Putting an Emphasis on Research in the Curriculum: A year-long capstone research course serves as the

keystone for the neuroscience minor program at Hope College

Leah A. Chase and Christopher C. Barney

Developed in 2005 Initiative of the Biology, Chemistry and

Psychology Departments Original funding from HHMI and the Towsley

Scholar program at Hope College Graduate between 10-12 students/year

Neuroscience Minor program

Who are our students? Declared Majors of Neuroscience Students (2007-2013)

psychology49%

biology20%

chemistry15%

other17%

Other majors include• 2 English• 2 math• 1 biochemistry/molecular

biology (new major in 2012)• 1 biomedical engineering• 1 kinesiology• 1 music• 1 philosophy• 1 physics• 1 political science• 1 nursing• 1 religion• 1 social work

 72 total students with 10 students completing double majors

Number of

Alumni Current Position/Job Title

23Graduate programs [Neuroscience (7), Clinical Psych (5), Cognitive Psychology (3), Biomedical sciences (4), Biostatistics (1), Public Health (2)]

8 Medical School or in Residency programs2 High School Teachers (teach AP Psych)2 Physician Assistants3 Research Technicians/Research coordinators1 Lead Pharmacy Tech1 Account Manager1 Social Worker1 RN Emergency Room2 Unemployed44 Total

Who are our students? Post-graduation destinations of minors (2007-2013)

Program Objectives: Students will obtain an understanding of the fundamental principles of

neuroscience. Students will obtain an appreciation/understanding of the multidisciplinary

aspect of neuroscience.   Students will be able to develop hypotheses, design experiments, carry out

these experiments and interpret data for a question related to a neuroscience problem.

Students will discuss ethical issues related to scientific research.  Students will be able to access, read and gain insight from reading the primary

neuroscience literature.

Neuroscience Minor Program Original Curriculum

Introduction to Neuroscience(4 credits)

Advanced Neuroscience Research I (2 credits)

Advanced Neuroscience Research II (1 credit)

3 Neuroscience-Flagged courses(12 credits)

Journal Club Taken 2 times(1 credit)

Neuroscience Research I (1 hour class discussion, 3 hours lab/week) Identify research question Write NSF-style research

proposal Peer review Complete at least 75% of the

experiments Research group meetings

Neuroscience Capstone Course

Student Assessment

Class participation 50 points Weekly lab assignments/data reports (20 points each) 280 points Final NSF-style proposal 120 points Total 450 points

Neuroscience Research II (1 hours class discussion/week) Complete experiments Prepare and present poster at

Hope College Annual Celebration of Research and Performance

Research group meetings Write manuscript summarizing

results for appropriate journal

Neuroscience Capstone Course

Student Assessment

Class participation 100 points Final Research paper 100 points Total 200 points

Student Assessed Learning Gains

SALG ResultsStatements in which there was a significant increase (p<0.05)

Statement Mean (Pre)

Mean (Post)

p value

Make an argument using scientific evidence from more than one discipline

3.750 4.750 0.007

Determine what is—and is not—valid scientific evidence in an area that is not my major

3.375 4.125 0.048

Understand the role of uncertainty in scientific data

4.375 4.875 0.033

Find scientific articles from several disciplines using library/internet databases

4.000 4.750 0.048

Pose questions in one discipline that can be addressed by collecting and evaluating scientific evidence

4.375 5.000 0.011

Pose questions from more than one disciplinary perspective that can be addressed by collecting and evaluating scientific evidence

3.500 4.375 0.021

Communicate my research results to students not in my major(s)

3.571 4.571 0.018

SALG ResultsStatements in which there was a significant increase (p<0.05)

Statement Mean (pre)

Mean (post)

p-value

I have the factual knowledge to be successful at neuroscience research

3.750 4.250 0.033

I know the experimental techniques I need to know to be successful at neuroscience research.

