[FUN_Mail] Major field test (for Neuroscience)

[Louise Freeman via FUN_Mail]

I am not at an institution with a neuroscience major, but we do use the
psychology MFAT in evaluating our major, and it does include a
biopsychology subscale.

You may find this paper interesting, as it concluded that the psych MFAT
was not much different than pulling a set of random multiple choice
questions out of an introductory textbook.

(http://www.millersville.edu/~sgallagh/Publications/ptr2013.pdf)

They also found that there was a very high correlation between the MFAT
scores and SATs; we see the same thing among our students.

It would be useful to have national averages to compare to.

On Mon, Oct 13, 2014 at 12:29 PM, Keller, Lani C. Prof. via FUN_Mail <
fun_mail at lists.funfaculty.org> wrote:

> 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
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-- 
Louise M. Freeman, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology
Mary Baldwin College
Staunton, VA 24401
540-887-7326
FAX 540-887-7121