Low-Level Learning: Leaving Behind Nonscience Majors

Abstract

More than 8 out of every 10 college students are not STEM majors, yet we have little understanding about learning expectations for them. We used the results of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute BioInteractive learning objectives survey of 38 instructors teaching nonscience major courses to characterize learning objectives (LOs) in these courses. The survey included demographics questions, and instructors were asked to contribute at least 10 LOs from their nonscience major introductory biology course. We coded the LOs ( n = 872) for Bloom’s level, content area, and competencies related to Vision and Change in Undergraduate Biology Education. As a comparison, we coded LOs ( n = 1390) from three best-selling textbooks for nonscience majors. We found that most instructors report creating LOs themselves, and most share LOs with students. Overall, 80% of LOs focus on low-level thinking skills. Few LOs (11.5%) from instructors or textbooks focused on science process skills that students might use in everyday life to make science-informed decisions. Our findings indicate a need to revisit the goals of instruction for nonscience majors—the vast majority of people in our society.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Austin Heil

Austin Heil ([email protected]) is teaching faculty in the Department of Marine Science and Peggy Brickman ([email protected]) is a professor in the Department of Plant Biology, both at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia. Cara Gormally ([email protected]) is a biology professor at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C.

Cara Gormally

Austin Heil ([email protected]) is teaching faculty in the Department of Marine Science and Peggy Brickman ([email protected]) is a professor in the Department of Plant Biology, both at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia. Cara Gormally ([email protected]) is a biology professor at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C.

Peggy Brickman

Austin Heil ([email protected]) is teaching faculty in the Department of Marine Science and Peggy Brickman ([email protected]) is a professor in the Department of Plant Biology, both at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia. Cara Gormally ([email protected]) is a biology professor at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C.