67A-14 |
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E. PALOU, Center for Engineering Education, Univ. de las Americas, Puebla, Cholula, Puebla, 72820, Mexico In the last few years, educators have emphasized the need for improved writing assignments in food science and engineering classes to encourage not only writing proficiency, but also critical thinking and learning course content. To encourage students think about and apply food chemistry in the same ways experienced food scientists and engineers do, a required journal, active and cooperative learning exercises, as well as open-ended team-based designs are included in undergraduate food chemistry and graduate advanced food chemistry courses. I collect, read, and make comments in the journals approximately every two weeks. Students are asked to write in their journals approximately 3-4 times per week. Most of the entries are open-ended exercises in which students are asked for clarification questions on confusing course topics, to extend the analysis of classroom topics to everyday phenomena, specific assignments focusing on a course topic to explore further outside of class, and provide evaluation of the class including my teaching. Students receive a final journal grade based on overall effort and quality of entries. This grade generally counts for about 10% of a student’s final grade. In general, I’m quite pleased with most of the journals I’ve seen in the courses. 95% of the students believed the use of journals enhanced both their writing proficiency and learning of subject matter, viewed them as valuable experiences and suggested comprehension of how they learn was increased. Some students are initially reluctant to embrace journal writing as part of a technical course. However, as the semester proceeds and our journal conversations become richer, nearly every student understand that journaling helps learn food chemistry and many even admit to enjoying writing in this context. Journals bring about a true community of learners where we, the professors, learn from the experience and shared information as much as or more than our students.
Session 67A, Education: General
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