Meeting Abstract

P2.65  Saturday, Jan. 5  Assessing Communication Skills in an Introductory Science Research Class SPAIN, D.D.*; REED, K. D.; BUSELLI, M. ; Dominican University of California; Dominican University of California; Dominican University of California diara.spain@dominican.edu

College graduates should be able to communicate effectively, both written and verbally. This is especially important for graduates with a degree in science. As a result, it is important to teach undergraduate science students appropriate communication skills by incorporating relevant assignments into their classes. Our department has created a series of research based classes that students take over four semesters. We have modified the first class, which students take as second semester freshman, to include several short writing and oral presentation assignments. The expectation is that our students will learn important skills and improve their ability to successfully communicate their ideas. The project goal was to determine whether fostering in both topic areas has allowed them to improve their mastery of communication skills. We monitored the success of the assignments by administering a survey twice, at the start and the completion of the introductory course. We compiled data from the introductory class gathered over three semesters. The preliminary survey results are variable, there is a positive increase in several areas although in some areas there is no apparent change. For example, in the spring 2010 semester there was a 15% increase in the number of students giving the highest rating (5 on a 1-5 scale) to the importance of having good verbal communication skills. This result may have been from gaining experience in giving oral presentations and receiving constructive criticism and positive feedback. However, that same group of students answered another survey question on their confidence level in using written communication skills and showed no change in the highest rating category. In this case the assignments may not have been challenging to the students or their writing mastery may have been at a high level already.