Abstract:

Self-assessment is an effective pedagogical methodology to support learning. A wide range of strategies can be applied to assist students in their progress to understand and interpret biological concepts based on self-assessment approaches. These allow students to examine their learning and can be a useful tool to assess their progresses and achievements. In this work, self-assessment questionnaires based on each of the theory sessions of the subject Biology (BI2201) of the Degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from University Jaume I of Castellón (Spain) were available in the Virtual Classroom throughout the course 2021-2022. Each self-assessment questionnaire included different types of short questions (e.g., true or false, multiple choice, link concepts and definitions) and was related to each of the chapters of the Biology subject. When students answered a question (either the answer was correct or not), a short explanation about the correct answer was provided, including information about in which part of the chapter they could find additional resources to complement the topic. To understand the satisfaction among students with the self-assessment questionnaires and their role in assisting them in the learning of the subject, an anonymous survey was designed. The results of this survey showed a high degree of satisfaction among students that completed the self-assessment questionnaires. More than 70% of all questionnaires were completed by students throughout the course, whereas 98% of them were finished during the study period of the final exam. The majority of the students (around 94%) that answered the survey found our self-assessment questionnaires a useful tool to facilitate the learning of the Biology subject, and over 79% of students passed the final exam. Therefore, our self-assessment questionnaires based on theory concepts helped students maximize their learning, improved their confidence, and provided an effective learning tool to pass the Biology final exam.

Keywords:

Biology, self-assessment questionnaires, final exam.