Harvesting the Sun's Energy, Learning by Doing: Increasing Undergraduate Students' Confidence, Motivation, and Knowledge Gains

• In Event: 18.073 - Poster Session 3
  In Poster Session: 18.073-8 - Harvesting the Sun's Energy, Learning by Doing: Increasing Undergraduate Students' Confidence, Motivation, and Knowledge Gains

Abstract

In 2015, science students in Jamaica lagged behind some of their Caribbean counterparts with critical double-digit dips in the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) results. These results extended to the higher education level as illustrated by the high failure rates among undergraduate university students in the sciences. This study addresses some of the issues by examining a critical component of the higher education science curriculum, the laboratory research experience. The study examines the extent to which hands-on laboratory research experiences enhance the motivation, confidence and knowledge levels of Caribbean undergraduate science students. In particular the study developed a best practices model for teaching and learning the sciences at the first-year undergraduate level.

Authors

• Saran Stewart, The University of the West Indies - Mona Campus

• Nickeisha A Stephenson, University of the West Indies