Medicine Learning and Teaching Forum 2012 - Online Projects

Dr Mark Hill

Online Projects

Developing online student group project work.

Wednesday 7 December 2012

Draft Page - notice removed when complete.

Abstract

This presentation will discuss the experiences in developing small science student group projects (3 to 5 students) that are prepared online in an interactive manner throughout the semester. This group assessment item replaced a previous poster presentation project. This assessment has now been running for a number of years, and the current presentation will describe the pedagogy of this assessment as well as associated practical issues. Key practical issues discussed include: initial tutorials to train students, literature researching strategies, copyright issues, plagiarism and peer assessment.

Introduction

Pedagogically, I see great value in designing group assessment items for students as this really tests their ability to work collaboratively and to determine their own strengths and weaknesses, as well as those of others, in a team environment. Please note that many students initially do not like this form of assessment, as it relies on them making to much of an "ongoing contribution" (more work than they intended) and they are also concerned about project "free riders" (academic plagiarism).

In the past, designing group assessment items often involved working inside practical class times, or preparation of posters/talks on a specific topic either inside class times or with an option for some independent work outside those times. I have previously used both these techniques in designing course assessments.

Currently, I have designed a semester-long group assessment project that allows students an option to work together over an extended period researching topics that relate directly to the course goals. There are many different components to this project process, and given the limited time for my presentation, I will only be able to touch on a few key concepts outlined in the abstract. Note that there is also a Medicine online group assessment project, that works a little differently in structure from the model described here.

Further details and links are made available here for you to explore further in your own time, and I am always happy to respond to emailed questions.

--Mark Hill 11:32, 27 November 2012 (EST)

Project Design

• Students are introduced to group project in the first lecture when going through the course outline.

Project Pedagogy
These projects extend far beyond the original "research poster concept". It requires ongoing participation from both the teacher and the student, if you are not prepared to have an ongoing contribution, do not even consider setting this type of assessment.
Students Groups work independently throughout the semester on a specific topic the group has selected within the general topic set by the teacher. Groups are assigned randomly by the teacher, do not want "friends" and "non-friends" groups. Online work consists of the "project page" and the "discussion page" where student online interaction occurs. Face-to-face time is allowed each week in the last 10 minutes of practical classes. Projects are also presented to the class at a "work in progress" phase. Each student carries out a "online written assessment" of all other projects late in the semester, when groups are near completion. Groups then collate and use these "online written assessments" to edit their own project.	Teacher Designs specific assessment criteria. Designs the general topic and allocates groups. Provides handouts and brief tutorials each week in practical class time on: basic editing, copyright/plagiarism , reference sources and referencing and uploading images. Provides regular in-class advice, online comments and email support to queries and feedback. Analyses project "edit history" and "discussion" comments to identify individual students not contributing to the project. Analyses the final submitted project providing specific online feedback. UNSW Learning and Teaching Seminar 2012

Concluding Remarks

The following collapsed tables provide starting points for students during project work, you also have tutorials built into practical classes and practice exercises for individual assessmet items.

Group Assessment Criteria The key points relating to the topic that your group allocated are clearly described. The choice of content, headings and sub-headings, diagrams, tables, graphs show a good understanding of the topic area. Content is correctly cited and referenced. The wiki has an element of teaching at a peer level using the student's own innovative diagrams, tables or figures and/or using interesting examples or explanations. Evidence of significant research relating to basic and applied sciences that goes beyond the formal teaching activities. Relates the topic and content of the Wiki entry to learning aims of embryology. Clearly reflects on editing/feedback from group peers and articulates how the Wiki could be improved (or not) based on peer comments/feedback. Demonstrates an ability to review own work when criticised in an open edited wiki format. Reflects on what was learned from the process of editing a peer's wiki. Evaluates own performance and that of group peers to give a rounded summary of this wiki process in terms of group effort and achievement. The content of the wiki should demonstrate to the reader that your group has researched adequately on this topic and covered the key areas necessary to inform your peers in their learning. Develops and edits the wiki entries in accordance with the above guidelines.

Uploading Images First Read the help page Images A tutorial will be provided towards the end of the lab in uploading images. The image must first be uploaded to the site. Open the left hand menu item “Toolbox” and click “Upload file” and a new window will open. Click the button ”Choose file” and navigate to where the image is located on your computer and double click the file. The window will now show the file name in the “Source filename” window. You can then rename the uploaded file in the “Destination filename” window. Add a description of the image to the “Summary” window. Note the description must include: An image name as a section heading. Any further description of what the image shows. A subsection labeled “Reference” and under this the original image source, appropriate reference and all copyright information. Finally a template indicating that this is a student image. {{Template:Student Image}} Images not including the above information will be deleted by the course coordinator and be considered in the student assessment process. Students cannot delete uploaded images. Contact the course coordinator with the file address.

Referencing First Read the help page Referencing All references used in making your project page should be cited where they appear in the text or images. In page edit mode where XXXX is the PubMed ID number use the following code. <ref name=”PMIDXXXX”><pubmed>XXXX</pubmed></ref> For references not listed on PubMed, and text can be inserted between <ref></ref> tags. Where the reference list will appear make a new section and on a new line the following code. <references/>

Plagiarism First Read the help page Copyright Tutorial Currently all students originally assigned to each group are listed as equal authors/contributors to their project. If you have not contributed the content you had originally agreed to, nor participated in the group work process, then you should contact the course coordinator immediately and either discuss your contribution or request removal from the group author list. Remember that all student online contributions are recorded by date, time and the actual contributed content. A similar email reminder of this information was sent to all current students. Please note the Universities Policy regarding Plagiarism In particular this example: "Claiming credit for a proportion of work contributed to a group assessment item that is greater than that actually contributed;" Academic Misconduct carries penalties. If a student is found guilty of academic misconduct, the penalties include warnings, remedial educative action, being failed in an assignment or excluded from the University for two years. Please also read Copyright Tutorial with regard to content that can be used in your project.

Before 2009

Prior to 2009, students in ANAT2341 Embryology course worked on similar projects, but in the form of research posters. Towards the end of the course the posters were presented to the class for peer assessment.

Other Assessments

• Students also submit individual assessments each week online based upon the practical class they had just completed.
• A similar project format is used in the science ANAT3231 Cell Biology course.

Links

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Online Projects

• ANAT2341 Embryology Projects 2009 - 2012
• ANAT3231 Cell Biology Projects 2009 - 2012

Glossary Links

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Cite this page: Hill, M.A. (2024, April 23) Embryology Medicine Learning and Teaching Forum 2012 - Online Projects. Retrieved from https://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/index.php/Medicine_Learning_and_Teaching_Forum_2012_-_Online_Projects

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© Dr Mark Hill 2024, UNSW Embryology ISBN: 978 0 7334 2609 4 - UNSW CRICOS Provider Code No. 00098G