Measuring the impact of the flipped anatomy classroom: The importance of categorizing an assessment by Bloom's taxonomy

The flipped classroom (FC) model has emerged as an innovative solution to improve student‐centered learning. However, studies measuring student performance of material in the FC relative to the lecture classroom (LC) have shown mixed results. An aim of this study was to determine if the disparity in results of prior research is due to level of cognition (low or high) needed to perform well on the outcome, or course assessment. This study tested the hypothesis that (1) students in a FC would perform better than students in a LC on an assessment requiring higher cognition and (2) there would be no difference in performance for an assessment requiring lower cognition. To test this hypothesis the performance of 28 multiple choice anatomy items that were part of a final examination were compared between two classes of first year medical students at the University of Utah School of Medicine. Items were categorized as requiring knowledge (low cognition), application, or analysis (high cognition). Thirty hours of anatomy content was delivered in LC format to 101 students in 2013 and in FC format to 104 students in 2014. Mann Whitney tests indicated FC students performed better than LC students on analysis items, U = 4243.00, P = 0.030, r = 0.19, but there were no differences in performance between FC and LC students for knowledge, U = 5002.00, P = 0.720 or application, U = 4990.00, P = 0.700, items. The FC may benefit retention when students are expected to analyze material. Anat Sci Educ 10: 170–175. © 2016 American Association of Anatomists.     

Promoting understanding of chemical representations: Students' use of a visualization tool in the classroom

Many students have difficulty learning symbolic and molecular representations of chemistry. This study investigated how students developed an understanding of chemical representations with the aid of a computer‐based visualizing tool, eChem, that allowed them to build molecular models and view multiple representations simultaneously. Multiple sources of data were collected with the participation of 71 eleventh graders at a small public high school over a 6‐week period. The results of pre‐ and posttests showed that students' understanding of chemical representations improved substantially (p < .001, effect size = 2.68‐. The analysis of video recordings revealed that several features in eChem helped students construct models and translate representations. Students who were highly engaged in discussions while using eChem made referential linkages between visual and conceptual aspects of representations. This in turn may have deepened their understanding of chemical representations and concepts. The findings also suggest that computerized models can serve as a vehicle for students to generate mental images. Finally, students demonstrated their preferences of certain types of representations and did not use all types of three‐dimensional models interchangeably. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 38: 821–842, 2001     

Self‐Injury,Gender, and Loneliness Among College Students

Several studies have demonstrated relationships between loneliness and numerous psychological and physical difficulties among college students. The purpose of this study was to examine whether loneliness might be a factor associated with increased risk of self‐injury among college students. The findings did not support the hypothesis that self‐injury would be associated with elevated levels of loneliness. The findings were significant but in the opposite direction than expected. Furthermore, the findings regarding gender are in contrast to findings of previous research.     

The Age Factor in the Prediction of Tertary Academic Success

This study examined the predictive power of age in the academic performance of Behavioural Science students at the Darling Downs Institute of Advanced Education. Other predictor variables included were study methods, Tertiary Entrance score, personal problems, satisfaction with college, self‐concept, locus of control and flexibility of thinking. 79 students, 93% of the total population, responded to the questionnaire containing scales measuring the above variables. Results from multiple regression analyses showed that the contribution of age outweighed by far that of any other variable. The next best predictors were study methods and environment factors. The contribution of personality traits and T.E. score was minimal. A high correlation between age and study methods was also noted. A greater acceptance of older age students into Behavioural Science courses was suggested.     

Cyber Safe Curricula and Online Harassment

In this article, Heather Greenhalgh‐Spencer analyzes three examples of curricula aimed at cultivating good cyber behavior and countering online harassment. These curricula are branded as addressing civic needs, cultivating civic duty, and developing skills to help students understand and react to online threats. Here, Greenhalgh‐Spencer offers two critiques of these, and other similar, cyber safe curricula. First, current cyber safe curricula do not adequately address the ways that identity — particularly gender and sexuality — shape one's experience of online spaces and exposure to online threats. Second, current cyber safe curricula do not adequately consider nuances of how to “react” to online threats. The preponderance of cyber curricula teach students that all forms of offensive speech online should be abolished or pushed against. These curricula miss the opportunity to cultivate conversations around the tensions between the need to feel safe and the need to protect freedoms of speech.     

Long‐term effects of a psycholinguistic treatment for dyslexia

Short and long‐term effects of a treatment for dyslexia are evaluated. The treatment is based on psycholinguistic theory and assumes that dyslexia is due to poor lexico‐phonological processing of words. The treatment is computer‐based and focuses on learning to recognise and to make use of the phonological and morphological structure of Dutch words. The results of the treatment were clear improvements in reading words, reading text and spelling. Effect sizes of standardised treatment gains were large (Cohen's d>0.80 for all variables). Following the treatment, participants attained an average level of text‐reading and spelling. The attained level of reading words and reading text was found to be stable over a four‐year follow‐up period. Spelling showed a slight decline one year after the treatment, but remained stable thereafter. ¹ 1. A preliminary report of the data was presented at the World congress on dyslexia, September 1997, Thessaloniki, Greece.     

The use of generalizability theory to estimate data reliability in single‐subject observational research

Direct observation of behaviors is a data collection method customarily used in clinical and educational settings. Repeated measures and small samples are inherent characteristics of observational studies that pose challenges to the numerical estimation of reliability for observational data. In this article, we review some debates about the use of Generalizability Theory in estimating reliability of single‐subject observational data. We propose that it could be used but under a clearly stated set of conditions. The conceptualization of facets and object of measurement for a common design of observational research is elucidated under a different light. We provide two numerical examples to illustrate the ideas. Limitations of using Generalizability Theory to estimate reliability of observational data are discussed. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 44: 433–439, 2007.