3.125 4.250 0.002

I am interested in a career as a research neuroscientist

2.250 3.250 0.018

Neuroscience research is primarily something that is done by neuroscientists working alone.

1.750 1.250 0.033

I am able to make decisions and recommendations based on neuroscience research even though there is uncertainty about the data/information

3.125 4.000 0.006

I am confident in my ability to prepare and make presentations about neuroscience research I have performed

3.875 4.625 0.048

I am confident in my ability to prepare a neuroscience research grant proposal.

I am confident in my ability to communicate the results of my neuroscience research in a written report suitable for publication in a neuroscience journal.

I am confident in my ability to work productively and collegially with other individuals as part of a neuroscience research team.

However….students were not demonstrating significant gains in some fundamental research skills

Course sequence/continuity with journal club

Insufficient weekly discussion time◦ Literature ◦ Mechanics of writing

Workload/credit inequality Instructor concerns

◦ Quality of writing◦ No peer review◦ Need to incorporate multiple drafts

Other concerns about the course

Modifications to Neuroscience Minor Curriculum

Introduction to Neuroscience(4 credits)

Advanced Neuroscience Research I (4 credits)

Advanced Neuroscience Research II (3 credits)

3 Neuroscience-Flagged courses(12 credits)

Introduction to Neuroscience(4 credits)

Advanced Neuroscience Research I (2 credits)

Advanced Neuroscience Research II (1 credit)

3 Neuroscience-Flagged courses(12 credits)

Journal Club Taken 2 times(1 credit)

NEW

OLD

Neuroscience Research I (3 hours class discussion, 3 hours lab/week)

Identify research question Read literature

◦ 10 written summaries of journal articles (posted to Moodle)

◦ 1 presentation Write NSF-style research proposal Peer review Write IACUC proposal if required Complete at least 75% of the

experiments Research group meetings

Modified Neuroscience Capstone Course

Student Assessment

Journal Article Summaries 100 pointsJournal Article Presentation 50 pointsWeekly data entry 30 pointsClass participation 50 points Lab notebook 40 points Data analysis and data reports 50 points Research proposal drafts 120 points Peer review feedback 80 points Final NSF-style proposal 200 points Total 720 points

Neuroscience Research II (3 hours class discussion/week)

Complete experiments Research group meetings Data presentations Prepare and present poster at Hope

College Annual Celebration of Research and Performance

Read literature Write manuscript summarizing

results for appropriate journal

Neuroscience Capstone Course

Student AssessmentJournal Article Discussion 100 pointsWeekly data entry 50 pointsData analysis and data reports 50 points Research paper drafts 120 points Peer review feedback 80 points Final Research paper 200 points Total 500 points

• Developed by David Lopatto and Leslie Jaworski• Pre-course/Post-course survey• Assess learning gains from experiential learning

(research) in interdisciplinary courses• 13 students completed the survey (pre:

September, 2013, post: May, 2014)• Compared to 1574 students nationally completing

the survey (Jan., 2010-May, 2014)

Assessed Learning Gains using the RISC Survey

RISC Assessment: Hope Neuroscience minors have similar pre-course scores

RISC Assessment: Minors now show gains in writing and collaborative research skills

RISC Assessment: Minors now show gains in writing and collaborative research skills

RISC: Learning gains of neuroscience minors relative to SURE

**

******

** > 1.0 S.D.

Integrated full-year capstone experiences may lead to student gains which are comparable to, and in some instances greater than, summer research experiences

Must be intentional about development of writing skills◦ Need to improve peer-review skills

Research capstone courses may be a mechanism to involve more students in undergraduate research during the academic year, but it is costly in respect to faculty time (9 contact hours/year)

Mechanism for faculty to pilot research projects Occasionally result in student/faculty publications and

presentations

Summary/Final thoughts

Joanne Stewart (SALG) David Lopatto/Leslie Jaworski (RISC) HHMI Hope College Neuroscience Program Dr. John Shaughnessy

Acknowledgements