title: The Colorado Learning Attitudes about Science Survey (CLASS) for use in Biology.
abstract: This paper describes a newly adapted instrument for measuring novice-to-expert-like perceptions about biology: the Colorado Learning Attitudes about Science Survey for Biology (CLASS-Bio). Consisting of 31 Likert-scale statements, CLASS-Bio probes a range of perceptions that vary between experts and novices, including enjoyment of the discipline, propensity to make connections to the real world, recognition of conceptual connections underlying knowledge, and problem-solving strategies. CLASS-Bio has been tested for response validity with both undergraduate students and experts (biology PhDs), allowing student responses to be directly compared with a consensus expert response. Use of CLASS-Bio to date suggests that introductory biology courses have the same challenges as introductory physics and chemistry courses: namely, students shift toward more novice-like perceptions following instruction. However, students in upper-division biology courses do not show the same novice-like shifts. CLASS-Bio can also be paired with other assessments to: 1) examine how student perceptions impact learning and conceptual understanding of biology, and 2) assess and evaluate how pedagogical techniques help students develop both expertise in problem solving and an expert-like appreciation of the nature of biology.
authors: Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA.
authors: Katharine
authors: K
authors: Semsar
authors: Jennifer K
authors: JK
authors: Knight
authors: Gülnur
authors: G
authors: Birol
authors: Michelle K
authors: MK
authors: Smith
mesh_terms: D001290:Attitude; D001695:Biology / Q000193:education* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003120:Colorado; D003479:Curriculum / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003625:Data Collection / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D007858:Learning; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012586:Science / Q000193:education* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*