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To help evaluate clickers as a possible alternative to scantron “bubble sheet” assessments, DoIT partnered with Dr. Tamara Mendelson in BIOL 142 “Foundations of Biology: Ecology and Evolution” to conduct a five-week pilot of the Triton Data Collection System (DCS) by Turning Technologies. Mendelson and her teaching assistants from all four sections of the 295-student course will share their experiences during an informal brown bag lunch on Friday, November 22, at noon. A box lunch will be provided for registered participants.
The goal of the pilot was to see if and how students might accept clickers as an alternative to Scantrons when given a choice between the two. During the first two weeks of the pilot that began just after the 10th day of classes this semester, students were only given Scantron bubble sheets for their weekly discussion section quizzes led by one of Dr. Mendelson’s TAs: Archer Larned, Michael Martin, Karan Odom and Tracy Smith. In the next two weeks, TAs asked students to only use the Triton DCS clickers. In the fifth and final week, students were given a choice between the two methods. The results? Overall, 88 percent of students chose the Triton DCS clickers over Scantrons, though individual sections ranged from a low of 81 percent to a high of 95 percent. Individual student comments included the following:
“clickers are easier to use than scantrons, clickers are a better quiz method”;
“I would like to continue using clickers because it is much more faster since we do not have to fill in a bunch of bubbles or waste paper. It is more fun!”;
“clickers are easy and efficient”;
“I would like to continue using clickers because once you get used to them they are very easy”.
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]]>The U.S. Census Bureau cordially invites you to the U.S. Federal Statistical Agencies Fall Outreach Symposium. The symposium will feature sessions on Statistics for Journalists and Statistics in the New Media Era. We believe it will be a great opportunity for your students to learn about the extensive statistics from the federal government. These statistics are widely used by communications professionals in journalism and public relations. Presenters will discuss the official statistics produced by their agencies:November 14, 10:00 to 12:00: Statistics for Journalists, Bureau of Labor Statistics Conference CenterJournalism students and reporters from broadcast, print and online media outlets will find this session helpful to their understanding of lesser-known federal statistical agencies, official statistics produced by these agencies, and how they can access and use official statistics, studies and analyses in their reporting. Presenters will include representatives of the Economic Research Service, National Center for Education Statistics, Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, and National Center for Health Statistics.November 14, 1:00 to 3:00: Statistics in the New Media Era, Bureau of Labor Statistics Conference Center
This two-hour session focuses on digital and new media; in particular on some of the new media covered in the President’s Digital Strategy such as API’s, apps, infographics and other data visualizations. Agencies will share examples of how they are adapting new technology and how this helped them give the public easier access to data.There is no registration fee for the symposium. However, advance registration is required to ensure access to the BLS Conference Center. A detailed list of ALL presentations can be found in the attachment included on this news post.
To register, send an email to Wendy Martinez at martinez.wendy@bls.gov with “Symposium” in the subject line and include the attendees full name, a list of the session(s) attendee plans to attend, and any special needs, e.g., handicap access. For more information, see the press release.
The United States Fish and Wildlife Services has recently showed ongoing support to Dr. Bernard Lohr for the development of behavioral methodologies for saving the Florida Grasshopper Sparrow from extinction. The support comes in the form of a grant awarded to Lohr’s lab to facilitate the investigation of breeding a local close relative of the Florida sparrows in captivity in the hope that they will produce viable offspring that can eventually be re-introduced into the wild. Currently there are fewer than 200 Grasshopper Sparrows left in their Florida habitat, categorizing them as “critically endangered.” Graduate students, Sarah Luttrell and Archer Larned, are working alongside Lohr both in the lab and in the field to discover the optimal conditions under which the sparrows breed and rear their offspring. Results from the studies conducted in Lohr’s lab will be conveyed to scientists in Florida to assist with ongoing conservation efforts there. Lohr’s interest in auditory sensory ecology originally sparked his curiosity about the Florida Sparrow seeing as they are one of the few breeds of small song birds that can hear at high pitched frequencies. “It turns out it’s one of those things where the answers you get raise more questions, and more questions, that turn out to be fascinating in and off themselves,” said Lohr of his work with the birds. The dedication of over 20 years of his life to working with birds has not only led Lohr to being on the path to bringing back a vital species from near extinction, but has also granted him the honor of being made an elective member of the American Ornithologist’s Union.
By: Caitlin Kowalewski
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