Enhancing quantitative skills in life sciences: Sustainable approaches to curriculum development
Session Type
Presentation
Room
Physics and Astronomy, room 117
Start Date
17-7-2025 10:30 AM
End Date
17-7-2025 11:00 AM
Keywords
statistics education, quantitative training, life sciences, research methods, scientific inquiry, undergraduate
Primary Threads
Curriculum
Abstract
Undergraduate life sciences students need to make sense of quantitative research and contribute to it. They must think critically about statistical issues in research and recognize statistical errors and weaknesses in research, which persist despite increased awareness and the tightening of journal reporting standards (Weissgerber et al., 2016). Developing quantitative skills is essential for life science students, as these skills are critical for understanding and solving complex biological problems. In a previous study, we found that while students recognize the importance of quantitative skills, they are underprepared and require more comprehensive training (White & Singh, 2023). However, our systematic review of quantitative requirements at U15 Canadian Research Institutions revealed that many life science programs require only one statistics course, if any (Tong et al., 2024). Subsequently, in 2023 we surveyed students in our introductory statistics course as well as upper-year courses in epidemiology, physiology, psychology, immunology and bioinformatics (n=382) to explore students’ perceptions about their quantitative preparation, and additional training that would benefit their development in their respective disciplines. Both survey studies were approved by the University of Toronto Social Sciences, Humanities, and Education Research Ethics Board.
In this presentation, we will share results of the systematic review and latest student survey, discuss implications for quantitative training in life sciences and brainstorm sustainable ways to strengthen quantitative training in life sciences. By focusing on efficient and effective methods, such as integrating quantitative skills into existing courses and leveraging interdisciplinary collaborations, we aim to enhance quantitative training for our students while acknowledging the limited capacity for more courses given pressures on student course loads and faculty workloads. Please bring your own device (smartphone, laptop, tablet) so you can participate in our poll questions!
Elements of Engagement
Participants will have the opportunity to participate in online polling and discussion to brainstorm strategies to build sustainable, quality quantitative training into their respective courses, programs and disciplines.
Enhancing quantitative skills in life sciences: Sustainable approaches to curriculum development
Physics and Astronomy, room 117
Undergraduate life sciences students need to make sense of quantitative research and contribute to it. They must think critically about statistical issues in research and recognize statistical errors and weaknesses in research, which persist despite increased awareness and the tightening of journal reporting standards (Weissgerber et al., 2016). Developing quantitative skills is essential for life science students, as these skills are critical for understanding and solving complex biological problems. In a previous study, we found that while students recognize the importance of quantitative skills, they are underprepared and require more comprehensive training (White & Singh, 2023). However, our systematic review of quantitative requirements at U15 Canadian Research Institutions revealed that many life science programs require only one statistics course, if any (Tong et al., 2024). Subsequently, in 2023 we surveyed students in our introductory statistics course as well as upper-year courses in epidemiology, physiology, psychology, immunology and bioinformatics (n=382) to explore students’ perceptions about their quantitative preparation, and additional training that would benefit their development in their respective disciplines. Both survey studies were approved by the University of Toronto Social Sciences, Humanities, and Education Research Ethics Board.
In this presentation, we will share results of the systematic review and latest student survey, discuss implications for quantitative training in life sciences and brainstorm sustainable ways to strengthen quantitative training in life sciences. By focusing on efficient and effective methods, such as integrating quantitative skills into existing courses and leveraging interdisciplinary collaborations, we aim to enhance quantitative training for our students while acknowledging the limited capacity for more courses given pressures on student course loads and faculty workloads. Please bring your own device (smartphone, laptop, tablet) so you can participate in our poll questions!