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- NATURVETENSKAP I PRAKTIKEN-
Alexander Alsén
RESEARCH
Traditional teaching methods vary in effectiveness, and the choice of teaching strategy significantly impacts student outcomes. While many methods "work" to some extent, research suggests that evidence-based strategies enhance learning efficiency. Test-based learning, particularly using retrieval practice, has been shown to strengthen memory retention and improve long-term knowledge consolidation.
Direct Kahoot as a Teaching Tool
Kahoot is widely used in classrooms but often without a structured approach to assess its educational impact. Direct Kahoot presents students with quiz questions before they study the material, requiring immediate engagement and cognitive effort. This method activates prior knowledge, enhances memory encoding, and provides instant feedback.
A key aspect of this approach is the potential reduction of achievement gaps. While intuitive assumptions often suggest weaker students may struggle with testing, research indicates that test-based learning benefits all students, especially those with lower cognitive engagement (low NFC).
Effects on Learning Outcomes
By systematically comparing students who engage in direct Kahoot with those who follow traditional reading-based learning, we aim to determine the relative effectiveness of test-based learning. Specific factors under investigation include:
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The overall learning effect of direct Kahoot.
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Potential differences in learning gains based on students' academic performance.
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Gender-based variations in learning outcomes.
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The influence of cognitive engagement (NFC) and weekly gaming habits on Kahoot effectiveness.
Collaborative Research Approach
This study is conducted in collaboration with Marcus Lithander (KTH), and the K-ULF project (KTH) and contributes to the development of research-driven teaching strategies in Swedish schools.
Test-Based Learning with Direct Kahoot in Chemistry Education
Biology
Acoels represent the earliest extant branch from the early bilaterian stem. As such they offer important insights into the evolutionary events that laid the groundwork for all bilaterian animals.
A defining factor for bilaterian animals is the nervous system. Only with a bilaterian symmetry can the process of cephalisation begin, a process that 600 million years later would lead to your brain.
Acoel Nervous System regeneration
Acoels show a regenerative capabilities that differ within the group. Whatever conclusions we can draw from the regenerative machinery of Acoels can be applied to the question of ancestral regeneration.
Planarians are somewhat well studied in this field and that information can be compared to the (morphologically) similar, but unrelated, Acoels.
A point of interest are the migratory stem-cells: the Neoblasts.
This work is done in collaboration with Jamie Morrison, Stockholm university.
Acoel Nervous System structure
Diffrent Acoels have had separate centralisations of nervous system from a simple Ur-Acoel without a centralised brain. Thus the acoel "Brain" is not homologous with that of other animal brains, and only to a limited extent within the phyla.
What we find out about the nervous system organisation in Acoela has implications on our understanding of the principles of nervous system evolution in Metazoa.