jmbe an insider’s guide to publishing jmbe curriculum articles jean a. cardinale, alfred...

JMBE

An insider’s guide to publishing JMBE curriculum articles

Jean A. Cardinale, Alfred University Curriculum Editor, Journal of Microbiology &

Biology Education

JMBE

Have you previously published teaching-related material or a

curricular activity? If yes, where?

Please type response in chat window

JMBE

Today’s goals:

At the end of today’s session, you will: • Know the purpose of JMBE curriculum articles,• Know the required components needed for

acceptance,• Be empowered to follow through and get that

resource published!

JMBE

Outline

• JMBE overview• A walk through of the submission and review

process• The nuts and bolts of good curricular articles• Common problems to keep in mind

JMBE

Journal of Microbiology and Biology Education

• The journal's mission is to:– Promote good pedagogy and design,– Foster scholarly teaching, and– Advance biology education research.

JMBE

Unique features of the journal:

• Open source, electronic content• Rigorous peer review• Volunteer driven• Guidance during review process

JMBE

Journal of Microbiology and Biology Education (2.0) consists of:

• Research• Perspectives• Curriculum• Departments:

– Tips and Tools– Reviews– News– Letters to the Editor

Research (More)

Curriculum

Tips and Tools (Less)

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What are Curriculum articles?

• Innovative classroom activities and laboratory exercises for undergraduates– Actively engage students – Have well written learning objectives– Field tested – Include detailed instructions & support materials– Contain modifications and extensions

• Open submission, indexed, peer reviewed

JMBE

Submitting to JMBE.asm.org

JMBE

What happens after you press ‘submit’?

• Editor reviews for scope– Assigns section editor (SE)

• SE assigns reviewers, oversees review– Approximately 6 weeks

• SE notifies Editor, Editor makes decision and notifies author

• Accept as is• Revision requested

• Revise and resubmit• Reject

JMBE

Submission outcomes

TotalFirst submissions 44Published after first submission 8 18%

Second submissions 7Published after second submission 5 71%

Overall 25%

JMBE

What do good curricular articles have in common?

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JMBE

What’s needed in an article? General layout

• Organization– 4 Main sections: Abstract, Introduction,

Procedure, Discussion– References– Supplementary material

• 4000 word maximum• Image formatting instructions and other

“incidentals”

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What’s needed in an article? Introduction

• Rational for design• Background information• Includes subsections:

– Intended audience– Learning time– Prerequisite student knowledge– Learning objectives

JMBE

What’s needed in an article? Procedure

• Includes all information that allows adopting instructors to adapt and run the activity

• Includes subsections:– Materials– Student instructions and faculty instructions– Suggestions for determining student learning– Sample data– Safety issues

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What’s needed in an article? Discussion

• Highlight effectiveness and provide evidence of student learning

• Includes subsections:– Field testing– Evidence of student learning– Potential modifications

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How do I provide “evidence of student learning”?

• How do you know what your students know?• Previously used evidence:

– Pre-post testing– Average scores on rubric criteria for assignments– Outcomes on exam questions– % completion of activities/components

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“My students loved this activity, and when surveyed, they

reported that it really helped them learn about x, y, and z.”

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What’s needed in an article? Supplemental material

• Student ready handouts/instructions• Detailed faculty support materials• Powerpoints or other instructional material• Surveys, quizzes• Grading rubrics and keys

JMBE

Thinking about common problems…

• Remember: review decisions are:– Accept as is– Revision required

• (minor revisions)

– Revise and resubmit • (major revisions)

– Reject

JMBE

What do you think would result is a review decision of “reject”?

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JMBE

What do you think are common revision requests?

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JMBE

Common problems:• Learning objectives are poorly written• Evidence of student learning is not provided• Results of field testing are not included• Activity is not novel, or closely duplicates a previously

published activity• Abstract is not concise or comprehensive• Expected outcomes are not provided• Safety issues are not addressed• Activity does not allow active learning (i.e., it is a

‘cookbook’ exercise)• Article needs to be proofread• Article missing key elements (instructions not followed)

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Final thoughts:

• Follow instructions for authors• Reviewing is a great way to learn the process• Don’t be discouraged by requests for revision• Advocate for recognition of educational

publications• And…

JMBE

Be an Author! (Thanks for your attention)

?’s?

JMBE

Follow-up assignment:

• Identify an activity you could submit to JMBE Curriculum

• Write a short paragraph describing your activity

• Draft the learning objectives for this activity, and identify tools that you could used to provide evidence of student learning across those objectives