Sunday, May 17, 2015

Prop demonstrations during lectures increase student performance in biology courses


















Simple props can help present complex concepts. For example, a twisted cord on ear bud headphones can be used to demonstrate DNA replication, as described here.

A recent magazine article by F.  Tamari, K. M. Bonney and K. Polizzotto of the Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn discussed how Prop Demonstrations in Biology Lectures Facilitate Student Learning and Performance. It appeared in the Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education, May 2015, vol. 16 No. 1, pages 6 to 12.
















Table 3 of that article showed significantly higher scores on questions for students who had seen five demonstrations (blue) than those who had not (yellow), as is shown above in a bar chart.   

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