Life Sciences Commons^™

Preparing Educators To Effectively Engage With Postsecondary Stem Students With Autism, Luzconsuelo Gavaldon

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifetime mental disability (Boucher, 2009). Because the brains of people with autism work differently than their non-neurodiverse peers (Kuzminskaite et al., 2020), they tend to respond to external stimuli in a hypo- or hyper-sensory fashion. One of the primary considerations that must be accounted for when working with individuals with autism is that the brains of these persons are each neurologically distinct. In other words, there is no "one-size-fits-all" means by which individuals with ASD learn and develop and, consequently, no single way to therefore engage with said individuals (Anderson & Butt, 2017; Kuzminski …

A Step By Step Shoreline Attribute Analysis For Selected Waterbodies In The Gulf Of Mexico To Promote The Use Of Living Shorelines, Christoper Boyd, Xutong Niu, Taylor R. Horn

The Journal of Extension

Living Shorelines are being promoted by coastal extension professionals as a more resilient nature-based solution to control shoreline erosion. The Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences Living Shorelines Suitability Model was run in selected waterbodies within the Gulf of Mexico.

The locations of the selected water bodies, coastal data sets used, and shoreline protection recommendations generated by the Model are presented. A step-by-step statistical analysis conducted through ArcGIS Pro from these selected coastal shorelines will illustrate how extension professionals with novice GIS experience can use the model output to promote living shorelines to coastal property owners, city managers, and developers.

Defining Evolution: Exploring Students’ Conceptions Of Evolution In Introductory Biology Courses, Jeremy L. Hsu, Meredith A. Dorner, Kate M. Hill

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Background

Understanding evolution is an important part of undergraduate biology education. Despite its importance, however, students often struggle to understand evolution, often holding preconceived notions of what evolution is. Here, we investigate how students in both majors and non-majors introductory biology define and conceive of evolution at the start of the semester for a two-year college and a four-year university near each other. We analyze open-ended responses to an in-class activity on the first day of the semester that asked students to define evolution, generating insight into how students are thinking of evolution prior to any formal instruction on evolution …

Global Implications Of Covid-19 On Education And Research In Healthcare And Stem: Analysis Of Case Studies, Yumna Indorewala, Santanu De

FDLA Journal

The zoonotic novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 posed major threats to the world’s economy, social development, and public health. Education and research in STEM and healthcare were no exceptions to the global implications of the Coronavirus Infectious Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Social distancing guidelines were initially recommended to refrain from in-person operations for preventing the transmission of the virus. As academic organizations implemented multifarious methods to effectively transition to remote/online or hybrid educational formats, COVID-19 necessitated designing, adopting, as well as evaluating the efficacy of new instructional approaches, especially for disciplines that require active, experiential learning such as healthcare and STEM. These …

Community Science As Adult Learning: Using Theory To Understand Volunteers’ Experiences, Lauren Vilen, Jill Zarestky

Adult Education Research Conference

This study explores volunteer learning in an online community science program. Findings indicate alignment with self-directed and experiential learning theory, with implications for learner feedback and engagement.

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Scott L. Gardner, Sue Ann Gardner

Zea E-Books Collection

This is a textbook covering concepts in animal parasitology. It is meant to be used by students, teachers, professors, researchers, and members of the public who are interested in learning about animal parasite biology, systematics, taxonomy, zoogeography, and ecology. The primary intended audience is upper-level undergraduate or graduate university students who have knowledge of basic biology and, particularly, basic animal biology. (863 pages, illustrated)

One of the most fascinating things that a person can experience in the complex realm of biology is the discovery of an animal living inside another animal. If this discovery takes place at an early enough …

Exploring Factors That Contribute To Stem Transfer Student Sense Of Belonging, Brittney R. Gallant, Cate Pocitari

Student Research Symposium

There is an ongoing disconnect between the number of students who enter college intending to earn a STEM degree and the number of students who persist to degree, this is particularly true for transfer students. Sense of belonging has been named as a STEM persistence factor, yet how that belonging develops for transfer students is largely unknown. Here we used a mixed-methods design to explore the experiences of STEM transfer students at PSU (n=38). Participants completed a survey prior to participating in an interview. The survey and interviews explored their science identity, sense of belonging, and involvement in STEM-related activities. …

Haiku And Human Anatomy: Investigating Students' Experience With Creative Writing To Learn Structure And Function In An Undergraduate Biology Course, Alexandra M. Ryan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Biology education research has identified needs and new approaches that have informed several reform movements to enrich learning, prepare students to be biologically literate citizens, and give them the skills to pursue a career in science if they choose. The Vision and Change report published in 2011 identified a need for change in undergraduate biology education due to the fast paced nature of the field of biology and outdated traditional methods of biology education that cannot keep up with societal needs. The Vision and Change report outlines five core concepts and competencies that educators should include in their undergraduate biology …

Concepts In Animal Parasitology: Master Bibliography, Sue Ann Gardner

Concepts in Animal Parasitology Textbook

Master bibliography for the open educational resource/open access textbook Concepts in Animal Parasitology, Scott L. Gardner and Sue Ann Gardner, editors, published by Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States, 2024. This includes the references from literature cited and suggested supplemental reading.

