Transcript Tutorials via Social Networking. Samer El-Daher, Lucie Pollard School of Science • Some of the difficulties of teaching large classes are that: – Staff are.

Tutorials via Social
Networking.
Samer El-Daher, Lucie Pollard
School of Science
• Some of the difficulties of teaching large
classes are that:
– Staff are not able to engage sufficiently with
students to monitor progress
– Students are not able to self assess their own
progress
– Feedback on work is not timely
Student learning is best supported
when:
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Assessed tasks capture sufficient student time and effort
These tasks distribute student effort evenly across topics & weeks
These tasks engage students in productive learning activity
Assessment communicates clear and high expectations to students
Sufficient feedback is provided, often enough & in enough detail
The feedback is provided quickly enough to be useful to students
Feedback focuses on learning rather than on marks or students
Feedback is linked to the purpose of the assignment and to criteria
Feedback is understandable to students, given their sophistication
Feedback is received by students and attended to
Feedback is acted upon by students to improve their work or their
learning
(Brown et al 2003)
Methods
• A Biology and Physiology
course was selected as a pilot
• Tutorials were delivered using
the student portal
• Tutorials were uploaded on
day of the lecture and left for 1
week.
• Students were given 2-3
attempts with a time limit of 1-2
hours depending on the
difficulty level.
• Feedback on answers was
provided on a later date.
• Students use of the tutorials
was tracked and marks
assigned according to use
Results of the Essay
40
35
30
25
2006-2007
20
2007-2008
15
10
5
90-100
80-89
70-79
60-69
50-59
40-49
30-30
20-29
0-19
0
Results of the Phase Test
35
30
25
20
2006-2007
15
2007-2008
10
5
90-100
80-89
70-79
60-69
50-59
40-49
30-39
20-29
0-19
0
Table showing responses to the
course feedback BIOL 1002
.
Question
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
1 Strongly
Agree
20
16
16
14
15
11
28
24
22
20
2 Agree
20
23
25
18
24
24
15
17
14
18
3 Neither
agree or
disagree
4
7
7
10
10
11
2
5
8
9
4 Disagree
5
3
2
5
2
4
3
5
5
2
5 Strongly
disagree
3
1
1
3
1
1
2
2
2
4
Satisfaction
Student Evaluation of the Project
• 10 questions were asked (n=51)
• Question 7.
– The online tutorials were beneficial, 86% of students strongly
agreed and agreed.
• Question 8.
– I learnt more in this course because of the on line tutorial, 82% of
students strongly agreed and agreed.
• Question 9.
– I read more about Biology & Physiology because of the online
tutorials, 68% of students strongly agreed and agreed.
• Question 10.
– I would like to see more online tutorials for other courses, 76% of
students strongly agreed and agreed.
Conclusions
• Online tutorials work because they:
– encourage students to review contents
covered in the relevant lectures.
– encourage students to take control of their
own learning, finding sources, forming study
groups etc..
– encourage students, in general, to engage
with the programme.