Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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24 UCW FEBRUARY 24 - MARCH 1, 2016 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Imagine you are an entry-level college student entering a science classroom for the first time. You may be excited and ready to learn, or you may feel a great deal of trepidation. In either case, you have a goal in mind: work hard, study and pass the class with the grade of A. As the instructor begins, you do not understand the language, and the class is moving faster than anticipated. The lecturers have lost or bored you, resulting in low test scores. Panic sets in, and you begin to think, "What can I do to be successful in this class?" This scenario plays out for many students every semester, particularly in science courses. Added to student anxiety are the hardships many entry-level students experience as a result of being ill-prepared for the rigors of college work and lacking effective study tools. With this in mind, a movement of science education reform (prompted by the publication of Vision and Change in Undergraduate Biology Education: A Call to Action from the American Association for the Advancement of Science) has begun to take hold. From this movement was born the Partnership for Undergraduate Life Science Education (PULSE), which acts as a nationwide collaborative effort to catalyze the reforms called for in Vision and Change. FTCC's Biology Department was honored to be selected as one of twenty institutions to participate in the Southeast Regional Partnership for Undergraduate Life Sciences Education Institute. PULSE is a nationally- recognized endeavor supported by the National Science Foundation. Through the attendance of various workshops and seminars, we were able to understand the need for a transformative classroom experience and gather tools useful in instituting changes in our own courses. This action plan included the introduction of more student-centered learning or active learning activities within the classroom rather than solely relying on classic lecturing. These activities would lead to a better understanding of the core concepts necessary for science literacy. In addition to the understanding of the core concepts, we wanted to improve student metacognition: the ability of students to be reflective about their learning process, allowing them to take ownership of their education. Accomplishing our action plan required the development of individual activities and a course- wide research project for our General Biology I students. These endeavors exposed students to the process and culture of science on many levels. Early analysis of the project allowed us to determine successes and efficacy of the project, which led to an enriched student experience. After the implementation, our team was invited to report the preliminary findings at the Association of Southeastern Biologists conference this past spring. In the end, our goal is to continue to find ways to foster our students' understanding and prepare them for future successes. The experience at FTCC may not be the first biology class students take, but it may be an experience that helps them in every facet of their life thereafter. Learn more about FTCC at www.faytechcc. edu. FTCC Biology Instructors Check the PULSE of Students by CHRISHA DOLAN AND GRANT PILKAY CHRISHA DOLAN AND GRANT PILKAY, FTCC Biology Instructors. COMMENTS? Editor@ upandcomingweekly.com. 910.484.6200 www.FayettevilleNC.gov/ParksBond Progress. Prosperity. Pla ces To Play. VOTE MARCH 15th