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Student Performance in a Multimedia Case-Study Environment

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Abstract

Does an online, multimedia case study influence students’ performance, motivation, and perceptions of science in collegiate level biology classes, and if so, how? One hundred and eight students in 5 classes from 4 campuses in the United States and Puerto Rico participated in data collection (performance tests, surveys and focus group interviews). Pre- and post-test results increased after students participated in the learning environment (F(1, 80) = 17.256, p ≤ 0.01, η2 = 0.177). Student confidence in their knowledge also increased. During focus group interviews students reported that the project was a good learning experience (95 %), would help with future classes or careers (87 %), and stimulated student curiosity by demonstrating the application of theoretical knowledge in real-world situations (64 %). The learning environment motivated students by making material relevant, which resulted in better performance. This pedagogical tool is not instructor dependent, and is adaptable.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank and acknowledge the work of Chi-Cheng Lin, professor of computer science at Winona State University, in developing the software used in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 13 Natural Resources Building, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA

    Bjørn H. K. Wolter

  2. Department of Biology, University of Wisconsin-River Falls, Ag Science Building, River Falls, WI, 54022, USA

    Mary A. Lundeberg, Mark Bergland & Karen Klyczek

  3. School of Medical Technology, Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico-Metropolitan, San Juan, PR, 00919, USA

    Rafael Tosado

  4. Department of Biology, Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico-San Germán, San Germán, PR, 00683, USA

    Arlin Toro

  5. Department of Biology, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC, 27411, USA

    C. Dinitra White

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  1. Bjørn H. K. Wolter
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Correspondence to Bjørn H. K. Wolter.

Additional information

This work is based on the doctoral dissertation “The influence of alternative pedagogical methods in postsecondary biology education: How do students experience a multimedia case-study environment?” by Bjørn H. K. Wolter.

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Wolter, B.H.K., Lundeberg, M.A., Bergland, M. et al. Student Performance in a Multimedia Case-Study Environment. J Sci Educ Technol 22, 215–225 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10956-012-9387-7

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