Team-based learning in Team-based learning in a nanotechnology a nanotechnology course: course: Enhancing Enhancing critical thinking critical thinking through through course structure course structure Supported in part by National Science Foundation Department Level Reform Grant #EEC- 0530760 Linda Vanasupa, Materials Engineering, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, California Teaching team:Matthew Ritter (Biology), Barbara Schader (Library Science), Peter Schwartz (Physics), Katherine Chen (Materials Engineering), Richard Savage (Materials Engineering), Lynne Slivovsky (Electrical Engineering), Lars Tomanek (Biology)
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Team-based learning in a nanotechnology course: Enhancing critical thinking through course structure Supported in part by National Science Foundation Department.
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Team-based learning in a Team-based learning in a nanotechnology course:nanotechnology course:
EnhancingEnhancing critical thinkingcritical thinking through course structurethrough course structure
Supported in part by National Science Foundation Department Level Reform Grant #EEC-0530760
Linda Vanasupa, Materials Engineering, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, California
Teaching team:Matthew Ritter (Biology), Barbara Schader (Library Science), Peter Schwartz (Physics), Katherine Chen (Materials Engineering), Richard Savage (Materials Engineering), Lynne
Slivovsky (Electrical Engineering), Lars Tomanek (Biology)
Learning domains: Learning domains: nanoscale nanoscale science and technology, biology, science and technology, biology, ethics and societyethics and society
Systems thinking
Critical thinking
Motivation to learn
Bro
ad
Cou
rse G
oals
Four technologies serve as Four technologies serve as the learning contextthe learning context
Ecological Level
Application: molecular manufacturing
Biological Systems LevelApplication: microfluidic glucose sensors
Application: tissue engineering of an organ
Organ Level
Application: gold nanoshells for cancer treatment
Cellular Level
Team-based learning* Team-based learning* strategystrategy used throughout used throughout
Ecological Level
Application: molecular manufacturing
10-week quarter
Application: gold nanoshells for cancer treatment
Cellular Level
Application: tissue engineering of an organ
Organ Level
Biological Systems LevelApplication: microfluidic glucose sensors
Debate Debate preparationpreparation
Team DebatesTeam Debates
*Team-based Learning, ed. by L. Michaelsen, A. B. Knight, L. D. Fink
Primary source readingsPrimary source readings assigned before each classassigned before each class
Clues for…
•Author’s authority
•Publications’ merit
•Voo-doo “science”
Each learning Each learning module module beginsbegins with the with the applicationapplication
society
ENGINEERING
Which biological system?How does it function?
Implications of technology and its development?
What, how, why?
start
Application:
SCIENCESOCIETY AND ETHICS
Class periods: Class periods: activities to activities to apply conceptsapply concepts
Individual preparation
team quiz Group activities (1-2 hours)
Solo quiz
Team written appeals
Instructor input
Report results
In-class Activities
Students exhibit Students exhibit high levelshigh levels of of interestinterest and and involvementinvolvement
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
1 2Read assigned material before this
class
Read assigned material before all classes
Alm
ost
alw
ays
Usu
ally
Som
eti
mes
0
5
10
15
20
25
Stronglyagree
Agree Disagree Stronglydisagree
Motivation boosted by learning Motivation boosted by learning nanotech application firstnanotech application first
0
5
10
15
20
25
Stronglyagree
Agree Disagree Stronglydisagree
“Learning the application increased my interest in learning the science behind it.”
“Learning the application increased my motivation for learning nanoscale science and engineering.”
Complexity of activities Complexity of activities increased to build critical increased to build critical thinkingthinking
Individual work – Outside of Class
Group work – Inside of Class (6 hours)
initial exposure
Complex activities
Most sense a greater ability to Most sense a greater ability to critically evaluate informationcritically evaluate information
0
5
10
15
20
25
Stronglyagree
Agree Disagree Stronglydisagree
“I have a greater ability to critically evaluate information about nanotechnology because of taking this course”
Most believe that course Most believe that course structure aids learningstructure aids learning
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
1 2 3Course structure aids learning
Activities aid learning Better understanding of interrelationships:
Nanotechnology, biology, ethics,
society
Ag
ree
stro
ng
ly
Ag
ree
Dis
agre
e
Str
on
gly
dis
agre
e
Students perceive they are Students perceive they are better at systems thinkingbetter at systems thinking
“I have an expanded understanding of the relationships between nanotechnology, biology, ethics and society”
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Strongly agree Agree Disagree Strongly disagree
4/21/06
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
None One Two Three Four
A direct measure of A direct measure of performance says…performance says…
“Give an example of the interrelationships between nanotechnology, biology, ethics and society”
6/6/06
One Big lesson:One Big lesson:
Performance exams MUST be a graded part of the course
Team-based learning structure Team-based learning structure aids development of critical aids development of critical thinking attributesthinking attributes