The use of podcasting in higher education has escalated in recent years. The aim of this case study was to analyse undergraduate student use and perceptions of lecture audio recordings in the School of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Leeds. Students completed an online survey over a two-week period based on their use of lecture audio recordings in semester one of the 2011/2012 academic session (n = 131 responses). Of the podcasts available, 77% of students reported to have listened to at least 50% of recordings. The majority of students accessed podcasts using the virtual learning environment (91%) often in combination with either a media player (30%) or podcatching software (21%). Students usually listened to podcasts in private accommodation (83%) on a personal computer or laptop, with fewer listening whilst undertaking other activities e.g. walking (16%). Interestingly, 93% of respondents perceived podcasts to be important or very important to their studies, with 90% stating that concentration in lectures was improved as a result of access to podcasts. Furthermore, 73% of students indicated that the availability of podcasts did not influence lecture attendance. These data suggest that students make extensive use of lecture audio recordings, with a positive impact on study behaviour.
This paper uses the reflections of a recent workshop on biology and the humanities subject areas to consider the potential for designing a first year interdisciplinary module that brings together teachers and learners in the Biosciences with their counterparts in English and History. It considers three building blocks of module design: aims and objectives; teaching and learning strategies; and assessment; and provides a commentary on the discussion of interdisciplinarity in the broader literature. The authors argue that interdisciplinary teaching and learning must be transformative, but not in the way many previous advocates of interdisciplinarity have assumed. Rather than transcending disciplines, the authors contend that the aim should be to enhance disciplinary understanding. Learners should emerge from the interdisciplinary module not having lost their identity as biologists, but having enhanced it. They should have become ‘better’ biologists in the sense of having developed a broader, critical understanding of the precepts of their discipline, as a first step to an understanding of biology inflected with a literary and historical awareness.
Abstract Understanding students’ reactions to their feedback to coursework is crucial in being able to deliver feedback which motivates them and helps them to do better. This study focused on undergraduate bioscience students on a variety of degree programmes, at three UK universities, across all years. A questionnaire was completed by students when first reading their feedback, thereby accessing their initial reactions to the comments they received. Focus groups assisted in the analysis of these initial reactions and also enabled discussion on how the students felt about their feedback. Our findings suggest that, although many students value feedback irrespective of their emotional response to it, others are clearly motivated or de-motivated by specific factors within the feedback that they receive. We suggest that this initial emotional reaction is fundamental to the student’s subsequent engagement with feedback, and that feedback that immediately de-motivates a student is likely to be of very limited value to the ongoing learning process. Recommendations to improve feedback include the need to offer positive, constructive comments, meaningful annotations and comments which justify the given mark.
Abstract Undergraduate research projects in the life sciences encompass a broad range of studies, some of which may require the participation of human subjects or other activities which may raise ethical concerns. As universities are accountable for all projects undertaken under their auspices they must ensure that these projects adhere to legal requirements, use acceptable research methods, represent an appropriate use of resources, and minimise risks to all research participants. Many student projects in UK universities are not subject to external review, and individual universities have established their own internal ethical review processes. This paper discusses the risks and benefits of student research projects, considers the range of ethical review processes performed in UK universities, and provides some suggestions for proportionate, transparent and efficient review of student projects.
The National Union of Students (NUS) National Student Experience Report identified examination feedback as an area where students had particular concerns. This finding was echoed in the authors’ institution and triggered an action research project to investigate ways of improving students’ perceptions of pre- and post-exam feedback. We report the results of part of the project aimed at improving student satisfaction with pre-exam feedback and preparedness for the end of module examination, where we used an ‘Assessment for Learning’ (AfL) strategy. Students on a second year human genetics module (LSC-20050) were supplied with a series of 10 formative online tests with instant feedback. Our results show that students who completed more of the online tests performed significantly better in the end of module exam than students who completed < 4 tests. Comparing the LSC-20050 exam results with other bioscience modules indicates that the students who took fewer tests did no better in LSC-20050, but the students who did more tests showed significantly enhanced performance in LSC-20050. Students who did the tests reported that they found the tests a useful way to learn and felt better prepared for the exam. Thus, engagement with online assessments can improve pre-exam feedback satisfaction with the added bonus of improving exam performance.
