Beverly Barham, Health Sciences
Meet the KeyPURS (Barham, PowerPoint)
The KeyPURs (Key Points and Useful Repetition) consisted of 10 key points used as foundational information in a clinical microbiology course for Clinical Laboratory Science (CLS) majors. Each week for 10 weeks, students were introduced to a new key point and also asked to recall the information from the previous week(s) as part of an in-class challenge. Points were awarded for accurate information, whether it was the newest information or recall of previous key points. This repetition reinforced the key foundational material throughout the semester. Assessment was completed by examining student responses to specific multiple choice questions dispersed randomly on the last exam. Each of these questions had a direct correlation with one of the KeyPURs. These same questions had been given to the cohort from the year before but the questions had never been handed out for review. Data indicated that the cohort (n=24) which used the KeyPURS increased the number of correct responses for the specific questions when compared to the cohort (n=19) who did not have the KeyPURs as a resource. Useful repetition of discipline specific key concepts can help students build a solid foundation and result in positive outcomes in meeting the challenges of the course.
