Engaging clinical MSc students in learning: a case study from LSTMR Weigel

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Trop 938- Current clinical challenges in Tropical Medicine

In 2010 the module was completely revised

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Trop 938

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Trop 938 Trop 938 Trop 938

Case reviews Presentations and

Discussion Prior reading

Tutorials Lab work

Group Work

Revision

Module evaluation through student satisfaction survey

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Satisfaction survey 2013

Well organised

Learning outcomes made clear

Module relevant

Understood what was expected for assessment

Assessment workload manageable

Independant learning encouraged

Found module interesting

Received support I needed

Helped me to develop my personal skills

VLE was used effectively

Satisfied with module overall

1 2 3 4

(1- definitely agree; 4- definitely disagree)

Mean score

5

Questions

• Does this measure what we wanted to achieve with our complete revision in 2010?

• Is it this what we are really interested in?

The core of our efforts during the module revision- to improve learning through a student centered teaching approach - is not reflected in this survey!

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Engagement survey 2013 (1- never/not at all; 5- very often/very much)

Analysing ideas or theories in depth

Evaluating a point of view, decision, or information source

Forming a new idea or understanding

Applying knowledge to new situations

Pushed to work harder than you thought you could?

Challenged you to do your best work?

How often have you come unprepared ?

Worked with other students on course tasks or assignments

Explained course material to other students

Discussed ideas from your course with others

Asked questions in class

Discussed your academic performance and/or feedback …

Discussed ideas from your course with staff outside

Talked about your career plans with staff

1 2 3 4 5Mean score

Questions adapted from: A Buckley, Engagement for enhancement. HEA 2013

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Use of VLE- Trop 938 hits per day Semester 1

- Teaching day -exam

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Use of VLE- Trop 938 total hits

Per day

1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 230

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

time

hits

Per hour

MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUN0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

hits

Trop 983 teaching days Trop 983 contact time

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Limitations

• Mainly descriptive• Generalisibility• No control• VLE „hits“ as proxy for activity• Engagement as proxy for learning• Bias

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Conclusion

• Engagement- survey oReflects what‘s going on (and what I am interested in as

course convenor)oFindings seem to be supported by VLE hitsoAdds contribution of teaching staff to student engagement oHelps students‘ to reflect on their learning

Engagement survey for regular use in module evaluation? Tracking of VLE hits part of routine module evaluation?