Thesis Assessment Protocol for Biology…and beyond

1. Thesis Assessment Protocol for Biology…and beyond Julie Reynolds, Department of Biology Duke University, Durham, NC Presentation at ASM Biology Scholars’ SoTL institute July 17, 2009

2. Context and problem • What can we do to improve the quality of undergraduate theses? • How can we increase participation rates in URE without decreasing quality?

3. BioTAP:Biology Thesis Assessment Protocol Thesis Assessment Protocol Faculty development Teaching Assessment • Curricular reform • Reaccredidation Writing process Rubric

4. Previous work • Is BioTAP a reliable, valid assessment tool? What is • Does BioTAP improve student writing? What works • Does BioTAP also change attitudes, perceptions about ability to do science? What’s possible

5. Current research question Can BioTAP be adapted across disciplines (Chemistry, Economics, History) and beyond one institutional context? • Use TAP rubric to assess student writing in two groups • students who wrote theses without using TAP as a teaching/learning tool • students who wrote theses using TAP as a teaching/learning tool • compare within disciplines (not across disciplines) to assess learning gains • See if using TAP generated learning gains across disciplines