[FUN_Mail] Major field test (for Neuroscience)

[Keller, Lani C. Prof. via FUN_Mail]

I just wanted to bring to people's attention that a similar competency
test has been developed for genetics and used successfully. It may be
worth checking this out as you think about developing one for
neuroscience. I have included two links to publications that discuss the
development of such an exam along with using the exam in classrooms.

Here is the abstract for development of the
test:http://www.lifescied.org/content/7/4/422.abstract
Here is an updated paper describing the use of the test:
http://www.lifescied.org/content/7/4/422.abstract

Cheers,
Lani

-----
Lani C. Keller
Assistant Professor
Quinnipiac University
Department of Biological Sciences
Buckman Center: BC123A
275 Mount Carmel Avenue
Hamden, CT 06518
Office: 203.582.8994







On 10/13/14 12:13 PM, "William Grisham via FUN_Mail"
<fun_mail at lists.funfaculty.org> wrote:

>Dear Divya,
>
>I am fairly confident that no such standardized instrument exists for
>testing students' knowledge of neuroscience. While I was at NSF, I talked
>to some PIs about creating one, but they ultimately backed off of the
>idea.
>
>That being said, if one would team-up with someone really skilled in test
>construction, they might be able to get a grant from NSF's Division of
>Undergraduate Education IUSE program to develop such an instrument.
>Besides
>just testing knowledge, I think that such an instrument should also tap
>critical thinking skills that we are hopefully instilling in our students.
>
>
>The need to evaluate the efficacy of neuroscience courses as well as
>programs is clear, particularly as these programs are growing and serving
>ever larger segments of the STEM students/community. Thus the need to
>develop an appropriate testing instrument is clear.
>
>
>William (Bill) Grisham, Ph.D.
>Adjunct Professor
>Department of Psychology, UCLA
>1285 Franz Hall
>PO Box 951563
>Los Angeles, CA 90095-1563
>
>(310) 825-7990
>Dr.billgrisham at gmail.com
>
>On Sun, Oct 12, 2014 at 5:28 PM, Divya Sitaraman via FUN_Mail <
>fun_mail at lists.funfaculty.org> wrote:
>
>> Dear FUN folks,
>>
>> I am an Asst Professor in Behavioral Neuroscience at University of San
>> Diego and am truly excited to be a part of the FUN community. The
>> Behavioral Neuroscience major was started in our school in 2012 and in
>> order to gauge how we are doing we would like to conduct a Major Field
>>Test
>> (or something like it) for our graduating seniors in Spring 2014.
>>
>> It will be anonymous and the idea is to present students with
>>Neuroscience
>> questions and test their understanding of the field. We have been
>>looking
>> around for something standardized but haven't been able to find
>>something
>> concrete yet.
>>
>> I was interested in hearing your experiences regarding 2 major issues
>>that
>> we have been talking about:
>> a) How to test students knowledge of Neuroscience?
>> b) Are there any tests out there that will meet this purpose?
>>
>> Thanks and I look forward to your responses,
>>
>> Divya Sitaraman
>> Assistant Professor of Behavioral Neuroscience
>> University of San Diego
>> 
>>-------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> Visiting Scientist
>> Janelia Research Campus at HHMI
>> MAILMAN_MIMEDEFANG WRAP
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