GEN 10 - Heredity and Evolution - Stage 5 - Philip Jardim
Assessment
| Assessment Methods | Analysis of exam, quiz, or homework items linked to specific SLOs |
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| Assessment Description | 1) An assignment was designed to assess whether students could successfully predict the probability of obtaining offspring of specific genotypes and phenotypes given a known set of parents using a Punnet square. The probabilities needed to be expressed as ratios, frequencies and fractions. 2) Exam questions were analyzed to see what percent of students could successfully transfer information from DNA to mRNA to tRNA. 3) Exam questions were analyzed to determine the percent of students who correctly answered questions regarding the historical experiments that determined that DNA was the genetic material. |
| Learning Outcomes | 1) Explain the basic principles of genetics and evolution. 2) Outline the various investigative techniques used in the study of genetics. 3) Describe the structure of DNA and RNA and explain how structure is related to function. 4) Explain the scientific method and discuss how this technique is used to examine observations in genetics. |
| Number of Sections | 2 |
| Number of Instructors | 1 |
| Number of Students | 50 |
Data Analysis
| Data Shared With |
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| Data Sharing Methods | Face-to-face meetings |
| Data Summary | 96% of Gen 10 students were able to successfully use Punnet squares to predict probability of parents having offspring with specific genotypes and phenotypes. 96% of the students were able to express probabilities as fractions, frequencies, and predicted ratios. 62% of students were able to successfully transfer information from DNA to mRNA to tRNA. 79% of the exam questions regarding experiments that led up to the discovery of DNA as the genetic material were answered correctly. |
| Analysis Summary | 1) Grades higher than 90% on the Punnet square assignment show that the outcome was achieved. 2) Only 62% of the students could correctly answer the exam questions regarding DNA to mRNA to tRNA. Work needs to be done to address this. 3) Though 79% of the questions regarding the experiments that led to the discovery of DNA as the genetic material were answered correctly, I would like to increase this number by closer to 90%. |
| Next Steps Planned | 1) An assignment will be designed to see if students can use known offspring phenotypes to determine genotypes of their parents (the reverse of the above assignment). This involves much more complex problem-solving skills s than the previous assignment. 2) An assignment will be developed which requires students to successfully transfer information from DNA to mRNA to tRNA and collected and assessed to determine students' ability to grasp the concepts before exam is given. 3) After presenting the experiments that led up to the discovery of DNA as the genetic material in lecture, I will lead a class discussion to elicit from students how investigators used the scientific method to design their experiments and make their conclusions. |
| Learning Outcomes | 1) Explain the basic principles of genetics and evolution. 2) Outline the various investigative techniques used in the study of genetics. 3) Describe the structure of DNA and RNA and explain how structure is related to function. 4) Explain the scientific method and discuss how this technique is used to examine observations in genetics. |
Changes
| Details | An assignment was designed to be completed by students with clear instructions to see if they could use Punnet squares as predictive tools to solve future genetics problems and express probabilities in different mathematical forms. Extra time in lecture was devoted to my modelling the correct way to complete the assignment and to ensure that students understood the relationship between fractions, frequencies and ratios. |
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| Learning Outcomes | 1) Explain the basic principles of genetics and evolution. 2) Outline the various investigative techniques used in the study of genetics. |
GE Area C Details
| Learning Outcomes | 1) Explain the basic principles of genetics and evolution. 2) Outline the various investigative techniques used in the study of genetics. |
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| Number Students: Proficient | 48 |
| Number Students: Developing | No answer |
| Number Students: No Evidence | 2 |
| Criteria | Students scored at least 9 out of a possible 10 points in predicting the probability of two known parents having offspring of a specific phenotype or genotype. Students were able to express probabilities as fractions, frequencies and predicted ratios, |
| Extra Details | 2 of the 50 students did not turn in their assignments. |
Tentative Future Plans
| Term | Fall 2013 |
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| Activities |
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| More Details | 1) Gen 10 updated and revised outline will be submitted to the Curriculum Committee. 2) Assignment will be developed to see if students can determine genotypes of parents from numbers of offspring with known phenotypes. 3) Assignment will be developed to test if students can successfully transfer information from DNA to mRNA to tRNA. 4) Class discussion will be initiated to emphasize how the historical experiments that led up to the discovery of DNA as the genetic material were linked to the scientific method. |
SLO Details Storage Location
HARD COPY - In my personal filing system (my office)