Developing a "Gateway" Course to Prepare Nontraditional Students for Success in Upper-Division Science Courses

Autor/inn/en	Davies-Vollum, Katherine Sian; Greengrove, Cheryl
Titel	Developing a "Gateway" Course to Prepare Nontraditional Students for Success in Upper-Division Science Courses
Quelle	In: Journal of College Science Teaching, 40 (2010) 1, S.28-33 (6 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0047-231X
Schlagwörter	Feedback (Response); Nontraditional Students; Science Programs; Academic Achievement; Cooperative Learning; Teaching Methods; Enrollment; Science Instruction; Science Education; Science Curriculum; Higher Education; Evaluation; Economic Climate; Surveys; Reflection + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Schulleistung; Kooperatives Lernen; Teaching method; Lehrmethode; Unterrichtsmethode; Einschulung; Teaching of science; Science education; Natural sciences Lessons; Naturwissenschaftlicher Unterricht; Naturwissenschaftliche Bildung; Hochschulbildung; Hochschulsystem; Hochschulwesen; Evaluierung; Wirtschaftslage; Survey; Umfrage; Befragung
Abstract	In times of economic downturn, college enrollments often increase. Entering students may come from diverse educational backgrounds and bring variable skill sets. In this article, the authors describe a skills-focused course developed to ensure that transfer and nontraditional students returning to education are prepared to succeed in upper-division science courses. The course focuses on competence in scientific skills, but it also aims to develop learning communities, provide orientation to the science program, and promote student planning. To achieve these aims, they use formative surveys, assignments for skill acquisition and practice, cooperative learning experiences, goal-setting tasks, and portfolios. Student feedback indicates that the course has been valuable for improving scientific preparedness, with additional benefits of clarifying curriculum expectations and developing personal responsibility for success. (Contains 3 tables.) (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	National Science Teachers Association. 1840 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22201-3000. Tel: 800-722-6782; Fax: 703-243-3924; e-mail: membership@nsta.org; Web site: http://www.nsta.org
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10