title: Variation in external representations as part of the classroom lecture:An investigation of virtual cell animations in introductory photosynthesis instruction.
abstract: The use of external representations (ERs) to introduce concepts in undergraduate biology has become increasingly common. Two of the most prevalent are static images and dynamic animations. While previous studies comparing static images and dynamic animations have resulted in somewhat conflicting findings in regards to learning outcomes, the benefits of each have been shown individually. Using ERs developed by the Virtual Cell Animation project, we aim to further investigate student learning using different ERs as part of an introductory biology lecture. We focus our study on the topic of photosynthesis as reports have noted that students struggle with a number of basic photosynthesis concepts. Students (n = 167) in ten sections of introductory biology laboratory were introduced to photosynthesis concepts by instructional lectures differing only in the format of the embedded ERs. Normalized gain scores were calculated, showing that students who learned with dynamic animations outperformed students who learned from static images on the posttest. The results of this study provide possible instructional guidelines for those delivering photosynthesis instruction in the introductory biology classroom. © 2016 by The International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 45(3):226-234, 2017.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, 29208.
authors.forename: Eric E
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5427-4782
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Goff
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota, 58102.
authors.forename: Katie M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Reindl
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota, 58102.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota, 58102.
authors.forename: Phillip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McClean
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota, 58102.|Biol Sciences, NDSU and School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164.
authors.forename: Erika G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Offerdahl
authors.affiliation: Department of Leadership Studies in Education and Organizations, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio, 45435.
authors.forename: Noah L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Schroeder
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, 29208.
authors.forename: Alan R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D001296:Audiovisual Aids; D002468:Cell Physiological Phenomena; D003196:Computer Graphics; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008967:Molecular Biology / Q000193:education*; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D013334:Students
keywords: Animation; external representations; introductory biology; photosynthesis