Exploring The Impact Of Subject Placement On Exam Questions​, Briana M. Craig, Jeremy L. Hsu

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Quizzes and exams are crucial elements of undergraduate biology courses; however, little research has been done exploring the importance of the phrasing used in the questions on these assessments. Question framing has the potential to impact student performance and sense of belonging greatly. In this study, we conducted an experiment where we created three versions of the exact same question except for the framing for the experimental scenarios. One version was written with self-referential framing using the term “you,” simulating the student conducting the experiment; another version used classmate-referential framing, placing one of their peers in the experiment; the third …

How To Spark Bio Curiosity: An Innovative High School Biology Curriculum, Audrie Charles

Graduate Research Showcase

This project is a researched creative endeavor focused around the creation of an exemplary high school biology course. This presentation will showcase an original high school biology curriculum designed to ignite students’ innate curiosity and empower meaningful learning of core concepts like cell structure, genetics, evolution and ecology. Students revisit key ideas through a spiral curriculum that builds complexity, tackling open-ended problems and collaborating on hands-on inquiries like formulating hypotheses, designing experiments, collecting data and drawing evidence-based conclusions. Tangible projects allow students to demonstrate content knowledge in addition to critical thinking abilities like synthesizing concepts, evaluating claims and applying learning …

Overcoming The Barriers To Teaching Teamwork To Undergraduates In Stem, Gregory R. Goldsmith, Miranda L. Aiken, Hector M. Camarillo-Abad, Kamal Diki, Daniel L. Gardner, Mario Stipčić, Javier F. Espeleta

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

There is widespread recognition that undergraduate students in the life sciences must learn how to work in teams. However, instructors who wish to incorporate teamwork into their classrooms rarely have formal training in how to teach teamwork. This is further complicated by the application of synonymous and often ambiguous terminology regarding teamwork that is found in literature spread among many different disciplines. There are significant barriers for instructors wishing to identify and implement best practices. We synthesize key concepts in teamwork by considering the knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSAs) necessary for success, the pedagogies and curricula for teaching those KSAs, …

Variations In Student Approaches To Problem Solving In Undergraduate Biology Education, Jeremy L. Hsu, Rou-Jia Sung, Su L. Swarat, Alexandra J. Gore, Stephanie Kim, Stanley M. Lo

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Existing research has investigated student problem-solving strategies across science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; however, there is limited work in undergraduate biology education on how various aspects that influence learning combine to generate holistic approaches to problem solving. Through the lens of situated cognition, we consider problem solving as a learning phenomenon that involves the interactions between internal cognition of the learner and the external learning environment. Using phenomenography as a methodology, we investigated undergraduate student approaches to problem solving in biology through interviews. We identified five aspects of problem solving (including knowledge, strategy, intention, metacognition, and mindset) that define three …

Steminism: Analyzing Factors That Improve Retention Of Women In Stem, Kira Carter, Jane Kelley, Jason Vasser-Elong, Rc Patterson

Dissertations

Our co-authored research ‘Steminism: Analyzing Factors That Improve Retention for Women as STEM Majors’ analyzed factors that contributed to the retention of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs at Missouri University of Science & Technology (Missouri S&T). Women make up half of the US population, and while careers in (STEM) are an integral part of the US economy, women are underrepresented in these career fields. The purpose of our dissertation is to address the underrepresentation of women in STEM majors. Our methodology included homogeneous sampling to collect qualitative data. More specifically, we consulted with academic advisors and …

Seeing Eye To Eye? Comparing Faculty And Student Perceptions Of Biomolecular Visualization Assessments, Josh T. Beckham, Daniel R. Dries, Bonnie L. Hall, Rarchel M. Mitton-Fry, Shelly Engelman, Charmita Burch, Roderico Acevedo, Pamela S. Mertz, Didem Vardar-Ulu, Swati Agrawal, Kristin M. Fox, Shane Austin, Margaret A. Franzen, Henry V. Jakubowski, Walter R. P. Novak, Rebecca Roberts, Alberto I. Roca, Kristen Procko

