Title: Torturing Our Students: Can We Teach Lab Reports Better?
Url: http://www.ableweb.org/volumes/vol-37/v37reprint.php?ch=49
Author: Kathy Davies
Randi Mewhort
Christina Elliott
Author's Address: Grant MacEwan University, Department of Biological Sciences, City Centre Campus, 10700 - 104 Ave., Edmonton AB T5J 4S2 CAN
Email Address: mewhortr2@macewan.ca
Description: We have attempted to improve student skills and comfort with scientific communication by
practicing writing in one first and one second year course. We have developed scaffolding strategies
within and between these courses to help our students learn the format and content of a scientific paper.
Our assignments in first year give students the opportunity to practice individual sections of a paper with
a focus on citing and academic integrity. In our second year lab, we use group work to accomplish a
bigger project focusing on hypothesis formation and data analysis. Qualitatively, student feedback has
improved since implementing these strategies.
Keywords: writing
science writing
writing assignments
Topic: Teaching Tools and Techniques
BEN Subject/Discipline Taxonomy: Teaching Tools and Techniques
Learning Resource Type: Assignment/Activity non-laboratory (DCMI Type Vocabulary)
Context: Undergraduate upper division 15-16
Format: pdf
Access Rights: This resource is for ABLE members only.
Rights: http://www.ableweb.org/copyright-policy/
Conference Location & Year: Boston University (2015)
Cumulative Rating: NOT YET RATED
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