Teaching AP Biology in the Digital Age

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Teaching AP Biology in the Digital Age
Gena Barnhardt, NBCT
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Hickory High School

• 1250 Students in grades 9-12
• 42 free lunch eligible
• Over 15 languages spoken at HHS
• 15 ESL

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Available Technology

• Two computer labs for general student usage
• 30 computers in each
• T1 connection to internet
• every classroom wired with fiber optic cable
• Pentium III in each classroom
• 71 HHS Students have internet access

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Technology Integration

• Multimedia Presentations
• WWW
• MBL/CBL
• Grade Reporting
• Assessment

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Assessment

• To Scale or Not To Scale?
• Tests mimic AP format
• 60 MC
• 2 Free Response

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Prior to Spring 2002
WebAssign!

• Reading Quizzes
• Objectives
• Test Scores...

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What is WebAssign?

• Web-based, homework delivery system
• Create Unique Assignments (Extensive database or
  write own questions)
• Encourages cooperative learning while discourging
  cheating

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Benefits for Teachers

• Reduces time grading homework
• Provides for Just in Time Learning
• Can be used for homework, quizzes, tests
• Can help students attain mastery
• Class time can be used more efficiently
• Encourages Cooperative Learning
• Discourages cheating

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Benefits for Students

• Helps identify misunderstandings prior to class
• Immediate feedback - no waiting for grades
• Multiple submissions motivate
• Encourages collaboration
• All homework can be graded
• More enticing than paper homework

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Students Submit answers
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Immediate feedback given
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Feedback can be detailed
Student Can Correct and Resubmit
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AP WebAssign-ments

• 20 MC or MS questions
• Campbell 5th Edition test bank
• 5 - 6 submissions
• No detailed feedback
• Students know total number correct, but not
  individual items

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Varied Usage of WebAssign

• Homework
• Timed Essays
• Cumulative Review

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WebAssign works

• Students like it
• 96 agree that immediate feedback is helpful
• test scores soared!
• 20 average gain on Unit tests
• 90 Pass rate on AP Exam
• 50 5s
• 33 4s

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Test Scores Fall 2001

• Reading quizzes used for daily assessment
• No Use of WebAssign
• Scores scaled to reflect CB grading

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Introduction of WebAssign

• WebAssign introduced following Test 1
• Scores no longer scaled

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Fall 2002 vs Fall 2001
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Implementation of WebAssign

• Create Question database
• Multiple Choice
• Multiple Select
• Assignments
• 1-3 per week (only homework assigned)
• 20-45 questions per assignment
• Detailed feedback suppressed
• 7-10 submissions allowed

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Why does WebAssign work?

• Students get immediate feedback
• Students spend MORE time completing homework
• Higher level of student collaboration
• IM Chat Rooms

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Fall 2002 Survey Students say WebAssign helps
them learn

• 71 are comfortable with the web
• 92 WebAssign is easy to use
• 100 using WebAssign helps them learn course
  material
• 75 WebAssign is more beneficial than
  traditional homework
• 79 believe grade would be lower without
  WebAssign

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WebAssign is instrumental in keeping me on top
of the subject matter.

• Agree 83
• Disagree 17

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WebAssign is instrumental in preparing me for
unit/chapter tests.

• Agree 96
• Disagee 4

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WebAssign encourages me to discuss concepts with
my fellow classmates.

• Agree 92
• No 8

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Student Response

• Using the Web motivates
• Students complete more homework
• Students like instant feedback, multiple
  submissions
• More mastery is attained
• Grades improve

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Student Response

• WebAssign caused increased time spent on homework
• Suppressing detailed response was frustrating but
  added to conceptual understanding

• Timed Writings helped in writing concise essays
  under pressure
• Practice Assignments great help in AP Exam prep

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Recommendations

• Length of assignments
• Use Multiple Select
• Feedback limited for multiple choice
• Limit submissions
• 2 Assignments per week

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Gena Barnhardt Hickory High School 1234 3rd St.
NE Hickory, NC 28601 (828)-322-5860 ext
2258 barnhardtge_at_hickory.k12.nc.us
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If you want to know more about WebAssign

• WebAssignBox 8202NCSURaleigh, NC 27695-8202
• Tel. [phone]E-mail webassign_at_ncsu.eduW
  eb http//webassign.net/info