Chemistry Faculty Publications

While visual literacy has been identified as a foundational skill in life science education, there are many challenges in teaching and assessing biomolecular visualization skills. Among these are the lack of consensus about what constitutes competence and limited understanding of student and instructor perceptions of visual literacy tasks. In this study, we administered a set of biomolecular visualization assessments, developed as part of the BioMolViz project, to both students and instructors at multiple institutions and compared their perceptions of task difficulty. We then analyzed our findings using a mixed-methods approach. Quantitative analysis was used to answer the following research questions: …

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 02: Phylogenetic Systematics In Parasitology, Anindo Choudhury

Concepts in Animal Parasitology Textbook

Chapter 2 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology on phylogenetic systematics in parasitology by Anindo Choudhury. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap002

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 05: Life Cycles, Matthew G. Bolek, Kyle D. Gustafson, Gabriel J. Langford

Concepts in Animal Parasitology Textbook

Chapter 5 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology on life cycles by Matthew G. Bolek, Kyle D. Gustafson, and Gabriel J. Langford. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap005

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 06: Behavioral Parasitology, Megan Wise De Valdez

Concepts in Animal Parasitology Textbook

Chapter 6 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology on behavioral parasitology by Megan Wise de Valdez. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap006

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 08: Distributional Ecology Of Parasites, A. Townsend Peterson

Concepts in Animal Parasitology Textbook

Chapter 8 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology on distributional ecology of parasites by A. Townsend Peterson. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap008

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 10: Haemosporida (Order): The “Malaria Parasites”, Susan L. Perkins, Spencer C. Galen

Concepts in Animal Parasitology Textbook

Chapter 10 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology on the order Haemosporida, the “malaria parasites,” by Susan L. Perkins and Spencer C. Galen. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap010

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 24: Cathetocephalidea Schmidt And Beveridge, 1990 (Order), Luis García-Prieto, Omar Lagunas-Calvo, Brenda Atziri García-García, Berenice Adán-Torres

Concepts in Animal Parasitology Textbook

Chapter 24 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology on the order Cathetocephalidea Schmidt and Beveridge, 1990 by Luis García-Prieto, Omar Lagunas-Calvo, Brenda Atziri García-García, and Berenice Adán-Torres. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap024

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 32: Gyrocotylidea (Order): The Most Primitive Group Of Tapeworms, Willi E. R. Xylander, Klaus Rohde

Concepts in Animal Parasitology Textbook

Chapter 32 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology on the most primitive group of tapeworms, the order Gyrocotylidea by Willi E. R. Xylander and Klaus Rohde. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap032

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 37: Bivesiculata Olson Et Al., 2003 (Suborder): Small, Rare, But Important, Thomas H. Cribb, Scott C. Cutmore

Concepts in Animal Parasitology Textbook

Chapter 37 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology on the small, rare, but important suborder Bivesiculata Olson et al., 2003 by Thomas H. Cribb and Scott C. Cutmore. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap037

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 42: Opisthorchis (Genus), Sue Ann Gardner

Concepts in Animal Parasitology Textbook

Chapter 42 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology on the trematode genus Opisthorchis compiled by Sue Ann Gardner from information from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap042

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 44: Haematoloechidae Odening, 1964 (Family), Virginia León-Règagnon

Concepts in Animal Parasitology Textbook

Chapter 44 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology on the family Haematoloechidae Odening, 1964 by Virginia León-Règagnon. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap044

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 45: Lecithodendriidae Lühe, 1901 (Family), Jeffrey M. Lotz

Concepts in Animal Parasitology Textbook

Chapter 45 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology on the family Lecithodendriidae Lühe, 1901 by Jeffrey M. Lotz. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap045

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 48: Introduction To Endoparasitic Nematodes (Phylum Nemata), Scott L. Gardner

Concepts in Animal Parasitology Textbook

Chapter 48 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology, an introduction to endoparasitic nematodes (phylum Nemata) by Scott L. Gardner. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap048

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 53: Spirurida (Order), Valentin Radev

Concepts in Animal Parasitology Textbook

Chapter 53 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology on the order Spirurida by Valentin Radev. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap053

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 57: Nematomorpha (Phylum): Horsehair Worms, Matthew G. Bolek, Ben Hanelt

Concepts in Animal Parasitology Textbook

Chapter 57 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology on the horsehair worms, phylum Nematomorpha, by Matthew G. Bolek and Ben Hanelt. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap057

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 59: Pentastomida: Endoparasitic Arthopods, Chris T. Mcallister

Concepts in Animal Parasitology Textbook

Chapter 59 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology on the Pentastomida, endoparasitic athropods, by Chris T. McAllister. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap059