Tuesday, October 19, 2021

Grading for Proficiency | Book Club: The One World School House | TAPP 103


Can we create a course that ensures a student is proficient in all concept groups and not just in some? Where everyone who passes is at a B+ level of proficiency (or better)? In this episode, host Kevin Patton describes his experiment with what he calls proficiency grading. And we have new and appropriately controversial selection for The A&P Professor Book Club: The One World School House by Salman Khan.

00:00 | Introduction

00:56 | Book Club: The One World School House

13:30 | Sponsored by AAA

14:20 | Does Averaging Grades Measure Proficiency?

21:35| Sponsored by HAPI

22:20 | Importance of Foundation Concepts

29:46| Sponsored by HAPS

30:26 | Example of Proficiency Testing

38:47 | Staying Connected

 

★ If you cannot see or activate the audio player, go to: theAPprofessor.org/podcast-episode-103.html

🏅 Apply for your credential (badge/certificate) for listening to this episode: theAPprofessor.org/podcast-episode-103.html/#badge

❓ Please take the anonymous survey: theAPprofessor.org/survey

☝️ Questions & Feedback: 1-833-LION-DEN (1-833-546-6336)

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📰 Get the almost-daily TAPP Science & Education Updates theAPprofessor.org/updates

It is the connections among concepts—or the lack of connections—that separate the students who memorize a formula for an exam only to forget it the next month and the students who internalize the concepts and are able to apply them when they need them a decade later. (Salmon Khan)

 

Book Club: The One World School House

12.5 minutes

A new entry in The A&P Professor Book Club, this book by Salman Khan, developer of  Khan Academy, has been very influential for Kevin. Listen to some impressions of The One World School House: Education Reimagined in this segment, then read additional notes in The A&P Professor Book Club review.

Book Club for Anatomy & Physiology Professors

★ The One World School House book club description: my-ap.us/bookclub41

★ Bookstore description: geni.us/IgLjaXg

 

Sponsored by AAA

0.5 minutes

A searchable transcript for this episode, as well as the captioned audiogram of this episode, are sponsored by the American Association for Anatomy (AAA) at anatomy.org.

Searchable transcript

Captioned audiogram 

Don't forget—HAPS members get a deep discount on AAA membership!

AAA logo

 

Does Averaging Grades Measure Proficiency?

7 minutes

When we average our assignments and tests, or total their points, to arrive at a course grade, are we potentially glossing over deficits in learning? In this segment explores the idea that students may be incompetent in one or more groups of concepts and still get a B in our course. Might it be better to require a minimum score on all tests?

Quizzed About Tests | FAQs About Patton Test Strategies | TAPP 99

More Quizzing About Kevin’s Wacky Testing Scheme | Book Club | TAPP 100

Even MORE Test Answers | Normal Body Temperature? | TAPP 101

Online Testing Effectiveness Data | Turning My Gray Hair Brown | TAPP 102

 

Sponsored by HAPI Online Graduate Program

0.5 minute

The Master of Science in Human Anatomy & Physiology Instruction—the MS-HAPI—is a graduate program for A&P teachers, especially for those who already have a graduate/professional degree. A combination of science courses (enough to qualify you to teach at the college level) and courses in contemporary instructional practice, this program helps you be your best in both on-campus and remote teaching. Kevin Patton is a faculty member in this program at Northeast College of Health Sciences. Check it out!

northeastcollege.edu/hapi

Logo of Northeast College of Health Sciences, Human Anatomy & Physiology Instruction

 

Importance of Foundational Concepts

7.5 minutes

If a student performs under par on early course modules that require understanding foundational concepts, how can they be expected to succeed in later modules that require that foundational knowledge? Maybe that's not the best approach.

 

Sponsored by HAPS

0.5 minute

The Human Anatomy & Physiology Society (HAPS) is a sponsor of this podcast.  You can help appreciate their support by clicking the link below and checking out the many resources and benefits found there. Watch for virtual town hall meetings and upcoming regional meetings!

Anatomy & Physiology Society

theAPprofessor.org/haps

HAPS logo

 

Example of Proficiency Grading

8.5 minutes

Here, Kevin shares some experience from his Pre-A&P course—which uses proficiency grading. Each student must pass a module test with a B+ or better (85% score) before the next module is unlocked, eventually unlocking the final exam. All topics in the course must have a B+ score before students can pass this pass/fail course.

NOTE: The terms proficiency grading and mastery grading and related terms can each mean different things in different contexts. For the purpose of this episode, grading for proficiency means grading in a way that ensures that all essential objectives of a course are met at an acceptable level to pass that course. In other words, it's not possible to be deficient in any of the essential learning outcomes and still pass the course.