Abstract Students in an agricultural science degree were surveyed to assess their ability to recognise plants of agricultural importance. The survey consisted of high quality images of 25 species. Students were surveyed at the start of their studies in first year, and at various times during their second year of studies. At the start of their studies students had, on average, a low (35% and 27%, 2011 and 2012 respectively) ability to recognise agricultural species, with a very wide range of individual responses (6—66%, 0—72%, 2011 and 2012 respectively). Species that were conspicuous at the landscape level were well known, as were species that had spines or stinging hairs, while many important agricultural plants were poorly known. Students at the start of second year had only a small improvement (average 41% and 42%, range 4—76% and 2—84%; 2011 and 2012 respectively) from their first year of study. This was understandable as most first year subjects were introductory science, with plant recognition not specifically taught. About three months later, at the end of a subject where plant recognition was one of the main practical activities, the average mark had improved by about 50% (average 61%, range 24—92%). About four months later, after a semester where plant recognition was not specifically taught, but aspects of pasture management and weed control were, the average mark had further improved to 73% (range 40—96%). The survey showed that although over 80% of these students had a strong rural background (live on farms, etc.) they started their studies with a relatively low ability to recognise species of agricultural importance. Through identification and recognition practicals and general exposure to agricultural plants their recognition abilities rapidly improved during second year. The wide spread of individual student abilities indicates the need to develop different modes of plant recognition instruction.
Here we report on the successful implementation of an online experimental summary sheet that enabled the continual student monitoring of a large cohort of students undertaking a 6 week enquiry-based laboratory project. Students submitted a weekly research summary that contained information about their data analysis and future experimental plans. These experimental summary sheets, which were viewed on a weekly basis by members of the teaching team, facilitated a process of continuous formative assessment, the provision of generic feedback and differentiated instruction during the laboratory course. Collectively this ensured each student received the support they needed during their project work whilst minimising additional staff and student workloads.
In order to increase engagement and to consolidate skills, a tutorial-based skills course (module) was introduced as a compulsory component of first-year in the School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen. We evaluated whether students had attained certain ‘graduate attributes’ during the course, comprising: transferable and generic skills and intellectual curiosity. Student feedback from course evaluation forms, student diaries and focus groups indicated that the course increased students’ confidence in questioning accepted wisdom and helped students to develop generic skills. Feedback forms generally indicated a strong appreciation of interactions with tutors, and also of learning in small groups, interacting with peers within degree programmes, personalised learning, and developing generic skills. The quality of students’ experience varied, probably due to differences among students themselves as well as with their tutors. Students’ use of the course website indicated strategic use of materials to enhance the development of transferable/generic skills. Activity on the course website tended to be greatest among those students who went on to achieve higher overall course marks. Tutors were more cautious than students in claiming that students were more ready to question information having done the tutorial course. Intellectual curiosity among students was more apparent later in the course, suggesting that students had been learning critical thinking skills.
Following the publication of the higher education white paper increasing entry tariff and widening participation have become even more important issues for universities. This report examines the relationship between entry tariff and undergraduate achievement in Biosciences at the University of Exeter. We show that, whilst there is a significant correlation between A-level tariff and both level 1 and final degree marks, the magnitude of the correlation decreases with increasing A-level tariff. It was also found that, contrary to anecdotal evidence, there is no link between A-level maths or chemistry and degree success in biosciences. However gender was found to have a marked effect on degree success independent of A-level tariff. Female students consistently obtained marks more than one third of a degree classification higher than male students with equivalent entry qualifications. These results are compared to investigations in other disciplines, notably medicine, and in the context of the drive to increase entry tariff to allow unrestricted recruitment of the top students.
Abstract The design of experimental ecological fieldwork is difficult to teach to classes, particularly when protocols for data collection are normally carefully controlled by the class organiser. Normally, reinforcement of the some problems of experimental design such as the avoidance of pseudoreplication and appropriate sampling techniques does not occur until students conduct individual project work. Here, a practical session is described where students collect data on the vigilance of grazing animals, following a protocol that allows them to make typical mistakes in experimental design that are then discussed in class. Being able to explore these problems with a group of students could give valuable training in experimental design before students conduct individual projects, and therefore would be recommended as early training on fieldcourses, or as a preliminary exercise for honours projects.
