How should course-based research be graded?
CRE instructors describe assessment models that prioritise being a scientist, procedural knowledge, or project ownership rather than only skill checklists.
Source
Models of Classroom Assessment for Course-Based Research Experiences
What they did
Researchers surveyed SEA course-based research experience instructors about assessment familiarity, self-efficacy, aims, and practices, then refined three assessment models with instructor cohorts in workshop and validation sessions.
What they found
Instructors reported high familiarity with many assessment approaches and articulated distinct models: assessing being a scientist and generating data; assessing procedural knowledge; and assessing facilitation of project ownership. The models are meant to align grading with authentic CRE goals rather than only externalised skill inventories.
The limits
What it doesn't show
Faculty self-reports do not measure student learning gains under each model. The SEA network sample may not represent all CRE programmes, and community-checking sessions lacked demographic data.
Key terms
- Course-based research experience (CRE)
- A course format in which students conduct authentic scientific research as part of classwork.
- Constructive alignment
- Designing assessment so it reflects and supports the instructional objectives of the course.
- Procedural knowledge
- Know-how for carrying out scientific procedures and techniques correctly.
- Project ownership
- Students' sense of responsibility and agency over an authentic research project.
- SEA program
- A large multi-institution course-based research programme providing the instructor sample.
Flashcards
Want these cards to stick?
Save the deck to NoteFren and study it with spaced repetition.
Quiz yourself
How many SEA instructors were surveyed (invited)?
Common questions
How many instructors were invited to the survey?
330 SEA instructors.
How many provided full survey answers?
72 of 105 respondents.
How many assessment models were developed?
Three models.
What is the core alignment concern?
Assessment should support CRE goals, not undermine students' identities as researchers.
More on Assessment