Success Supplements (recorded video seminar that discusses how Kevin's Pre-A&P course was developed)

★ Pre-A&P Foundations in Science (Kevin's course syllabus) lionden.com/fis.htm

 

If the hyperlinks here are not active, go to TAPPradio.org to find the episode page.

★ More details at the episode page: theAPprofessor.org/podcast-episode-103.html

★ Transcript available in the transcript box: theAPprofessor.org/podcast-episode-103.html

★ Need help accessing resources locked behind a paywall? Check out this advice from Episode 32 to get what you need! my-ap.us/paywall

Take The A&P Professor experience to the next level!

theAPprofessor.org/community

Earn cash by referring other A&P faculty to this podcast:

theAPprofessor.org/refer

Tools & Resources

★ TAPP Science & Education Updates: theAPprofessor.org/updates

★ Amazon: amzn.to/2r6Qa3J

★ Text Expander: theapprofessor.org/textexpander

★ Rev.com: try.rev.com/Cw2nZ

★ Snagit & Camtasia: techsmith.pxf.io/9MkPW

★ Krisp Free Noise-Cancelling App: theAPprofessor.org/krisp

★ JotForm (build forms for free): theAPprofessor.org/jotform

★ The A&P Professor Logo Items: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/the-a-p-professor

Sponsors

★ Transcript and captions for this episode are supported by the American Association for Anatomy | anatomy.org

★ The Human Anatomy & Physiology Society provides marketing support for this podcast | theAPprofessor.org/haps

★ Distribution of this episode is supported by the Northeast College of Health Sciences online graduate program in Human Anatomy & Physiology Instruction (HAPI) | northeast.edu/hapi

Clicking on sponsor links helps let them know you appreciate their support of this podcast!

Follow The A&P Professor on  Twitter, Facebook, Blogger, Revue, Tumblr, or Instagram @theAPprofessor

The A&P Professor® and Lion Den® are registered trademarks of Lion Den Inc. (Kevin Patton)

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I may be compensated for links to sponsors and certain other links.


Click here to listen to this episode—or access the detailed notes and transcript.

Tuesday, October 5, 2021

Online Testing Effectiveness Data | Turning My Gray Hair Brown | TAPP 102


Can you believe it? Even more questions about my wacky testing scheme are answered in this episode—this time regarding stats demonstrating effectiveness of these strategies. I also talk about gray hair turning brown, naturally, why we do NOT want our students to master A&P concepts, and why we want to become the hippocampus. One of the weirdest episodes yet!

00:00 | Introduction

00:42 | Growing in Kindness

10;02 | Sponsored by AAA

10:52 | We Are the Hippocampus

17:03| Sponsored by HAPI

17:46 | Turn My Gray Hair Brown

22:39 | Sponsored by HAPS

23:18 | Online Testing: Effectiveness Data

50:16 | Staying Connected

 

★ If you cannot see or activate the audio player, go to: theAPprofessor.org/podcast-episode-102.html

🏅 Apply for your credential (badge/certificate) for listening to this episode: theAPprofessor.org/podcast-episode-102.html/#badge

❓ Please take the anonymous survey: theAPprofessor.org/survey

☝️ Questions & Feedback: 1-833-LION-DEN (1-833-546-6336)

✔️ Follow The A&P Professor on Twitter, Facebook, Blogger, Revue, Tumblr, or Instagram! @theAPprofessor

📰 Get the almost-daily TAPP Science & Education Updates theAPprofessor.org/updates

If you need statistics to prove it, it isn't true. (anonymous professor)

 

Growing in Kindness

9.5 minutes

Following up on a theme about being sensitive and accurate in our terminology introduced in Episode 101, Kevin discusses wrestling with the term master and its derivatives such as mastery. This is part of his efforts at becoming a kinder, more compassionate, and more empathetic teacher.

Even MORE Test Answers | Normal Body Temperature? | TAPP 101

★ Racist Computer Engineering Words: ‘Master,’ ‘Slave’ and the Fight Over Offensive Terms - The New York Times (article about controversy surrounding potentially offensive terminology) my-ap.us/3laBH3c

★ Let’s dump master-slave terms: they’re vague, horrible, and we’re better off without them (article about the controversy that examines alternatives) my-ap.us/3Bdgk6O

 

Sponsored by AAA

0.5 minutes

A searchable transcript for this episode, as well as the captioned audiogram of this episode, are sponsored by the American Association for Anatomy (AAA) at anatomy.org.

Searchable transcript

Captioned audiogram 

Don't forget—HAPS members get a deep discount on AAA membership!

AAA logo

 

We Are the Hippocampus

6 minutes

New information about the functions of the hippocampus suggest that it helps us link together memories to form a kind of narrative in our minds. Likewise, the A&P instructor helps students connect together seemingly distant concepts into a coherent narrative. Let's be the hippocampus!

