“I however can not remember, if water is a chemical substance.” The challenge of teaching
science college courses
Teaching STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) courses at two- or four-year colleges has always been challenging. Even before COVID-19, many students arrived unprepared for freshman-level STEM courses. The reasons vary from individual to individual, but some common factors I identified for students in my Anatomy & Physiology (A&P) classes were:
I tried various approaches to increase learning and improve the success rates of my students over the years. Some worked, others didn’t. And every time I thought I had made progress, something came along – maybe a hurricane that closed the university for a couple of weeks in the middle of the semester, maybe a COVID pandemic – and I was back at square one.
- Inadequate foundational knowledge: Many students didn’t receive a strong foundation in STEM subjects during their earlier education, which made it challenging to grasp more advanced concepts at the college level. This lack of preparation is often due to shortcomings in their K-12 education.
- Insufficient preparation in high school: High school curriculum and teaching quality can vary widely, and students from schools with limited STEM resources or less rigorous courses are unprepared for the level of difficulty in college STEM courses. I had quite a few students tell me that they never had to study for high school science classes. One of our adjunct faculty was a Chiropractor by training but taught Marine biology as a high school teacher.
- Lack of motivation or interest: Surprisingly, students often didn’t seem to be genuinely interested in A&P, even though they wanted to embark on a career in the health professions. They didn’t put in the effort required to excel, and their lack of motivation led to a lack of preparation.
- Ineffective study habits: Too many students didn’t have effective study skills or time management techniques, making it difficult for them to keep up with the demanding coursework.
- Unrealistic expectations: Other students had unrealistic expectations about the ease of A&P or other science courses, assuming that they would be as straightforward as their high school classes. When they encountered more challenging material, they were unable to rise to the challenge.
- Transition to college life: The transition from high school to college can be challenging for many students. Adjusting to a new environment, increased independence, and a different academic structure can impact their readiness for all courses, including STEM ones.
- Anxiety or fear of failure: The perception of STEM courses as difficult or intimidating can lead to anxiety or fear of failure, which can, in turn, affect a student's preparedness and performance. In my case, students knew that they not only had to pass A&P classes but with the best grade possible to have a chance to get into access-restricted undergraduate (for example, Nursing) or graduate programs (for example, Physical Therapy). They could never really enjoy learning about their own body, all they were concerned with was the final grade.
- Misalignment between career goals and required coursework: Sometimes, students took my class because of external pressures or expectations rather than a genuine interest in the field. More than once, students told me that their parents expected them to follow in their footsteps. Often, they just had a lack of motivation to prepare adequately.
I tried various approaches to increase learning and improve the success rates of my students over the years. Some worked, others didn’t. And every time I thought I had made progress, something came along – maybe a hurricane that closed the university for a couple of weeks in the middle of the semester, maybe a COVID pandemic – and I was back at square one.
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One year, I gave students a chance to get points for incorrect answers if they could explain to me why they had chosen that particular answer option on a multiple-choice question. Here are the instructions to the students:
You can designate up to three (3) questions you are not sure about. If you got the question wrong on your test, you will still get the points for it. However, you have to give a reason for why you aren’t confident in your answer. You can write, “I can’t decide between A and C because….”. Writing “no idea” or “didn’t study the topic” does not count as a valid reason. If you don’t give me a good reason. you won’t get the points. I was hoping that by thinking about the answer options, students may slow down and choose the correct answer options. Additionally, I was hoping to get some insights into how students think and why they struggle with certain concepts. |
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At first, students liked the opportunity to earn more points, and most of them worked hard on explaining their reasoning for some questions. However, by the time exam 3 came around (we had four exams that year), most students didn’t bother anymore or gave short, unimaginative answers. Others started to draw on their tests, hoping to get extra points for that.
Here are some of the more confused and confusing or absolutely funny things I found on some of the exams. I don’t think you have to have a science degree to enjoy the illogicality of some answers. Enjoy!
I know that a 2 pH has to be very acidic or very basic because it is towards the bottom of the pH chart & things at 7 are neutral. I’m just confused on which way the chart goes. Either acid on top or basic on top! Ugh!
Positive feedback turns off while negative feedback turns on or initiates things. So like in pregnancy it is a negative feedback & I thought that blodd glucose was a negative feedback but then again in preg. it would be increasing the original stimuli?
This question seems very straight forward…. This just seems too obvious of a question and is messing with my head.
