Technology and peer-tutoring can be beneficial to support year 1 student’s transitions to university. This project aims to evaluate students’ engagement and feedback on a new E-learning guide, developed by students for students, focused on underpinning chemistry topics. The results will provide essential information on how to offer effective support to students adapting to university study.
Department: Pharmacy
Supervised by: Silvia Amadesi
Background To support our year 1 Physician Associate Studies (MPAS) and BSc in Pharmacology (BSc Pharma) undergraduates in their transition to university, we previously developed an induction guide on underpinning chemistry topics. Therefore, a new E-guide was prepared by a UROP project student during Summer 2021. The E-guide, comprising a total of 13 lessons, was made available in September 2021 to 89 year 1 and 34 year 2 MPAS, BSc in Pharmacology and Medical Science undergraduates. Each lesson had a dedicated page for students’ comments. However, if students engaged with this preparatory E-guide, appreciated or benefitted from this intervention must be evaluate. Aims • To evaluate students ‘use of’ and ‘views on’ the newly developed E-guide. • To understand the impact of this supporting material on students’ experiences and learning. Summary of the work: • Learning analytics, provided by the Lt online platform used to deploy the E-guide, will be used to evaluate students’ engagement with each lesson. • Thematic analysis will be used to examine students’ comments. • A correlation between feedback and other variables including students’ engagement and year of study will also be determined. Impact of the work: This project will further our understanding of year 1 student’s needs when adapting to university study. It will help us to improve the support currently offered and develop new one, to ultimately enhance students’ experience and learning. This project is a great opportunity for the UROP-student to start developing ‘scholarship and qualitative’ research skills and also boost employability skills including working independently, communication, time management and leadership.
The tasks the student will undertake during the project are summarised below. Week 1. The student will evaluate students’ engagement with each lesson using learning analytics provided by the Lt online platform, used to deploy the E-guide. Data from 123 students, for the 13 lessons, will be downloaded and analysed using excel. Correlation with the year of study will be also performed. Advice and expertise on the use of excel and of the Lt online platform will be provided by the project supervisor (Dr Amadesi). Weeks 2-4. The student will examine the students\ feedback on the content and format of each of the lessons. Any students’ comments added to the dedicated page in each of the lessons will be first downloaded as an excel file. Comments will be then ‘coded’ to identify ‘common themes’ and thus analysed by thematic analysis, a standard approach used for qualitative data. Advice and expertise on the use of thematic analysis will be provided by the project supervisor (Dr Amadesi). Advice and expertise on the application of chemistry to health sciences required to address student feedback or amend the current guide will be provided by staff contributing to this project (Prof Osborn) Week 5. The student will perform a correlation between students’ engagement and variables including year of study (week 1 results) and students’ views (week 2-4 results). Week 6. The student will present the data obtained to selected members of RSoP staff with expertise in application of chemistry to health sciences, to discuss students’ views and possible changes to the E-guide content and structure. Future work: The benefit of the E-guide to students’ learning will be evaluated comparing students’ academic achievements before and after the implementation of the new E- guide. This will constitute part of a follow-up project
The ideal candidate will be an enthusiastic part 2 student enrolled on the MPAS, BSc Pharma, MedSci or MPharm programmes with interest in chemistry topics. Experience in developing online and learning material or in qualitative research is not required. However, the candidate should have the following skills: • Excellent knowledge of appropriate chemistry • Excellent writing skills and ability to work independently and as part of a team • Excellent computer and problem-solving skills Also, the student should be: • Able to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing • Able to work to deadlines The ideal candidate will have a strong desire to further develop the above skills
The student will develop essential skills, personal qualities and values that will also support the development of employability skills. The further skills developed as a result of the placement are listed below: • The student will start developing some research skills and awareness on data collection and qualitative data analysis methodologies. This will support the development of essential skills for their final year dissertation. • The student will use Microsoft Excel (to collect and analyse data), Word (to write their results) and PowerPoint (to present their results) software, the Lt online learning platform (that supports the E-guide), and also MS Teams (to organise meetings and discussion of the project). Thus, they will develop advanced computer skills. • The student will have to organise and chair meetings with staff as well as complete tasks by a set deadline, thus they will improve their organisational and leadership skills and their ability to work independently. • The student will need to use their initiative when analysing the data (particularly when applying thematical analysis, weeks 2-4), preparing for their meetings with the supervisors (week 1-6) or presenting to staff (week6). Thus, the student will develop initiative, problem-solving and decision-making, written and presentation skills. • The student will have the opportunity to reinforce their knowledge on basic understanding on chemistry with undoubtable benefits to their development as student
The project will be carried out using computer and online resources. The student will be encouraged to work virtually and off-campus or at home if there is a need for social distancing. If necessary, access to a desk space to work on campus will be provided (Hopkins building, first floor). Communication with the supervisors including induction on how to use the Lt platform will be provided through face-to face and/or virtual meetings
flexible
Wednesday 15 June 2022 - Saturday 30 July 2022
The post will be advertised centrally on the UROP website between 21st February and 4th April 2022. Students should submit their CV and Cover Letter directly to the Project Supervisor (click on supervisor name at the top of the page for email). Successful candidates will be invited for an interview.