Methods Conference 20th March 2012

Probation Assessment

Faculty of Science

Why do we conduct a probation

assessment?

• Monitoring progress

• Monitoring the project

• Is the student-supervisor team working?

• Address any issues

Time Table

Evidence

Deadline

Full Time (assuming Oct start)

Part Time

Probation ReportEnd month 9 (June)

End month 18

Mini-VivaEnd month 10 (July)

End month 20

Oral presentationEnd month 10 (July)

End month 20

STM895 Summary

Initial Skills AuditEnd month 3 (December)

End month 6

Development plan; progress file

End month 9 (June)

End month 18

The Probation Report

• What's the purpose?

• How long?

• What does it consist of?

The Research Question

• What?

• Why?

• What contribution will it make?

• What are the likely outcomes

Review the Existing Knowledge

• Literature review

• Sets your research work in context

• Accurate

• Comprehensive

• Demonstrate your understanding

Your Research Strategy

• Why are you taking the strategy?

• What other approaches are possible?

• Show you understand how the strategy fits

• What happens if...?

Work Plan

• What's the likely “road map”?

• Where are the “branch points”?

• Where will you take stock and review the project?

• Are there strategic staging points?

Activity 1

• Thinking ahead to the first year report

Oral Presentation

• The requirement is merely that to deliver an oral

presentation

• There is no assessment

• Where might you deliver an oral presentation?

The Mini-Viva• Panel of two academics,

• Rigorous...

• ...but not overly formal or daunting

• Intended to confirm that you and your project are on the

right track.

• It's good practice!

Activity 2

• Thinking ahead to the mini viva

Preparing for the Probationary

Assessment

• Don't leave it till the last possible minute

• Keep up with the literature – at all times

• Discuss your progress with your supervisory team, your

fellow students, your PG tutor

•Possible outcomes of probation assessment

•PhD confirmed

•PhD not confirmed yet, remedial action

•PhD not confirmed – Mphil

•Deregistration

What are the outcomes?

E-Portfolio

•Skills Audit

•Suggested evidence

•E-portfolio demonstration

Skills AuditSkill

Level/comment

I am able to design and implement

new experimental work independently

No - I have only 3 months epxrience

I can evaluate and interpret my

research results

Yes

I am able to include results from

colleagues’ research when planning

my research

No I don’t need to

I am able to consider PhD theses

linked to my field of research and

relate these to my research

No Not needed

I can use general instrumental

techniques (e.g. ir, uv, nmr,)

No – I need training on the nmr

I am able to distinguish ‘data’ from

‘results’ and ‘evaluation of results’

Yes

I am able to assess my progress

regularly

Yes

Suggested evidence• Skills Audit

• Literature review (if not covered in 1st year report)

• Gantt Charts for short term and long term plan

• Risk and COSHH assessments for office and/or laboratory environment

• 1st year report

• Record of 1st year viva

• 1st year presentation

• Seminar attendance record

• Record of Lab books

• Record of supervisor and/or group meetings

The e-portfolios

• MyStuff

• Mohara

• Google Docs

• Pebble Pad