All of the answers were so similar.
I think HCO3- is an acid… I can’t remember if it is found in the liver or not though. Bicarbonate implies that it might have more than one carbon, though HCO3- does not… If it is an acid it should be a proton donor? Which might mean that if it is an acid A& C would be right? I can’t decide. I took a chance on it being in the liver.
When I took anatomy in high school my teacher made a strong correlation that “sweating in a pool is the same as peeing in it” because of the uric acid in sweat.
I however can not remember, if water is a chemical substance.
A and B are the two answers that confuse me because plasma is the fluid that makes up the blood and oxygen is always being transported, but protein is a lipid.
I cannot decide if mitosis is in charge of the male/female sex cells or the dividing and replicating process although Mi “my” make me I remember.
I can’t decide because I’m having a brain fart on which comes first the formation of thromboplastin or prothrombin becoming thrombin.
I am confused on whether it is the spleen or kidney that regulates ANP because when the hemoglobin spilts, the heme goes to wastes and the globin into protein.
7.35-7.45 and 7.75-7.85 just seem to be the same.
There is a difference if I am facing some one’s sternum and I am listening and if I personally am listening for my own valve. If listening on someone else then I am facing their sternum and I would listen at the second i Never mind
Not sure if corneum is a layer. I think it is what is shedded on the skin and how dogs track people.
I don’t know if cytosol is the protein that makes up the cytoplasm or if “C” water is correct because the cytoplasm is made of extracellular fluid which is water, so that means cytosol would be made mostly of water.
I don’t think hemoglobin (blood) is a protein, although it is found all through out the body, so I chose DNA.
Cytosol is a liquid membrane, made of many types of proteins, but also I believe water has a big part in making part of it too.
I am suck between DNA & glucose. Both are proteins but I am leaning towards DNA because people with diabetes lack glucose so it is not abundant in the body.
Here are some of the more confused and confusing or absolutely funny things I found on some of the exams. I don’t think you have to have a science degree to enjoy the illogicality of some answers. Enjoy!
I know that a 2 pH has to be very acidic or very basic because it is towards the bottom of the pH chart & things at 7 are neutral. I’m just confused on which way the chart goes. Either acid on top or basic on top! Ugh!
Positive feedback turns off while negative feedback turns on or initiates things. So like in pregnancy it is a negative feedback & I thought that blodd glucose was a negative feedback but then again in preg. it would be increasing the original stimuli?
This question seems very straight forward…. This just seems too obvious of a question and is messing with my head.
All of the answers were so similar.
I think HCO3- is an acid… I can’t remember if it is found in the liver or not though. Bicarbonate implies that it might have more than one carbon, though HCO3- does not… If it is an acid it should be a proton donor? Which might mean that if it is an acid A& C would be right? I can’t decide. I took a chance on it being in the liver.
When I took anatomy in high school my teacher made a strong correlation that “sweating in a pool is the same as peeing in it” because of the uric acid in sweat.
I however can not remember, if water is a chemical substance.
A and B are the two answers that confuse me because plasma is the fluid that makes up the blood and oxygen is always being transported, but protein is a lipid.
I cannot decide if mitosis is in charge of the male/female sex cells or the dividing and replicating process although Mi “my” make me I remember.
I can’t decide because I’m having a brain fart on which comes first the formation of thromboplastin or prothrombin becoming thrombin.
I am confused on whether it is the spleen or kidney that regulates ANP because when the hemoglobin spilts, the heme goes to wastes and the globin into protein.
7.35-7.45 and 7.75-7.85 just seem to be the same.
There is a difference if I am facing some one’s sternum and I am listening and if I personally am listening for my own valve. If listening on someone else then I am facing their sternum and I would listen at the second i Never mind
Not sure if corneum is a layer. I think it is what is shedded on the skin and how dogs track people.
I don’t know if cytosol is the protein that makes up the cytoplasm or if “C” water is correct because the cytoplasm is made of extracellular fluid which is water, so that means cytosol would be made mostly of water.
I don’t think hemoglobin (blood) is a protein, although it is found all through out the body, so I chose DNA.
Cytosol is a liquid membrane, made of many types of proteins, but also I believe water has a big part in making part of it too.
I am suck between DNA & glucose. Both are proteins but I am leaning towards DNA because people with diabetes lack glucose so it is not abundant in the body.
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