Using Project EDDIE modules in DSL 200: Scientific Literacy

Alanna Lecher, Lynn University

This module will convince even the most anthropocentric student why they should care about environmental pollution. It's also a great way to show students a practical application of hypothesis testing.

Jump to: Course Context | Teaching Details | Student Outcomes

Relationship of EDDIE Module(s) to my Course

This is a survey class of examples of how science impacts society, with an emphasis on data analysis. This module was implemented as a synthesis after the science and environment and science and health modules. Students already had experience using Excel in the course, but not the types of analyses used in this module. I taught this module in my in-person and online courses, with success in both.

Teaching Details

What key suggestions would you give to a colleague before they used the activity in their teaching?
This module was designed for non-major students with a very low level, broad interpretation and analysis. For upper division or major students, I suggest changing the module to include a more nuanced approach.

How did you address challenges in teaching with the module?
The biggest issue I had was with students getting overwhelmed and just stopping work. I made sure to keep checking in with all the students to make sure they all kept making progress.

Student Outcomes

I saw a marked increase in students correctly using the word "significance" (which students tend to misuse when talking about data in this class) after this activity. So, students seem to have a better understanding of how just because a difference is seen on a graph, it doesn't mean that difference is meaningful.

Students got a lot faster at working with data in Excel after this module.