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Qualitative Analysis of Students' Perceptions of Active Learning Practices in a Highly Structured Microbiology Course Provides Support for Implementation of Flipped and Interactive Classroom Activities

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Title: Qualitative Analysis of Students' Perceptions of Active Learning Practices in a Highly Structured Microbiology Course Provides Support for Implementation of Flipped and Interactive Classroom Activities
Language: English
Authors: Megan Moran, Kayla Jean, Barbara Graham, Erica Suchman, Katriana Popichak (ORCID 0000-0001-5797-893X), Jennifer McLean, Carolina Mehaffy (ORCID 0000-0002-7634-5131)
Source: Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education. 2025 26(3).
Availability: American Society for Microbiology. 1752 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 202-737-3600; e-mail: journals@asmusa.org; Web site: https://journals.asm.org/journal/jmbe
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 17
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Active Learning, Student Attitudes, Microbiology, Flipped Classroom, Interaction, Class Activities, Undergraduate Students, Science Instruction, College Science
ISSN: 1935-7877
1935-7885
Abstract: Despite evidence that active learning practices (ALPs) increase student success and reduce the opportunity gap in historically marginalized students, lecturing alone is still being used as a primary teaching strategy. Perceptions that students do not view ALPs positively, resulting in negative course evaluations, are one of the barriers to ALP incorporation. It is unclear how students, in a highly structured course that includes diverse ALPs, perceive these practices in addition to in-person, synchronous lecturing. To fill this gap, we surveyed students in a mid-level undergraduate General Microbiology course, comprising 60-150 students, that incorporates moderate to high levels of ALPs, including interactive lecturing, collaborative work, and flipped sessions, in addition to traditional lecturing. We used inductive qualitative analysis of three open-ended questions to evaluate students' perceptions of classroom activities in terms of perceived pedagogical value (i.e., helping reach learning objectives), perceived enjoyment, and overall value of the activity (i.e., would like to see this type of activity in future courses). We show that most students perceive lecturing, followed by flipped activities, as the strategies that best help reach the learning objectives. Similarly, most students enjoy flipped activities the most and would like to see these types of activities in future courses. Students also perceive ALPs as complementary to lecture, particularly by helping improve understanding and providing opportunities to apply concepts. Our data should encourage faculty to incorporate more ALPs into their curriculum; in particular, flipped and interactive activities.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1504620
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Qualitative Analysis of Students' Perceptions of Active Learning Practices in a Highly Structured Microbiology Course Provides Support for Implementation of Flipped and Interactive Classroom Activities
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Megan+Moran%22">Megan Moran</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kayla+Jean%22">Kayla Jean</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Barbara+Graham%22">Barbara Graham</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Erica+Suchman%22">Erica Suchman</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Katriana+Popichak%22">Katriana Popichak</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5797-893X">0000-0001-5797-893X</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jennifer+McLean%22">Jennifer McLean</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Carolina+Mehaffy%22">Carolina Mehaffy</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7634-5131">0000-0002-7634-5131</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Microbiology+%26+Biology+Education%22"><i>Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education</i></searchLink>. 2025 26(3).
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  Data: American Society for Microbiology. 1752 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 202-737-3600; e-mail: journals@asmusa.org; Web site: https://journals.asm.org/journal/jmbe
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  Data: 17
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Active+Learning%22">Active Learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Attitudes%22">Student Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Microbiology%22">Microbiology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Flipped+Classroom%22">Flipped Classroom</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interaction%22">Interaction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Class+Activities%22">Class Activities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Undergraduate+Students%22">Undergraduate Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Science+Instruction%22">Science Instruction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Science%22">College Science</searchLink>
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  Data: 1935-7877<br />1935-7885
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  Data: Despite evidence that active learning practices (ALPs) increase student success and reduce the opportunity gap in historically marginalized students, lecturing alone is still being used as a primary teaching strategy. Perceptions that students do not view ALPs positively, resulting in negative course evaluations, are one of the barriers to ALP incorporation. It is unclear how students, in a highly structured course that includes diverse ALPs, perceive these practices in addition to in-person, synchronous lecturing. To fill this gap, we surveyed students in a mid-level undergraduate General Microbiology course, comprising 60-150 students, that incorporates moderate to high levels of ALPs, including interactive lecturing, collaborative work, and flipped sessions, in addition to traditional lecturing. We used inductive qualitative analysis of three open-ended questions to evaluate students' perceptions of classroom activities in terms of perceived pedagogical value (i.e., helping reach learning objectives), perceived enjoyment, and overall value of the activity (i.e., would like to see this type of activity in future courses). We show that most students perceive lecturing, followed by flipped activities, as the strategies that best help reach the learning objectives. Similarly, most students enjoy flipped activities the most and would like to see these types of activities in future courses. Students also perceive ALPs as complementary to lecture, particularly by helping improve understanding and providing opportunities to apply concepts. Our data should encourage faculty to incorporate more ALPs into their curriculum; in particular, flipped and interactive activities.
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: EJ1504620
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      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 17
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      – SubjectFull: Active Learning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Microbiology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Flipped Classroom
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Interaction
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      – SubjectFull: Class Activities
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      – SubjectFull: Undergraduate Students
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      – TitleFull: Qualitative Analysis of Students' Perceptions of Active Learning Practices in a Highly Structured Microbiology Course Provides Support for Implementation of Flipped and Interactive Classroom Activities
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