Using the WebCT discussions function for seminars Mike Parkes School of Sport

1
Using the WebCT discussions function for
seminarsMike ParkesSchool of Sport
Exercise Sciences
2

• Problem-
• persuading students to do work on WebCT when they
  get no marks for it
• Grab their attention
• They must see they can get something useful by
  participating

Ø
Ø
Ø
3

• Interesting Task
• Students download 15 old student essays from
  WebCt
• And given 10 days to mark the essays
• Also follow Links to Sportex webpage with marking
  schemes
• http//www.sportex.bham.ac.uk/undergraduate/grades
  .htm
• http//www.sportex.bham.ac.uk/undergraduate/assess
  ment.htm
• enter marks into WebCT assessment tool
• In the Seminar
• Lecturer produces a graph comparing student marks
  with Tutors marks

Ø
Ø
Ø
4
Essay marking seminar 04/05
Ø
Ø
But they still dont get any marks for doing
this! How else can we make it interesting?
Ø
5
Student WebCT discussion First student
enters 10 Points I learnt from marking the
essays remaining students enter
I agree

or new points

• Using the discussions tool
• to show there is something useful in it for them
• Student lists 10 points I learnt from marking the
  essays

Ø
Ø
Ø
Ø
6
Student discussion, 10 Points I learnt from
marking the essays

• January 23, 2006 146, Author Smith, Jim
• 1. Don't ask a question in a middle of an essay.
  It looks untidy!
• 2. If use abbreviations, e.g. Ve for Ventilation,
  then make sure you use it everytime you mention
  ventilation rather than switching between the
  two.
• 3. Good idea to eliminate all possible mechanisms
  and then mention the one proposed,
• 4. Make sure an ideal experiment is suggested
  method, number of subjects etc.
• 6. Use proper scientific terminology and don't
  be colloquial.
• 7. If anaesthetic was given then explain
  disdvantages or problems, e.g. how do you know
  everything was blocked?
• 8. In a 'discuss' essay then provide both sides
  of an rgument, i.e. for and against.
• 9. Be detailed but concise - especially in an
  exam.
• 10. Don't put, ... "This essay will discuss..."
  .

Ø
Ø
Ø
7
Student discussions

• J anuary 23, 2006 658 PM , Author James
• I agree with all the points apart from 10
• i think you should state 'what the essay will
  discuss
• Author Emily
• I agree that there is no need to put
• in this essay i will discuss....just get on and
  do it!
• Anna
• I agree! However, the use of abbreviations
  should be scientific one's not your own, as an
  examiner reading it will be confused after
  reading several essays if everyone uses their own
  abbreviations.
• Author Steven
• I agree with all the points mentioned.
• In addition, state why a reference is useful
  before explaining it.

Ø
Ø
Ø
Ø
8

• Annabel
• 1. Always write an introduction and a
  conclusion.
• 2. Include in the the introduction what you
  are going to say in the essay.
• 3. At the end, summarise what you have
  written.
• 4. If using abbreviations, explain what
  they mean.
• 5. Answer the question properly and do not
  include irrelevant information.
• 6. Give more information about each
  experiment discussed, not just the
• conclusions that can be drawn from the
  results.
• 7. Justify your essay. It looks neater.
• 8. Make sure you write enough, especially
  in the exam.
• 9. Check spelling and grammar thoroughly,
  mistakes look really bad.
• 10. Reference correctly and consistently.

Ø
Ø
Ø
9

• author Emily
• An additional point to those already made -
  simply ensure that the
• conclusion does relate to the question
  being asked.
• so many essays dont really seem to address the
  question that well
• Author Matthew
• I thought that the shorter exam answers got to
  the point a bit quicker.
• Author James Great point Matt!!
• Author Emily
• 5. Although an overview of mechanisms not related
  to the question may be useful, dont spend over
  half the essay focusing on them!
• 6. Relate each paragraph back to the
  question so it is obvious why you
• bother including it
• Author Lucille
• Reread the essay to correct stupid mistakes
  

Ø
Ø
Ø
Ø
Ø