ERIC Number: EJ1002929
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012-Oct
Pages: 5
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0021-9584
EISSN: N/A
Assessing High School Student Learning on Science Outreach Lab Activities
Thomas, Courtney L.
Journal of Chemical Education, v89 n10 p1259-1263 Oct 2012
The effect of hands-on laboratory activities on secondary student learning was examined. Assessment was conducted over a two-year period, with 262 students participating the first year and 264 students the second year. Students took a prequiz, performed a laboratory activity (gas chromatography of alcohols, or photosynthesis and respiration), and followed up with a postquiz. The percentage of correct answers on the pre- and postquiz was tallied for each student and each question. A paired t-test was performed to detect differences in scores. Student scores increased significantly after both laboratory activities both years (p less than 0.001). For each gas chromatography of alcohols quiz question, a significant increase was observed the second year (p = 0.041), but not the first year (p = 0.11). For each photosynthesis and respiration quiz question, a significant increase was observed the first year (p = 0.038), but not the second year (p = 0.066). However, when one specific photosynthesis and respiration quiz question was omitted, both years showed a significant increase (first year, p = 0.0064; second year, p = 0.039). Overall, these results indicate laboratory activities provided by science outreach programs can positively contribute to student learning. (Contains 3 tables and 4 figures.)
Descriptors: Academic Achievement, Tests, Botany, Science Laboratories, Outreach Programs, High School Students, Secondary School Science, Scores, Teaching Methods, College School Cooperation
Division of Chemical Education, Inc and ACS Publications Division of the American Chemical Society. 1155 Sixteenth Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 800-227-5558; Tel: 202-872-4600; e-mail: eic@jce.acs.org; Web site: http://pubs.acs.org/jchemeduc
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: High Schools; Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A