To increase student engagement in diversity learning, a method using student poster presentations was applied in an undergraduate cultural psychology course. Twenty-two students in the course created posters summarizing published research articles on cultural psychology, displayed their posters at a public event on campus, and discussed real-life…

This study sought to better understand students' experiences with instructor feedback on writing assignments. Undergraduate students (n = 162) completed an online survey about the frequency, type, and nature of feedback they received from instructors, their feedback preferences, their satisfaction with feedback, and their use of feedback. Findings…

Research indicates that students don't fully utilize instructor feedback. The "immediate feedback assessment technique" (IF AT, Epstein Educational Enterprise, Inc.) is a testing system that promotes student engagement with immediate feedback during an exam. With IF-AT, students use an answer sheet resembling a lottery scratch-off…

Instructors expect students to read before class to engage them in using higher-order thinking skills that are critical to performing in group work and engaging in discussions. As many instructors are aware, however, for various reasons many students don't read the assigned textbook. In this study, science news articles were used as prereadings to…

This study provides an overview of the shifting epistemological terrain regarding methodological approaches to the research process in the field of communication and discusses how a mixed-methods design could improve methods comprehension in undergraduate education. The authors describe how they incorporated a mixed-methods project into the…

Student perceptions of instructor availability outside of class are examined both as a predictor of instructor quality and as an outcome of student, instructor, and course characteristics. Data represent a 30-year case study record of course evaluations and instructor professional and personal variables. Student perceptions of instructor…

The authors determined whether positive perceptions of integrating lecture and lab in Anatomy and Physiology courses persisted from 2015-2018. Students (843) and instructors (56) completed the Student Assessment of Their Learning Gains survey; perceptions were positive and consistent between both groups. Participant narratives identified the…

One of the most important processes in which professors can engage is to explore different techniques to improve the learning environment. Zull (2002, 2011) has stated that people adopt new learning by "idea testing." Was the test beneficial? The authors, who were interested in testing ideas to improve the teaching and learning process,…

Crosscutting concepts, such as "structure" and "function," are present in courses at multiple educational levels across the disciplines. These two terms are used individually in everyday language and have a long, rich history. The authors explore the meaning and presentation of biological function, which often is not clearly…

This study explores the relationship between the frequency and time spent on cell phones (independent variables) by students in the classroom and students' academic performance (dependent variable), as represented by self-reported grade point average (GPA). A 22-question Internet survey was conducted at a private Northeastern university (N =…

The authors compared student perceptions and performance in a fully online versus a flipped undergraduate diversity course. Students' performance on course assignments and responses to surveys assessing perceptions of learning climate, basic psychological needs (autonomy, competence, relatedness), motivation, relevance, and learning gains were…

Many studies have examined the effects of technology on education as well as how educators feel about technology; however, this study examined the opinions of 528 students regarding how technology influences their education. In particular, we investigated whether students felt a sense of entitlement to use their technology in the classroom. The…

This article discusses a study conducted to evaluate the effect of the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) University College's Undergraduate Teaching Assistant (UTA) Program on student performance in first-year core curriculum courses. First, a description and history of the UTA program are provided. Next, the authors describe how quantitative…

Foundational undergraduate courses in chemistry and mathematics are gateways to a number of lucrative majors and pre-professional programs. Historically, however, students often struggle with these disciplines and can benefit from alternate approaches to examining their learning strategies. This article describes the use of exam…

Much of the research on uncivil behavior in the college/university classroom has focused on individual academic fields of study and been conducted at one, typically public, institution. This study examined perceptions of classroom incivility of faculty members (N = 166) from both public and private two- and four year institutions. The authors…