Tested Studies for Laboratory Teaching (ABLE Proceedings)

Title:

Introducing Writing in an Introductory Lab

Url:

http://www.ableweb.org/volumes/vol-37/v37reprint.php?ch=64

Author:

Dianne Jennings
Emily Watkinson

Author's Address:

Virginia Commonwealth University, Biology, VA

Email Address:

s2egroun@vcu.edu

Description: From the moment that the students start in biology until they graduate there is an expectation that they can or will be able to write effectively. Unfortunately this is often not the case. In an effort to introduce science writing early in student's academics we have revised our introductory lab classes to include assignments that foster skills in writing as well as help students master content. Weekly online writing assignments include simple summaries of experiments, note-taking on scientific articles, writing components of research papers/posters and self-peer assessed writing assignments. With rubrics provided to both the students and instructors effective feedback can be given and in some cases revisions can be made. For most students there is a steady improvement in basic writing skills throughout the semester.

Keywords:

writing assignments
writing
science writing

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 lower division 13-14

Format:

pdf