TABLE 2. Summary of pre- and post-semester questionnaires with evaluation scale and general course feedback (data are from 2018, when all 3 engagement strategies were implemented) Evaluation scale Strongly Agree Agree Undecided I look forward to this class. 38% (22/58) 25% (15/58) 9% (5/58) 10% (6/58) 18% (10/58) In food microbiology course, I will learn mainly about microoganisms that spoil food. 53% (31/58) 37% (21/58) 6% (4/58) 4% (2/58) 0% (0/58) I learned about food safety and microbiology. 95% (55/58) 2% (1/58) 3% (2/58) 0% (0/58) 0% (0/58) The laboratory manual was a useful tool to understand experiments and methodology. 3% (2/58) 78% (45/58) 15% (9/58) 2% (1/58) 2% (1/58) I enjoyed coming to class. 14% (8/58) 72% (42/58) 10% (6/58) 3% (2/58) 0% (0/58) Disagree Strongly Disagree Pre-semester questionnaire summary Post-semester questionnaire summary General feedback about the course * I thought there were good case studies that stimulated students to assess what they had learned in the class. * The instructor was always there to guide us and improve our laboratory techniques. * I appreciate the opportunity to do undergraduate research because it allows students to experience directly all the process it takes for a research project. It allows students to see if they are interested in research or not. * This research project makes students feel like they are applying a variety of concepts they learn during class. It was the first time for the majority of students to be part of a research project. TABLE 3. Correlation coefficient, F-test of equality of means between colony counts and agreement by enumeration techniques used by the students (Group 1 used PCA medium, while Group 2 used a ready-made plate PCA containing a cold-watersoluble gelling agent) Students' count correlation (# obs) Correlation coefficients F-test of equality of means Kappa Agreement (%) Group 1 Group 2 0.84 (8) -0.876 0.118 0.43 50.0 0.78 (8) -0.307 0.592 0.38 50.0 May/June Food Protection Trends 169