{"id":6274,"date":"2020-02-03T08:53:08","date_gmt":"2020-02-03T08:53:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/digitaldevelopment\/?p=6274"},"modified":"2024-07-04T11:28:01","modified_gmt":"2024-07-04T10:28:01","slug":"dr-jillian-thompson-and-dr-dan-corbett-making-use-of-quizzes-in-canvas-to-enhance-laboratory-teaching-and-safety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/digihubtest\/2020\/02\/03\/dr-jillian-thompson-and-dr-dan-corbett-making-use-of-quizzes-in-canvas-to-enhance-laboratory-teaching-and-safety\/","title":{"rendered":"Use of Canvas Quizzes in Canvas to Enhance Laboratory Teaching and Safety"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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In this blog post Dr Jillian Thompson and Dr Dan Corbett from the school of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering describe about how they have used quizzes to prep students ahead of lab classes.<\/p>\n

As with many aspects of teaching\u00a0and assessment, a significant contribution to students\u2019\u00a0success\u00a0in\u00a0laboratory classes\u00a0is the level of preparation\u00a0they undertake\u00a0before\u00a0attending the class.\u00a0Preparation for laboratory sessions\u00a0generally requires\u00a0students\u00a0to\u00a0review\u00a0theoretical content that they\u00a0previously\u00a0studied\u00a0during lectures;\u00a0gain an overview of what experiments they will do and how they\u00a0will do them;\u00a0and importantly, understand the risks that the experimental work will pose to themselves and others, and the steps they should take in the event of something going wrong!\u00a0<\/p>\n

However, there are\u00a0many\u00a0challenges\u00a0to providing the students\u00a0with\u00a0sufficient information to describe the experiment\u00a0and safety issues\u00a0before they have seen\u00a0the experiment\u00a0in the lab;\u00a0and\u00a0to do this\u00a0succinctly\u00a0and clearly so the main points\u00a0they need\u00a0are not lost in too much\u00a0detail.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

This can\u00a0lead to\u00a0students being\u00a0less\u00a0prepared\u00a0than they\u00a0realise\u00a0when they attend\u00a0laboratory practical sessions\u00a0and the administration of\u00a0these\u00a0being notoriously complex\u00a0and time-consuming\u00a0for staff to manage.\u00a0Making this process more efficient\u00a0and giving students feedback, focused on the key points they need to know,\u00a0before attending class not only allows for better\u00a0student\u00a0preparation but also\u00a0more time\u00a0during class\u00a0for practical teaching and learning.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Until now, it has\u00a0not been\u00a0possible to\u00a0easily\u00a0assess students\u2019 preliminary knowledge of practical experiments\u00a0before the class. Likewise, the assessment of students\u2019 knowledge of the health and safety considerations\u00a0has been difficult to assess past a cursory self-reported check that they have read the appropriate documents, and understood them.\u00a0Collection of paper-based assessments\u00a0covering these points,\u00a0at the start of the laboratory class also leads to more pressure on technical staff at a time when their expertise in the lab is most needed.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Within the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering,\u00a0Dr Jillian Thompson and Dr Dan Corbett are leading the development of\u00a0a\u00a0robust\u00a0approach\u00a0to\u00a0enhance practical aspects of teaching, in addition to streamlining the delivery of laboratory practical sessions, which\u00a0makes\u00a0use of a number of the basic functional aspects of Canvas. This project has so far\u00a0allowed\u00a0staff to make more valuable use of their time\u00a0during practical\u00a0classes, and enhanced\u00a0students\u2019\u00a0learning, understanding, and enjoyment of experimental work!\u00a0<\/p>\n

Watch the video below with Dr Dan Corbett, Lecturer (Education) to find out more about this project, and the benefits that have resulted so far.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Further information:<\/strong><\/p>