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 : *********************

Previous posts:

• Education research: ALLS demographic results (Cuesta College, Spring Semester 2010).
  
• Education research: ALLS pre- to post-instruction attitude shifts (Cuesta College, Fall Semester 2009).
  
• Education research: ALLS post-instruction opinion results (Cuesta College, Fall Semester 2009).
  
• Education research: ALLS demographic results (Cuesta College, Fall Semester 2009).
  
• Education research: Astronomy Laboratory Learning Survey (ALLS), pre- and post-instruction forms.