Student-centered introductory biology course: evidence for deep learning

Abstract

Our interpretative study that was carried out in a science and engineering oriented university examined the ways students in an introductory biology course perceived their learning in the course that was substantially changed to allow student-centered learning. The instructional change was framed by the view of learning as a sociocultural activity as well as a cognitive process that can take place face-to-face or through online interaction. Most of the lectures were substituted with individual learning and project-based, small-group learning that lasted one month. Data were collected through interviews with students and instructors, and through observations. In the paper, we show evidence for deep learning that was associated by the students and the instructors with short-term, meaningful activities in a setting that included collaborative peer learning; and replacing most lectures by small group learning that ended in a mini-conference. Deep learning was evidenced by the ways students reflected on how they organised and applied knowledge using deep learning strategies.

Keywords:

• Biology
• introductory course
• instructional change
• qualitative
• deep learning

Acknowledgement

We wish to express our gratitude to our collaborators: prof. Yael Kali, prof. Dan Zilberstein, prof. Shimon Gepstein and Dr Ornit Sagy. We appreciate their help throughout this study. We thank the Faculty of Biology that enabled this project and supported it.