20100608

Education research: ALLS post-instruction opinion results (Cuesta College, Spring Semester 2010)

Student attitudes are assessed using an Astronomy Laboratory Learning Survey (ALLS), a five-point Likert scale questionnaire with demographic questions, and entry/exit evaluation questions (Patrick M. Len, in development) to Astronomy 210L students at Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA. This laboratory course is a one-semester, adjunct course to Astronomy 210 lecture, and is taken primarily by students to satisfy their general education science laboratory transfer requirement.

The ALLS is administered as a pre-test on the first laboratory meeting, before any introduction/instruction took place; and as a post-test on the last laboratory meeting.

The results from the post-test opinion questions follow below. Values for the mean and standard deviations are given next to the modal response category for each question.
Cuesta College
Astronomy Laboratory Learning Survey (ALLS)
Post-instruction opinion results
Astronomy 210L Spring Semester 2010 sections 30678, 30679, 30680, 30682

16. Astronomy lab was (or would have been) helpful for learning in lecture.
1. Strongly disagree 3 : ***
2. Disagree 3 : ***
3. Neutral 8 : ********
4. Agree 36 : ************************************ [3.9 +/- 1.0]
5. Strongly agree 17 : ************

17. I understand more about astronomy concepts because of what I learned in lab.
1. Strongly disagree 0 :
2. Disagree 1 : *
3. Neutral 6 : ******
4. Agree 42 : ****************************************** [4.1 +/- 0.6]
5. Strongly agree 18 : ******************

18. Astronomy lab was an enjoyable experience.
1. Strongly disagree 0 :
2. Disagree 3 : ***
3. Neutral 3 : ***
4. Agree 32 : ******************************** [4.3 +/- 0.8]
5. Strongly agree 29 : *****************************

19. Math used in astronomy lab was difficult.
1. Strongly disagree 5 : *****
2. Disagree 19 : *******************
3. Neutral 22 : ********************** [2.9 +/- 1.0]
4. Agree 17 : *****************
5. Strongly agree 4 : ****

20. It was hard to understand concepts in astronomy lab.
1. Strongly disagree 5 : *****
2. Disagree 24 : ************************
3. Neutral 27 : *************************** [2.7 +/- 0.9]
4. Agree 8 : ********
5. Strongly agree 3 : ***

21. This course helped me see how astronomy is related to other sciences such as
geology, physics, and chemistry.
1. Strongly disagree 0 :
2. Disagree 3 : ***
3. Neutral 8 : ********
4. Agree 45 : ********************************************* [4.0 +/- 0.7]
5. Strongly agree 11 : ***********

22. I asked a lot of questions in astronomy lab.
1. Strongly disagree 4 : ****
2. Disagree 15 : ***************
3. Neutral 28 : **************************** [3.1 +/- 1.0]
4. Agree 13 : *************
5. Strongly agree 7 : *******

23. I generally understood what was needed to be done in astronomy lab.
1. Strongly disagree 0 :
2. Disagree 3 : ***
3. Neutral 6 : ******
4. Agree 48 : ************************************************ [4.0 +/- 0.7]
5. Strongly agree 10 : **********

24. My work in astronomy lab was graded fairly.
1. Strongly disagree 0 :
2. Disagree 1 : *
3. Neutral 1 : *
4. Agree 34 : ********************************** [4.4 +/- 0.6]
5. Strongly agree 31 : *******************************

25. I did a lot of explaining to other students in astronomy lab.
1. Strongly disagree 2 : **
2. Disagree 5 : *****
3. Neutral 28 : **************************** [3.4 +/- 0.9]
4. Agree 27 : ***************************
5. Strongly agree 5 : *****

26. I was generally confused about what was going on in astronomy lab.
1. Strongly disagree 5 : *****
2. Disagree 42 : ****************************************** [2.4 +/- 0.8]
3. Neutral 12 : ************
4. Agree 7 : *******
5. Strongly agree 1 : *

27. I would recommend astronomy lab to other students.
1. Strongly disagree 0 :
2. Disagree 3 : ***
3. Neutral 3 : ***
4. Agree 32 : ******************************** [4.3 +/- 0.8]
5. Strongly agree 29 : *****************************

28. Astronomy lab should only be taken in the same semester as astronomy lecture.
1. Strongly disagree 1 : *
2. Disagree 14 : **************
3. Neutral 17 : *****************
4. Agree 19 : ******************* [3.5 +/- 1.1]
5. Strongly agree 16 : ****************

29. Astronomy lab should only be taken after completing the entire semester of
astronomy lecture.
1. Strongly disagree 16 : ****************
2. Disagree 22 : ********************** [2.4 +/- 1.1]
3. Neutral 20 : ********************
4. Agree 7 : *******
5. Strongly agree 2 : **

30. This course helped me feel more comfortable with the idea that many values in
science are uncertain to some degree.
1. Strongly disagree 0 :
2. Disagree 1 : *
3. Neutral 13 : *************
4. Agree 32 : ******************************** [4.1 +/- 0.8]
5. Strongly agree 21 : *********************

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