blc webinar ii: biology intensive orientation for students (bios)
DESCRIPTION
“ … because as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns – the ones we don ’ t know we don ’ t know. ” -- Donald Rumsfeld. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
“… because as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns – the ones we don’t know we don’t know.”
-- Donald Rumsfeld
Bill WischusenAssoc. Chair, Introductory BiologyLSU Dept. of Biological Sciences
Sheri WischusenDirector of Retention LSU
BLC Webinar II: Biology Intensive Orientation for Students (BIOS)
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The “Why”, “How” and “What” of BIOS, a 5-day self-funded content-specific academic boot camp
Overview
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Why?Have you ever had a student who failed your first exam say that they ….. ?
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“Why” do freshmen struggle, especially on the first exam?
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13
18
Years of success
College is 13th grade
They are 18 and very (overly?) confident
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The result is:
BIOS Program Structure5 days
Built around course content and exams
Study skills and learning styles support
Learning communities formation
LSU orientation
BIOS was designed to allow students to:
• Get a preview of the content • Make mistakes ---that don’t count• Learn and practice new study skills• Meet and work with other students• Meet and work with university faculty and staff• Get a feel for the “Pace of College Life”
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Sunday12:00 pm Housing Check-in 3:00 pm Program check-in, and Dinner 7:00 pm Orientation (Introduction, Content Lecture 1)
Content Exams
Study SkillsLearning Community-building
LSU orientation
Monday Morning7:00 Breakfast8:00 Content Lecture 210:00 Break10:30 Study Skills Discussion 1, note taking, listening and metacognition
Afternoon12:00 Lunch1:00 Student Discussion 1, student organizations & BASC2:00 Group Work4:00 Content Lecture 35:30 Dinner6:15 Graduate Mentor Research Presentations7:30 Lab Tours
Content Exams
Study SkillsLearning Community-building
LSU orientation, comfort level, help
Tuesday Morning7:00 Breakfast & Review8:00 Exam 19:30 Content Lecture 411:00 Learning Strategies Discussion 2
Afternoon 12:00 Lunch1:00 Discussion of Exam Results 2:00 Study time/group work4:00 Content Lecture 55:30 Dinner 6:15 Graduate Mentor Research Presentations7:30 Lab Tours
Content Exams
Study SkillsLearning Community-building
LSU orientation, comfort level, help
WednesdayMorning7:00 Breakfast8:30 Content Lecture 610:00 Student Discussion 211:00 Lunch/Lab
Afternoon3:00 Study Time4:00 Content Lecture 75:30 Dinner (faculty visits)6:30 Graduate Mentor Research Presentations7:30 Lab Tours
Content Exams
Study SkillsLearning Community-building
LSU orientation, comfort level, help
ThursdayMorning7:00 Breakfast and Review8:00 Exam 29:30 Content Lecture 811:00 Student Discussion 3, how do I survive? Money Matters, Student Health Center
Afternoon12:00 Lunch1:00 Discussion of Exam Results2:00 Study Time/group Work4:00 Content Lecture 95:30 Dinner6:30 Graduate Mentor Research Presentations7:30 Lab Tours
Content Exams
Study SkillsLearning Community-building
LSU orientation, comfort level, help
FridayMorning7:00 Breakfast & Review8:00 Exam 3 10:30 How to be a Student Session 4, Undergraduate Research. What comes after you graduate?11:30 Final Exam Results
Afternoon1:00 Awards Luncheon and Closing Ceremonies3:00 Checkout of dorm
Content Exams
Study SkillsLearning Community-building
LSU orientation, comfort level, help
GroupsIntroductory Biology Course/Section
So what are the results from the first 6 years of this program?
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Before we show our data, what is the basic success rate in your introductory course?
Success in Core Courses
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Retention to the 2n
d
Year
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Retention in the Major
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4-Year Graduation Rate
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BIOS Keys to Success
1) Focus content material on a specific course directly related to their major.
2) Use real exams.
3) Group the students in small groups.
4) Infuse the program with study skills training.
5) Involve the faculty who teach the introductory course.
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Conclusions
BIOS participants performed significantly better than control students in introductory biology.
The percentage of BIOS students on-track was significantly higher than the control group.
Similarly their retention rate in the major was also greater than that of the control group.
The 4-year graduation rate was also significantly higher than the control
ConclusionsIn answers to the qualitative questions in the Exit
Evaluation and post-program focus groups BIOS participants indicated that they:
• learned valuable study habits
• felt more comfortable about starting college than they had before BIOS.
• Based on student comments they have formed and sustained study groups, i.e. “learning communities,” through their freshman year.
Acknowledgements
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Questions?
http://bios.lsu.edu
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Wischusen, S. M., E. W. Wischusen, and S. M. Pomarico. 2011. Impact of a Short Pre-Freshman Program on Retention. Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory and Practice, 12 (4):429-441
Wischusen, S. M. and E. W. Wischusen. 2007. CBE Life Sciences Education 6:172-178.