify learning goals for their classes. To continue these changes and promote a true cultural shift within the program, our next steps are to independently assess faculty progress toward studentcentered learning and changes in student learning gains, as well as to develop a more transparent incentive and reward system for faculty teaching.
Copyright Owner
National Science Teachers Association
Copyright Date
2013
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Addis, Elizabeth A.; Quardokus, Kathleen M.; Bassham, Diane C.; Becraft, Philip W.; Coffman, Clark R.; Powell-Coffman, Jo Anne; Boury, Nancy M.; and Colbert, James T., "Implementing Pedagogical Change in Introductory Biology Courses Through the Use of Faculty Learning Communities" (2013). Genetics, Development and Cell Biology Publications. 11.
https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/gdcb_las_pubs/11
Included in
Biology Commons, Cell and Developmental Biology Commons, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons, Educational Methods Commons, Genetics and Genomics Commons, Science and Mathematics Education Commons
Comments
This article is from Journal of College Science Teaching 53 (2013): 22. Posted with permission.