Kimberly Woznack

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Getting What You Want Strategies for Writing
Effective CPR Assignments

• Kimberly Woznack

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Introduction

• Postdoc with Chris Bauer at UNH
• NSF CCLI grant
• Integrating the Chemistry Systemic Initiatives
• Calibrated Peer Review (CPR)
• Peer-Led Team Learning (PLTL)
• ChemConnections Modules
• NewTraditions
• Continue use at Cal U of PA

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Outline

• Author Resources
• Many Purposes of Assignments
• Assignment Components Settings

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Two Most Important Resources
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Rome wasnt built in one day!
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Rome wasnt built by one person!
Faculty Colleagues
Staff Members
Undergraduate Students
Graduate Students
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CC Module Related Assignments

• Lighting up the night with fireworks (Stars)
• What air-bag system do you recommend for further
  development? (Airbags)
• Hybridization Playstation (Polymers)
• Intermolecular Forces (Polymers)
• Global Warming assignments (2 Part)
• Ozone Hole assignments (2 Part )

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Purpose of CPR Assignments

• Training on CPR
• Substitution of topic
• Confirmation/Reinforcement of topic
• Qualitative or Quantitative Explanations
• Synthesis or Capstone for larger unit/module
• Single vs. Two-part Assignments

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Training Assignments

• Growing Tomato Plants-
• Laurie Starkey CSU-Pomona
• used in CPR workshops
• Available in edited assignment library
• Transition to College
• Christopher Bauer- UNH
• Used with incoming students in General Chemistry

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Substitution and Confirmation

• Substitution Assignments
• Review assumed prerequisite knowledge
• Cover basic topics not covered in Lecture
• Significant Figures Edited Assignment Library
• Rebecca Eikey and Krista Motschilder UCLA
• Confirmation Assignments
• Cover basic topic that was covered in Lecture
• Name That Compound! Edited Assignment Library
• No author credit given

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Qualitative vs. Quantitative

• Qualitative
• Explanation
• Predictions Increase, Decrease, Remain the same
• Takes focus off of plug chug
• Quantitative
• Very Challenging to write good Calibration
  Questions
• Thermodynamics (Cal U)
• Preparation of Solutions Containing Multiple
  Solutes (Cal U)

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Synthesis or Capstone

• Used after a unit is complete to help students
  assemble information from lecture and/or lab
  experiments.
• What air-bag system do you recommend for further
  development? (UNH)
• Lighting up the night with Fireworks? (UNH)

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Two Part Assignments (CC Module related)

• What do you already know about ozone?
• What do you now know about ozone?
• What do you already know about Global Warming?
• What do you now know about Global Warming?

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Assignment Components

• Title
• Goals
• Source Material
• Student Instructions
• Writing Prompt
• Guiding Questions
• Calibration/Review Questions
• Calibration Essays
• Assignment Settings

Redundancy
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Assignment Title

• Be Specific and avoid Chapter Titles
• Add Date info if you plan to revise in the future
• Use a Question
• Whats Hiding in Transgenic Foods?- Dale Orth
• Why do we use the SI system of measurement in
  science? no author credit given

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Assignment Goals

• Optional but perhaps most important for the
  author to define for them self
• What do you want to get from the students?
• What are the major concepts?
• What are the important details?

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Source Material

• Description Required
• Suggestions on Chapters or Pages in their
  textbook.
• Add Source Material Resources Internet URLs or
  post document
• Suggest link or guide to basic HTML codes

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Student Instructions

• Optional
• Include any logistical limitations or suggestions
• Set-up any ground rules about using other
  resources and proper citations
• Suggest style questions they will be held
  responsible for grammar, spelling, tone
• Define A, B, C answers for multiple choice
  questions

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Writing Prompt

• Required and perhaps the most important for the
  students
• Some background or setup information on the
  context of the assignment.
• Be clear about what topics the essay should
  address.
• Suggest the audience is classmates.

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Guiding Questions

• Optional
• Can be more explicit with students about which
  specific topics they should touch on
• Can help guarantee specific topics are brought up
  for discussion
• Can take some of the words out of the Writing
  Prompt or spread it out.

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Calibration/Review Questions

• Reasonable Number of questions (10-15)
• Clear short focused questions
• Greater of Content Questions than Style
  Questions
• Repeat use of same style questions all semester
• Use of A, B, C questions for different multiple
  choice
• This essay was a conscientious attempt to address
  the writing prompt if yes, the reviewer should
  proceed if no, the reviewer should waste little
  time, mark the questions, give an appropriate
  rating (most likely the lowest), and email the
  CPR administrator, who will take appropriate
  action.

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Calibration Essays

• Dont need to be evenly spaced in quality (3,6,9)
• Authors of Calibration Essays can suggest a score
  but it helps to have others input
• Easier to write the highest and lowest quality
• Multiple authors will assist with medium essay
  and determining the final rating for each essay
• Write like a student. Be sure you arent
  remembering something that isnt in the prompt.

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Division of Labor

• Team Member A
• Writing Prompt, Goals, Source Material
• Medium Quality Calibration Essay
• Team Member B
• High and Low Quality Calibration Essay
• Calibration/Review Questions
• All Team Members
• Determine answer key to calibration question and
  comments on answers
• If you dont have help use Time to isolate
  yourself from the previous step.
• Iterative Process

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Assignment Settings

• Acceptable Word Count for Student Work
• CPR suggests 25 above and below average
  calibration word count
• Check words in each calibration essay go higher
  than highest calibration.
• Customize Difficulty Level Setting on Mastering
  Calibrations
• Check for Odd of Questions in each category
  (style and content)

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Conclusions

• Brainstorm on the specific purpose and scope of
  the assignment.
• Take your time writing high quality components.
• Recruit the help of others.
• Try it out!
• Revise as needed.

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Acknowledgements

• NSF-CCLI grant
• Christopher F. Bauer-
• University of New Hampshire
• Laurie Langdon-
• University of Colorado-Boulder
• Amy Lindsay-
• University of New Hampshire
• Colleagues at California Univ. of PA

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Calibrated Peer Review (CPR)

• http//cpr.molsci.ucla.edu/cpr/cpr_info/
• http//cpr.molsci.ucla.edu/cpr/cpr/login.asp

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ChemConnections Modules

• W.W. Norton Publishers
• http//www2.wwnorton.com/college/titles/chemistry/
  chemx/
• Resources
• http//www2.wwnorton.com/college/chemistry/chemcon
  nections/