Supporting students with
directed learning
resources: advantages
of private study
Hazel Davey
Evolution of a module
• ~60 students without A level chemistry
• ~350 students with a mix of chemistry ability
Challenges
• Too big for lecture room
– Teach it twice, 6 workshop groups
• Assessment headache
– Slow turn-around
– Low feedback quality
• Mixed levels
– Too hard (lost)
– Too easy (bored)
Disengagement
Dissatisfaction
The Screening Quiz
Which route should you take?
• Screening test on Blackboard
– Email confirmation
Not limited to MCQs
•
A new element has been discovered and its name is Iberonium
(symbol Ib). It has a valency of three and readily forms
compounds. Give the formulae of its chloride, sulphide,
sulphate, phosphate and hydroxide. You do not need to use
subscripted numbers but letters and numbers must be in the
right order with brackets included only where necessary.
• IbCl3, Ib2S3, Ib2(SO4)3, IbPO4, Ib(OH)3
Instant Feedback
Student views
•
•
•
•
100% in favour of E-coursework
A few problems with computer crashes(*)
80% still appreciated workshops
Few recognised “Feedback”
There’s always (at least) one
•Hey Hazel i opened the test to do it and
i walked away and forgot about it and
went to a party, then i came back drunk
and shut down my laptop while the test
was still open, is there any way i can re
do it? I only answered question 1
Third year – microbial growth
• Excel worksheet
– Growth measurement data
• Analyse provided data
• Write research paper
• Workshops
– explain and support
log10 ( N )  log10 ( N 0 )
v
log10 (2)(t  t 0 )
Correct answer
Explanations of
wrong answers
Student views
• “the website has been a blessing.”
• “Allowed me to understand the concepts
in a much more visual way”
• “Great way to learn! Should be rolled
out across the whole 3 years”
Advice
• Don’t expect to save any time in year 1
• Do think carefully and creatively about
questions
• Do talk to the Blackboard team
• Do expect to have to repeat yourself
• Do review answers
Summary
• Good feedback from students
• Needs thought / planning and
investment of time
• Effective
– Reduces marking workload
– Instant / rapid feedback possible
– Improves results