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An Innovative Approach Using Writing
to Improve Learning In Biology. M. Lakrim, T. Markus, C.A. Biermann.
Kingsborough Community College, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11235
In an attempt
to significantly improve the passing rate on the College Preparatory
Exam (CPE) at the City University of New York (CUNY) and to simultaneously
reinforce and improve reading, writing and critical thinking skills;
faculty have initiated the Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) initiative.
The CPE exam is administered to all CUNY students after having reached
the 45 credit level. The 3-hour examination is designed to assess
reading, writing and analytical; skills. Passing the exam is a requirement
to graduate from a CUNY Community College as well as to be able
to continue at a Senior College at CUNY.
Recognizing that for many students, the
sole opportunity to develop and improve these skills is often limited
to freshmen English courses, the University has implemented the
WAC initiative. This initiative encourages all disciplines to increase
the writing components in their course offerings. Writing is to
be used as a tool for increasing comprehension and learning.
Our presentation will focus on the manner
in which the biology courses at Kingsborough Community College (KCC)
have been modified to utilize writing and to emphasize how these
writing assignments are designed to increase understanding of biological
concepts. Through these innovative writing assignments, students
obtain numerous benefits. Students are taught to focus on understanding
of the course material and to deemphasize rote memorization.
Although initially students were apprehensive,
they came to appreciate and enjoy the writing assignments and were
able to perceive the connection between writing and learning.
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