Transforming General Microbiology Course with Online Learning Center and Case Studies

1. 2003 UM Teaching with Technology Conference Transformation from Lecture-based to Case-based course Ann C. Smith, Robert T.Yuan, Richard Stewart, Patricia Shields and Jennifer Hayes-Klosteridis

2. The Course • General Microbiology (BSCI 223) • Lecture and lab components • 250 students per lecture section • Majors and non-majors

3. Solutions through technology Established a learning center within WebCT • Organization • Communication • Technology competence for students • New learning opportunities

4. On-line Learning Centerorganization/communication • Syllabus • Lecture outlines with study questions/links to resources • Power Point Lecture Slides • Discussion Space (Announcements, Student Questions) • Lab Manual (pdf) • Assignment Guidelines • Student grades

5. Comment (350 students responding) Example Number Negative response I Don’t like Web Ct 7 Negative response Live off campus, difficult to down load or view pages 2 Positive Responses: Access and organization of information 24 hour access to everything! 152 Convenient, easy to use Convenient to have everything 32 Options to communicate with other students and course instructors A direct link to professors and other students if I had a problem 58 On -line quizzes, I owe my fabulous lab practical grade to 80 Lecture outlines The best way to learn – allowed me to back and review the notes 85 Grades Great way to know what my current grade is. 59 Lab manual Saved money in not having to buy a lab manual 25

6. On-line Learning CenterNew Learning Opportunities • Increase active learning • Approach: transition to a case based course • We use Case studies as a framework for lecture and lab

7. On-line Learning Centerorganization/communication • Syllabus • Lecture outlines with study questions/links to resources • Power Point Lecture Slides • Discussion Space (Announcements, Student Questions) • Lab Manual (pdf) • Assignment Guidelines • Student grades

8. Goals • Case study – engaging with challenging discussion problems • Individual work • Small group discussion • Complete class discussion with Instructor • A written component

9. Why use case studies? • Content rich course • New vocabulary • Challenging concepts • Diverse student population • Case studies • Engages students • Application of information to current/relevant problems

10. Challenge of Implementation • Large lecture course • No time in lab • Grading

11. Approach • On-line discussion • Coupled with a report • Directed in class discussions • coupled with individual short answer “quiz” questions submitted on-line • PAK – Participation/Application of Knowledge

12. On-line Discussion • For complicated multifaceted Topics Set up: • Case study with Three major issues • Students work in two groups • One group where they work with others to research and discuss one of the case issues • One group where students combine resources to write a report.

13. Group 2: Writing the report 6 groups/lab section Issue #1 You Pasteur Koch Guitan Patric Maurice Caleb Garth Tyler Alec Nico Zoe Bob Tim Julian Bernie Ethel Barry Issue #2 Issue #3 Report addresses Issues 1, 2, and 3.

14. Group 1: On-line Discussion Group 3 per lab section Issue #1 You Pasteur Koch Guitan Patric Maurice Caleb Garth Tyler Alec Nico Zoe Bob Tim Julian Bernie Ethel Barry Issue #2 Issue #3

15. On Line Discussion • Requires • Guidance • Structured Assignment • Oversight – UTA’s • Method for Assessment • On-line discussion • Report

16. Advantages online discussion: • Students develop technology competency • Learn to communicate in on line environment • Learn to navigate web • Learn to evaluate web sources. • No meeting time is required • Can log in at any time • All discussions can be monitored • Grading • There is a record • Can compile and print the discussion

17. 350 Students Surveyed What should be improved in the discussion? • 24 negative responses • 58 – fabulous keep it as is • Remainder suggest to keep the discussion along with improvements What do you like about the on-line discussion? • 79 the opportunity to discuss with students! “so many different ideas and tangents to explore and learn about” • 30 liked that they learned new information • Additional comments about the positive aspects about working in a group, meeting new people and being online provided flexibility in space and time

18. Steps toward the Goals On-line discussion • 1999 use of case study to stimulate small group discussions • Discussion topics served as basis for written assignment • Faculty impressions: • Good for issues that required outside research • Good opportunity for in depth discussion. • Requires significant time. • Wanted another mechanism that incorporated active learning in the lecture hall that related to case studies. • Case studies linked to lecture learning goals

19. Fall 2002 Case Study in the lecture • Case Study Distribution/Intro case • Paper handouts in lecture • Power point presentation • Case study questions • answered in lecture journals • Small group discussion • in lecture hall • Large group discussion • in lecture hall

20. Fall 2002 Problems Encountered • Case Study Distribution/Intro case • Time • Organization • Case study questions/Journals • Difficult to collect on a regular basis • Difficult to read • Lost journals • Small group discussion/Lecture hall • Unfocused, students were often unprepared • Large group discussion • Unfocused, students were often unprepared

21. 350 Students Surveyed What did you like about case studies? • 179 – described case studies as allowing them to see the application of course material to real world situations • 138 – indicated by there response that the case study engaged them in learning • 29 – responded negatively ( they confused me) Regarding format for presentation - • 57 – “good as is” • Remaining students suggested improvements such as posting on line! And finding an alternate to lecture journals

22. Results from CORE survey Participate Actively in Learning, Significant increase since 1993 review and All LL reviewed over time

23. Spring 2003 case study: lecture/on-line • Case Study Distribution/Intro case • Delivery via WebCT prior to in class Introduction • Case study questions • Use of quiz tool with delivery on a regular basis • Small group discussion • In lecture hall – directed discussion • Large group discussion • in lecture hall – directed discussion

24. CASE/PAK Participation & Application of Knowledge (PAK) • 3 question sets/Case that required students to apply information from lecture/lab/text/resources • Use of Quiz to capture individual responses • Opportunity for writing

25. PAK Advantages • Control of delivery • Record of responses in WebCT • Record of participation in WebCT • (automatic “grading”) • Easy to scan • Instructor can asses problem areas and set up topics for directed in class discussions (small and large group) • Students are prepared for discussions • Students can print and self assess knowledge

26. Go to PAK • www.courses.umd.edu • Contact asmith@umd.edu for access

27. Use of technologytransition to a case-based course Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Structure/function/Metabolism Genetics/ Biotechnology Clinical/Applied Case 1 Case 2 Case 3

28. Course Transformation:Resources required • Start with available resources • Instructors • Graduate Teaching Assistants • Undergraduate Teaching Assistants • College Support • UTAP students • University Support • OIT • WebCT • CTE Teaching Team

29. End here