Formative assessment that challenges students to construct scientific explanations of phenomena is critical in helping them develop and self-assess their understanding of core chemistry concepts. However, student confidence can have an impact on their abilities to self-assess. This study aims to investigate the relationship between student confidence in their science explanations and individual student characteristics as well as determine whether individual confidence affects students’ contributions to group constructed explanations. Students were tasked to individually construct science explanations 1-3 times per week using an out of class text messaging assessment system. With each explanation students were asked to rate their level of confidence. This allowed us to investigate the relationship between student confidence, correctness, and characteristics such as gender or prior level of success, Additionally, for some questions, after submitting individual answers outside of class, students worked in groups in class to develop a consensus explanation that would ideally build on the strengths of the individuals’ answers. As students do not always contribute equally in groups, it is important to understand how confidence and correctness may influence this inequality. By measuring individual self-reported confidence levels and comparing individual student answers to the respective group answer, we seek to understand the factors that predict whether or not a student’s individual answer will be incorporated into their final group answer. Understanding both how accurately students gauge their own confidence and how this translates to their willingness to advocate for their own answers in a group setting can help inform how to structure group formative assessment activities to be beneficial for all students involved.

Intersection of confidence, correctness, and group dynamics on formative assessment

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.