Science In Motion / Advancing Science
Results of High School Assessment
1996-1997 Juniata College Science In Motion
Students at Science In Motion schools scored significantly higher on posttests
than did students in non-SIM schools. Score improvements between pre and
posttests were significantly greater for SIM schools than non-SIM schools
(Anderson 1998).
First year biology students
First year chemistry students
20
30
18
16
Correct responses
Correct responses
25
20
15
10
14
12
10
8
6
4
5
2
0
0
Pretest
Pretest
Postest
First year
chemistry students
Questions answered correctly
Control
Postest
SIM
30 Science In Motion / Advancing Science Consortium
2003
Posttests
were administered by eight consortium sites for chemistry, and five
25
for biology to both SIM/AS schools and control schools. Scores were
20
significantly
higher for SIM/AS schools than control schools for both biology
and chemistry. This is despite the fact that some of the consortium sites had
15 established as recently as 2002.
been
10
2003 post test results
5
0
18
16
14
Pretest
Postest
12
Control
10
8
SIM
6
4
2
0
Biology
Chemistry
Laboratory assessments
Individual laboratory modules have also been assessed to evaluate their
effectiveness. Testing from 2003-2004 from five different consortium sites in
Chemistry
chemistry and biology suggest that
the labs are effectively teaching chemistry
and biology concepts.
100
Biology
Chemistry
80
120
90
80
% score
70
60
50
60
100
40
80
% score
% score
100
20
40
60
40
30
0
20
1
10
2
3
4
5
6
7
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
20
8
9
Class
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
0
1
3
5
7
9
11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29
Class
Class
Pretest
Posttest
A subset of the results was also separated by type of class (Chemistry I,
Chemistry II, Applied Chemistry, and Physics II). These results indicate that
scores improved after the gas chromatograph laboratory exercise regardless of
the type of class. Of particular note is the significant increase in scores of the
Applied Chemistry class.
5
4.5
Average score
4
3.5
3
Pretest
2.5
Posttest
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
All
schools
Chem I
Chem II
Applied Physics II
Chem
Results from a subset of biology Science
Chemistry In Motion data also suggests that
students in an English as a Second Language class improved their scores
significantly after 100
a DNA fingerprinting lab.
Number of Students
100
80
ESL Student Group
60
Number of Students
% score
80 All data
40
60
20
40
20
0
0
0%
20%
25
20
15
10
5
0
1
40%
2
3
60%
Percent Correct
4
5
80%
6
7
100%
8
9
10 110%12 1320%14 1540%16
Class
Pretest
Posttest
60%
Percent Correct
80%
100%