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standards-based content analysis of selected biological science websites
Title
A standards-based content analysis of selected biological science websites.
Creator
Stewart, Joy E., College of Education, Department of Teaching and Learning
Abstract/Description
The purpose of this study was to analyze the biology content, instructional strategies, and assessment methods of 100 biological science websites that were appropriate for Grade 12 educational purposes. For the analysis of each website, an instrument, developed from the National Science Education Standards (NSES) for Grade 12 Life Science coupled with criteria derived from the Web-based Inquiry (WBI) for Learning Science instrument (Bodzin, 2005) and other pertinent published educational...
Show moreThe purpose of this study was to analyze the biology content, instructional strategies, and assessment methods of 100 biological science websites that were appropriate for Grade 12 educational purposes. For the analysis of each website, an instrument, developed from the National Science Education Standards (NSES) for Grade 12 Life Science coupled with criteria derived from the Web-based Inquiry (WBI) for Learning Science instrument (Bodzin, 2005) and other pertinent published educational literature, was utilized. The analysis focused on elucidating the appropriateness of the biology content, instructional strategies, and assessment tools of selected websites for facilitating the biological science education of Grade 12 students. Frequencies of agreement and disagreement of the content of each selected website with criteria included in the data collection instrument were used for alignment determination of the content of each website with the NSES. Chi-square tests were performed by Microsoft Excel to determine the statistical significance of differences of actual and expected 85% frequencies of alignment of the analyzed website parameters with indicators of alignment to NSES. Chi-square tests indicated that at a 0.05 level of significance there was an overall difference between the actual and expected 85% frequencies of alignment of biology content, instructional strategies and assessment methods with website indicators of alignment with the NSES (p < 0.05). Chi-square tests also indicated that there was a significant difference between the actual and expected frequencies of alignment of analyzed categories (biology content, instructional strategies, and assessment methods) of the sampled websites with website indicators of alignment with the NSES (p < 0.05)., Major findings of this study indicated that 3 out of 4 of the analyzed content attributes, 12 out of 13 of the instructional strategies, and all the assessment methods of the researched biological science websites were less than 85% aligned with the NSES. Only 11 out of 80 (13.75%) of the analyzed websites had collective biology content, instructional strategies, and assessment methods attributes that were 85% or more aligned with the NSES. Appropriately sequenced content that fostered acquisition of fundamental biology knowledge was the only content attribute with significantly more than 85% alignment with the NSES. Provision of illustrative examples to enhance understanding of facts and/or ideas in the context of a conceptual framework was the only instructional strategies attribute that was significantly more than 85% aligned with the NSES. Alignment of website attributes with the NSES has the potential to enhance the educational value of science websites. It is hoped that the findings of this study will motivate science website designers to comply with the NSES. Hope also exists that educators will be motivated to engage in standards-based reform measures for promoting scientific literacy among students.
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Date Issued
2010
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/2683127
Subject Headings
Science, Study and teaching (Secondary), Technological innovations, Science, Study and teaching (Secondary), Standards, Internet in education, Standards, Web sites, Standards
Format
Document (PDF)
distribution of the non-indigenous invasive Old World climbing fern, Lygodium microphyllum, in southern Florida: The relationship to abiotic and biotic variables
Title
The distribution of the non-indigenous invasive Old World climbing fern, Lygodium microphyllum, in southern Florida: The relationship to abiotic and biotic variables.
Creator
Stewart, Joy Elaine., Florida Atlantic University, Volin, John C.
Abstract/Description
Old World Climbing Fern, Lygodium microphyllum is an aggressive nonindigenous plant that is on the verge of becoming a major ecological threat in South Florida. Currently, specific habitat characteristics that contribute to success or failure of its establishment are unknown. I studied the pattern of distribution of the fern in Florida's Big Cypress Swamp. Two similar forested wetland sites with high incidence of L. microphyllum infestation were assessed in order to identify broad-scale...
Show moreOld World Climbing Fern, Lygodium microphyllum is an aggressive nonindigenous plant that is on the verge of becoming a major ecological threat in South Florida. Currently, specific habitat characteristics that contribute to success or failure of its establishment are unknown. I studied the pattern of distribution of the fern in Florida's Big Cypress Swamp. Two similar forested wetland sites with high incidence of L. microphyllum infestation were assessed in order to identify broad-scale hydrological and physiographic conditions that may favor high susceptibility to L. microphyllum invasion. On each site, species richness, abundance and distribution of herbs, shrubs and trees were characterized. In addition, several parameters including elevation, substrate depth, percentage substrate water content, percentage substrate organic content, substrate texture, and photosynthetically active radiation were quantified. The patterns of distribution of L. microphyfum indicated that presence of the fern was dependent on relatively low elevation, relatively deep substrate and moderately high substrate water content.
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Date Issued
2002
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/12890
Subject Headings
Ferns--Florida, Lygodium, Ecosystem management, Invasive plants--Florida
Format
Document (PDF)