Assessment Report
Spring 2013
Course: Bi-202: General Biology 2
Department: Biological Sciences and Geology
Urszula Golebiewska
Assessed Course Objective:
Students will describe how form and function are related in a representative vertebrate, the fetal
pig.
Assessed Course Learning Outcomes:
Students:
a. discussed in groups and represent their opinion to the class on two topics: why fetal pigs
are use in laboratories and where are these fetal pigs coming from
b. measured their specimen and determined its age
c. worked in pairs to dissect fetal pig using proper dissecting tools
d. drew their specimens and correctly label the external anatomy
e. drew diagrams of dissected organ systems
f. hypothesized about the function of each organ and organ system
g. created a chart comparing structure and function of organ systems
h. compared the pig anatomy to human anatomy
i. dissected the pig heart and compared it to the human hear model
j. described how the blood flows through the heart
Educational Objectives Addressed by this learning outcome:
1. communicate effectively through reading, writing, listening and speaking
2. use analytical reasoning to identify issues or problems and evaluate evidence in order to
make informed decisions reason quantitatively and mathematically as required in their
fields of interest and in everyday life
3. use information management and technology skills effectively for academic research and
lifelong learning
6. differentiate and make informed decisions about issues based on multiple value systems
7. work collaboratively in diverse groups directed at accomplishing learning objectives
9. employ concepts and methods of the natural and physical sciences to make informed
judgments
Methods of Assessment
Students were assessed based on their performance in the laboratory, discussion, quality of the
dissection, drawings and correct labeling, and dissection report.
A new worksheet was developed and students were required to complete it during weeks 12 &
13 (see attachment).
Following rubric was used to assess the learning outcomes.
Determination
of the age of the
fetal pig
Not adequate
Explanations do
not show
thinking about
benefits and
ethical issues
Age guessed or
incorrectly
determined
Proper use of
dissecting tools
and proper
performance of
dissections
Tools used not
appropriately
specimen
dissected with
major errors
Group work
Work not
performed in
collaboration
not all assigned
tasks completed
Drawings of the
dissected
specimen
Drawings and
labels are not
clear and
accurate
Drawings of the
organ systems
with the
emphasis on
cardiovascular
and respiratory
systems
Drawings are
not clear and
accurate and
explanations of
functions are
mostly missing
or incorrect
Drawings are
clear and
mostly accurate
and some
explanations of
functions
missing or
incorrect
Drawings are
clear and mostly
accurate and
explanations of
functions have
some mistakes
Dissection of
the heart and
description of
the blood flow
Dissection
performed with
major mistakes,
drawing not
clear or not
correctly
labeled; the
blood flow
through the
Dissection
performed with
small mistakes,
drawing clear
and labeled
with some
errors; the
blood flow
through the
Dissection
performed
mostly correctly,
drawing clear
and labeled with
small mistakes;
the blood flow
through the heart
described with
Discussion of
use of fetal pigs
as dissection
model
Adequate
Explanations
show some
thinking about
benefits and
ethical issues
Age correctly
determined
from the size of
the fetal pig and
not well
explained
Tools used
mostly
appropriately
specimen
dissected
mostly
according to the
protocol
Work
performed in
collaboration
some of
assigned tasks
completed
Drawings are
readable and
many structures
are labeled
correctly
Good
Explanations
show some
thinking about
benefits and
ethical issues
Age correctly
determined from
the size of the
fetal pig and not
fully explained
Very Good
Explanations
show thinking
about benefits
and ethical
issues
Age correctly
determined
from the size of
the fetal pig and
explained
Excellent
Explanations show
deep thinking about
benefits and ethical
issues
Tools used
appropriately
specimen
dissected
according to the
protocol with
some errors and
mistakes
Work performed
in collaboration
all assigned tasks
completed with
some help from
the group
Drawings are
clear and most of
the structures
labeled correctly
and neatly
Tools used
appropriately
specimen
dissected
according to the
protocol with
minor errors
Tools used
appropriately
specimen dissected
according to the
protocol
Work
performed in
collaboration
most of
assigned tasks
completed
Drawings are
clear and nearly
all structures
labeled
correctly and
neatly
Drawings are
clear and
mostly accurate
and
explanations of
functions are
mostly correct
Work performed in
collaboration all
assigned tasks
completed
Dissection
performed
correctly,
drawing clear
and labeled
with minor
mistakes; the
blood flow
through the
Dissection
performed
correctly, drawing
clear and correctly
labeled; the blood
flow through the
heart described
perfectly
Age correctly
determined from
the size of the fetal
pig and fully
explained
Drawings are clear
and all structures
labeled correctly
and neatly
Drawings are clear
and accurate and
explanations of
functions are
correct
heart described
incorrectly
heart described
mainly
correctly
minor mistakes
heart described
well
Results
Students attending all of the lab sessions during Spring 2013 participated in the assessment. 105 worksheets from 6 sections were collected and graded by the same faculty member. The following results were obtained. Discussion of use of fetal pigs as dissection model
Determination of the age of the fetal pig
Proper use of dissecting tools and proper performance
of dissections
Group work
Drawings of the dissected specimen
Drawings of the organ systems with the emphasis on
cardiovascular and respiratory systems
Dissection of the heart and description of the blood
flow
Not
Adequate
Adequate
8%
7%
1%
4%
Good
Very
Good
Excellent
3% 8% 16% 4% 72%
78%
6% 88%
94%
53%
7%
7%
11% 6% 6% 22% 5%
8%
13% 15% 59%
2%
5%
11% 22% 60%
Students enjoyed the assignment. Most of them put an effort into the activities.
Students demonstrated an understanding of the structure of the heart and the blood flow in the
mammalian cardiovascular system. Only 2% of the students did not perform adequately. The
main difficulty was keeping track of the names of vessels in the pulmonary system. Stressing the
proper naming of the blood vessels would reinforce the learning (several students made simple
mistakes confusing pulmonary veins with pulmonary arteries).
Students demonstrated ability to draw the diagrams of the organ systems. Only 5% of the
students did not score adequate or above. Some of the diagrams were oversimplified and some
were not properly labeled. Stressing the need to pay attention to the details would be beneficial.
Students demonstrated the ability to draw the dissected specimen. Only 7% of the students did
not score adequate or above. The main problem was with proper labeling of the body parts. Some
students pasted drawing cut from the lab book. Perhaps the instructions were not clear enough.
All students worked in groups very well and could properly use the dissection tools.
Most of the students could properly measure the specimen and based on the measurement
determine its age. Only 7% of the students did not score adequate or above. Some of the students
had difficulties with keeping the track of the units (for example using inches instead of
millimeters or incorrectly converting cm to mm). Quick reminder of the unit systems would
solve the problem.
Students discussed the reasons for using fetal pigs in the lab and the source of them. Only 8% of
the students did not score adequate or above. The students either neglected to answer the
question or did not provide full answer.
Students were already comfortable working in groups. They previously performed dissections of
various organisms and were familiar with proper use of tools. The assessment was performed at
the end of semester and students were very familiar with the laboratory procedures.
Number of students performing Excellent and Very Good exceeded expectations.
We expected that all of the students will achieve at least adequate in all of the activities. The few
students who scored not adequate in many cases just missed a question. In the future the need to
be detail oriented will be stressed.
Final Considerations
All faculty involved in the assessment engaged in discussion of the results via e-mail. Everybody
agreed that students engaged in the assignment and put an effort. The results showed that
students are learning how form and function are related in a representative vertebrate, the fetal
pig. The assignment engaged students and possibly will be implemented as one of the lab
activities.