A 14-Year Empirical Analysis of Undergraduates’ Pre- and Post-Test Scores in Three Introductory Communication Courses: Lessons Learned for Pedagogy and Assessment

Conducting long-term assessment of the impact of students’ participation in introductory communication courses is an important endeavor for enhancing pedagogy and understanding the contribution of communication instruction to the student experience. This 14-year study reports data from a campus-wide assessment program extending from 2004 to 2018. The study analyzed a large sample of undergraduate students’ self-reported pre- and post-test scores on critical variables related to student outcomes in three introductory communication courses. The variables examined were demographic characteristics, self-esteem and communication apprehension in both the public speaking course and the business communication course, and self-esteem and willingness to communicate in the interpersonal communication course. Across the 14-year period, 93% of the results of pre/post comparison scores showed a significant increase in students’ self-perceived levels of self-esteem and willingness to communicate and a significant decrease in communication apprehension (p \u3c .001). The usefulness of the results are discussed. Four general conclusions for engaging in introductory course assessment are outlined, along with specific lessons learned and best practices for consideration by basic course directors and faculty

The genome of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus.

International audienceWe report the sequence and analysis of the 814-megabase genome of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, a model for developmental and systems biology. The sequencing strategy combined whole-genome shotgun and bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) sequences. This use of BAC clones, aided by a pooling strategy, overcame difficulties associated with high heterozygosity of the genome. The genome encodes about 23,300 genes, including many previously thought to be vertebrate innovations or known only outside the deuterostomes. This echinoderm genome provides an evolutionary outgroup for the chordates and yields insights into the evolution of deuterostomes