The Storytelling Special | Episode 48

★ Hippocampus Is the Brain’s Storyteller - Neuroscience News (summary of recent discovery) my-ap.us/3uD7MUx

★ The hippocampus constructs narrative memories across distant events: Current Biology (research article about the discovery) my-ap.us/3a80azK

 

Sponsored by HAPI Online Graduate Program

0.5 minute

The Master of Science in Human Anatomy & Physiology Instruction—the MS-HAPI—is a graduate program for A&P teachers, especially for those who already have a graduate/professional degree. A combination of science courses (enough to qualify you to teach at the college level) and courses in contemporary instructional practice, this program helps you be your best in both on-campus and remote teaching. Kevin Patton is a faculty member in this program at Northeast College of Health Sciences. Check it out!

northeastcollege.edu/hapi

Logo of Northeast College of Health Sciences, Human Anatomy & Physiology Instruction

 

Turn My Gray Hair Brown

3 minutes

We know all too well that our hairs can turn from their natural color to white, giving the overall appearance of patches of gray hair. We also know that stress can be cause of that transformation. New research shows that in some people, a period of non-stress can allow some white hairs to return to their natural color. What?!

Making Mistakes Teaching Anatomy & Physiology | Episode 63 (includes segment on how stress causes graying of hair)

★ Gray Hair Can Return to Its Original Color--and Stress Is Involved, of Course - Scientific American (feature article summarizing new information on hair gray-reversal) my-ap.us/3l9a9uW

★ Quantitative mapping of human hair greying and reversal in relation to life stress | eLife (research article outlining the discovery) my-ap.us/2YsQUE9

 

Sponsored by HAPS

0.5 minute

The Human Anatomy & Physiology Society (HAPS) is a sponsor of this podcast.  You can help appreciate their support by clicking the link below and checking out the many resources and benefits found there. Watch for virtual town hall meetings and upcoming regional meetings!

Anatomy & Physiology Society

theAPprofessor.org/haps

HAPS logo

 

Online Testing: Effectiveness Data

27 minutes

All kinds of practical tips on using randomized tests, why we (especially) need transparency when using them, making test items, formats, student-generated test items, and more.

Quizzed About Tests | FAQs About Patton Test Strategies | TAPP 99

More Quizzing About Kevin's Wacky Testing Scheme | Book Club | TAPP 100

Even MORE Test Answers | Normal Body Temperature? | TAPP 101

Testing as Teaching (seminar) theAPprofessor.org/testingasteaching 

★ ★ This is an updated & re-recorded version of the invited conference paper Testing as Teaching Co-Medical Anatomy: A Practical View (Anatomical Science International 79 p. 188) presented at the 16th International Conference of the IFAA (Kyoto, Japan) in 2002.

 

If the hyperlinks here are not active, go to TAPPradio.org to find the episode page.

★ More details at the episode page: theAPprofessor.org/podcast-episode-102.html

★ Transcript available in the transcript box: theAPprofessor.org/podcast-episode-102.html

★ Need help accessing resources locked behind a paywall? Check out this advice from Episode 32 to get what you need! my-ap.us/paywall

Take The A&P Professor experience to the next level!

theAPprofessor.org/community

Earn cash by referring other A&P faculty to this podcast:

theAPprofessor.org/refer

Tools & Resources

★ TAPP Science & Education Updates: theAPprofessor.org/updates

★ Amazon: amzn.to/2r6Qa3J

★ Text Expander: theapprofessor.org/textexpander

★ Rev.com: try.rev.com/Cw2nZ

★ Snagit & Camtasia: techsmith.pxf.io/9MkPW

★ Krisp Free Noise-Cancelling App: theAPprofessor.org/krisp

★ JotForm (build forms for free): theAPprofessor.org/jotform

★ The A&P Professor Logo Items: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/the-a-p-professor

Sponsors

★ Transcript and captions for this episode are supported by the American Association for Anatomy | anatomy.org

★ The Human Anatomy & Physiology Society provides marketing support for this podcast | theAPprofessor.org/haps

★ Distribution of this episode is supported by the Northeast College of Health Sciences online graduate program in Human Anatomy & Physiology Instruction (HAPI) | northeast.edu/hapi

Clicking on sponsor links helps let them know you appreciate their support of this podcast!

Follow The A&P Professor on  Twitter, Facebook, Blogger, Revue, Tumblr, or Instagram @theAPprofessor

The A&P Professor® and Lion Den® are registered trademarks of Lion Den Inc. (Kevin Patton)

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I may be compensated for links to sponsors and certain other links.


Click here to listen to this episode—or access the detailed notes and transcript.