School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Edinburgh

Preparing students for University:

Recent initiatives in The School of Biomedical Sciences (SBMS)

Dr Celine Caquineau, Dr Deborah Shaw, Dr Allison Wroe, Dr Phil Larkman

1. Pre-arrival questionnaires (Debbie Shaw)

2. Our Changing World and the Critical Thinking MOOC (Celine Caquineau)

3. Biomedical Sciences 1 - a new Semester 1, Year 1 course (Allison Wroe)

4. Group activity and Discussion. “Key Characteristics of a Semester 1, Year 1 course in your discipline/area of expertise”

School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Edinburgh

Pre-arrival questions as a means of enhancing student support and managing expectations

Debbie Shaw

School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Edinburgh

Why did we issue a pre-arrival questionnaire?

• Enhanced Personal Tutor meetings

• Understanding our students views, expectations and aspirations about – The degree programme– The University– Student life

What we have done….2013/14• All new entrants into the BSc (Hons) Medical Sciences degree were

asked to complete a short, simple, pre-arrival questionnaire (5 questions in total).– 100% response rate– Answers analysed

• Answers used in follow-up questionnaire to establish how well expectations were met.

2014/15• New entrants for 2014 issued pre-arrival questionnaire (8 questions

in total)– 86% response rate– Answers analysed

Activity“Pre-arrival questions”

2014 Pre-arrival questionnaire

Follow-up questionnaire

• 10 questions based on the answers given in the pre-arrival questionnaire

• Anonymous

• On-line

• Separate surveys for year 1 and year 2 (direct entry) students

Follow-up questionnaire

• My first year of studies on the Medical Sciences degree programme has met my expectations with respect to:

Follow-up questionnaireYear 1 Average Rating DE Average Rating

Furthering my knowledge of the Medical Sciences

4.58 4.45

Furthering my interest in the Medical Sciences

4.58 4.36

Providing good preparation for my future career

4.42 4.00

Providing an excellent standard of teaching

4.42 4.09

Providing exposure to an excellent standard of research

4.08 4.09

The range of courses available to me

3.83 3.82

Year 1 n=12, DE n=11Answers were provided on a Likert scale from 1-5.1= strongly disagree, 2= Disagree, 3= Neither agree nor disagree, 4= Agree and 5= strongly agree

Our response

• Introduction of peer support scheme– Med Sci (Academic) Families

• Themed workshops – Based on student feedback– aimed at enhancing career and employability

• Input from staff from the Employability Consultancy within dedicated meetings– to help emphasise the importance of recognising and mapping the

development of graduate attributes throughout the student journey.

Our Changing World and the Critical Thinking MOOC

Celine Caquineau

School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Edinburgh

• 20 credit undergraduate course, now in its fifth year.

• Students in first, second and third year can enrol, as well as visiting students.

• This is irrespective of the subject area of study:

History, politics, Physics, Biomedical Sciences, Geosciences, Chemistry, Literatures, Physics, Engineering, Education

• Around 60 students

Our Changing World at a glance

“Fostering the excitement of being at Uni and developing key academic skills”

The School of Biomedical Sciences

• Enhance students’ studying skills, critical thinking skills and encourage autonomous learning

Our Changing World

• Examine the global challenges facing society and the role of academia in meeting these challenges.

Interdisciplinary course designed to

Freedom and space to explore, Feedback and Feedforward, tutor guidance and support.

Delivery/ Learning activities:

Public lectures

Facilitated group

discussions

Research report Group project Final Exam

Feedforward, Feedback, Peer Feedback

Critical Thinking in Global Challenges

• Introductory course designed to provide guidance and space to First year undergraduate students to develop their ability to

think critically.

• Massive open online course, launched in 2012 on Coursera.

• Informed by OCW,: Global challenges used as a context to practice critical thinking:

• Pragmatic approach to critical thinking: “Hands on”, NOT a formal course on logic

Critical Thinking in Global Challenges• Simple structure: “flexible small bites”

Short Videos Review Quizzes Exercises Discussions Final Exam

Feedback

• Feedback:

• Development of new initiatives:

220 651 enrolees over 3 years, ~210 countries represented, 14% completion rate.

Very positive from target audience

- Student Experience Project ( Abby Sholvin, Dawn Smith) Pilot run with Edinburgh College

- Universitas 21 Network Run as a closed instance for 1st year students from 16 institutions

Lessons Learned

• Giving 1st year students freedom and space to develop as learners works

• 1st year courses that focus on skills rather than disciplinary knowledge can work

• Large cohort courses can be fun and have quality feedback and assessment, rethinking of feedback and assessment practices

• Transition to university can be exciting and motivating.

Biomedical Sciences 1 - a new Semester 1, Year 1 course

Allison Wroe

School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Edinburgh

Biomedical Sciences 1

The School of Biomedical Sciences

• Cohort entering in 2015

• First semester course

• “Lightweight”?o Enthusiasm/excitemento Expectationso Transition

Biomedical Sciences 1Course structure

The School of Biomedical Sciences

• Lectureso Course theme – “Conception to Death”o Short serieso Hot topic/multi-disciplinary

• Facilitated group discussionso Lecture-relatedo Consolidating knowledgeo Research skills

Biomedical Sciences 1Course structure

The School of Biomedical Sciences

• TutorialsoDevelopment of skillso Independent learning; researching; writing;

understanding expectations

• Practicalso Traditionalo Case-study

Biomedical Sciences 1Assessment and feedback

The School of Biomedical Sciences

• 100% ICAo Essay – group formative feedback sessionso Group project – peer moderationo Reflective task – expectations and approach;

weekly reflective record

• Future initiatives

o Workshops

Group activity and Discussion.

School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Edinburgh

“Key Characteristics of a Semester 1, Year 1 course in your

discipline/area of expertise”