The last student enrolled in a pure “Botany” degree in the UK began in the University of Bristol this year, 2010. In recent years only the University of Reading also offered the Botany degree, before it was dropped there 3 years ago. This short article is written to draw attention to this fact and to a more general relative decline in the number of students pursuing degrees in plant science highlighted in a recent extensive report on the “Uptake of Plant Sciences in the UK” completed in 2009. We explore potential implications and causes by focusing on third level education, specifically full time degree courses as available through the UCAS application system. Findings are related to the preceding secondary school education and succeeding employment market that surround and influence the undergraduate experience.
An artificial, and generally unhelpful, divide between lecturers and students frequently occurs in higher education, especially among recent school-leavers. Bridging that divide allows lecturers and students to develop collaboratively to the benefit of both parties. Residential field courses provide an important forum to develop more mature relationships between lecturers and students and the informal opportunities presented allow both pastoral and educational issues to be discussed and often resolved. Here, we discuss the crucial role that field courses can have in student development and we introduce some techniques that can be used to engender pastoral and academic engagement. This provides long-term benefits to learners and develops student-lecturer collaborations that exist well beyond the field course experience.
Good quality, timely feedback is a key factor to help students achieve their full potential. Increased class sizes have put significant strain on the ability to return work promptly without compromising feedback quality. In the current study, two screencasting technologies were used to produce audiovisual feedback. For essays, Jing was used, alongside a sample that were marked using typed comments in GradeMark for comparison. For longer lab reports, Camtasia Studio 7 software was used, allowing for editing and inclusion of additional material. Screencasting essay feedback reduced overall marking time by up to 50% compared to the typed comments, whilst the edited screencasts took about the same time as manual marking - although the editing time could probably be reduced. The students’ responses to the audiovisual feedback were extremely positive, with evidence of deeper engagement with the feedback and greater understanding of the tutor’s comments. Screencasting should thus be seen as a potentially timesaving and useful format for delivering quality feedback.
First year undergraduate students at the University of Edinburgh hone their enquiry skills and learn to investigate current environmental issues by carrying out research projects. A list of 60 possible projects has been compiled and is available on a website, to be used directly or adapted to suit the requirements of other educators. This paper describes the educational philosophy behind this approach, our experiences with the logistics of the exercise, sets out the assessment criteria, discusses the goals and evaluates students’ and instructors’ feedback and reactions.
Designing manipulative ecological experiments is a complex and time-consuming process that is problematic to teach in traditional undergraduate classes. This study investigates the effectiveness of using a computer simulation — the Virtual Rocky Shore (VRS) — to facilitate rapid, student-centred learning of experimental design. We gave a series of tests to biology undergraduates to determine how well experimental design and data analysis was understood: 1) before any teaching sessions on this topic; 2) after theory sessions on experimental design; and 3) after an additional practical session using the VRS. Due to poor weather, sample sizes were small with a total of 12 students participating in all three sessions. Nevertheless, marks increased significantly between the initial and final tests (1 and 3). The variability of marks during test 2 was also significantly higher than for the other two tests. Thus some students learned experimental design effectively from the theory sessions alone, while others only understood the process after the experiential learning component of the VRS. Feedback from students on the process was mainly positive, although some students found the VRS too abstract, indicating that the use of digital learning resources may need to be supported by real experience in the field or laboratory.
Argumentation and basic logic are foundations of scientific inquiry, and thus should be foundations of science education. Students often are uninterested in formal logic, and do not understand the connection to science or society. I describe a way to engage students in the study of argumentation and to help develop student’s ability to critically analyse argumentation in real-world science contexts. Following a demonstration of fallacious but persuasive argumentation, they practice logic, identifying fallacies, then construct their own arguments.
Abstract A centralised system monitoring attendance and performance among first year students in Biomedical Sciences has been established at Newcastle University. Early signs of absence and poor performance trigger immediate intervention by academic staff, with the aim of providing support for students at risk of failure or withdrawal. Difficulties associated with monitoring attendance in large lecture classes are avoided by monitoring attendance only at ‘high stakes’ classes, namely practicals and seminars. Level of attendance at non-lecture classes was a predictor of academic achievement and the early intervention strategy was associated with improvements in attendance. Student perceptions of attendance monitoring were evaluated and found to be positive. Meeting with absent and underperforming students at the earliest possible opportunity has proved an effective way of promoting dialogue between staff and students who are experiencing difficulties.
