Background

I teach Principles of Biology, 24 students per class

Students vary: in age ethnicity academic backgrounds academic goals

Teaching challenges: My students are engaged in the learning however I am concerned that they are compartmentalizing the content.

Research Question

Can students gain conceptual knowledge in an introductory biology class? Conceptual knowledge is making linking

relationships Example: Photosynthesis

Conceptually they understand that the energy from the sun is needed to make plants grow.

Interest and Importance

I suspect this is a universal issue but I have no documentation.

I will redesign my course to help my student make connections

This is important because these same students are going to be the care givers or the future teachers of our world.

Research Design

Pre and embedded post testing Concept maps Multiple choice questions that are

designed to go from basic content to linkages (SOLO)

Correlation between concept map and SOLO taxonomy