Student learning outcomes and attitudes when biotechnology lab partners are of different academic levels.

ABSTRACT: The North Carolina State University Biotechnology Program offers laboratory-intensive courses to both undergraduate and graduate students. In "Manipulation and Expression of Recombinant DNA," students are separated into undergraduate and graduate sections for the laboratory, but not the lecture, component. Evidence has shown that students prefer pairing with someone of the same academic level. However, retention of main ideas in peer learning environments has been shown to be greater when partners have dissimilar abilities. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that there will be enhanced student learning when lab partners are of different academic levels. We found that learning outcomes were met by both levels of student, regardless of pairing. Average undergraduate grades on every assessme

SUBMITTER: Miller HB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3433304 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature