Investigating virtual versus hands-on interventions in promoting increased performance, perceived knowledge, and confidence in a large general microbiology course

Active learning in face-to-face courses is superior to traditional lecturing, especially for women and marginalized students in STEM. Activities can be delivered using a broad variety of techniques, such as concept mapping, think-pair-share, and clickers. Concept modeling is particularly impactful for undergraduate biology courses, as they help students model microscopic organisms and processes that are otherwise impossible to visualize without microscopes or that occur on the molecular level. Generation Z, also known as iGen, is becoming one of the largest, most diverse demographics of students. iGen students grew up with technology and expect devices to be part of the learning experiences, which may begin to push hands-on manipulatives into a virtual format. However, it is unclear if the virtual format is universally beneficial for students. Thus, we investigated changes to students' performance, perceived knowledge, and confidence with the integration of eLearning activities, compared to interactive PowerPoint or hands-on activities. We sampled students in three sections of general microbiology over a semester as they completed six activities on historically difficult course topics. Each section received a different method of delivery (MOD) for their activities: PowerPoint, eLearning, or hands-on. Student performance on related quizzes and exam questions was also considered. Analyses included comparisons of marginalized and non-marginalized students to see if MOD impacted these groups of students differently. Overall, perceived knowledge, confidence, and performance all increased in response to the activities, with no significant differences among the three MODs. The data for marginalized students showed, however, that completing the hands-on MOD resulted in lower performance, perceived knowledge, and confidence. These findings suggest that there may be barriers for marginalized students when completing hands-on activities as compared to virtual activities in the face-to-face classroom.