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Making the Most of Final Year Projects
Tuesday 13th January, 2004
Cardiff University
Over 35 delegates congregated in the splendid setting of the committee
rooms of the Glamorgan Building. The event was the second in a series
of events in collaboration with our Special
Interest Group on Final Year Projects. The order of the day broadly followed the chronology of a project
and so started with presentations on why we do projects, student expectations
and the thorny issue of allocation before moving on to student preparation,
good supervision, assessment and post-submission activities. The theme
of the day was making the most of projects from both a staff and student
point of view. Following the welcome and introduction by LTSN Bioscience's
director - Prof Ed Wood the following sessions took place.
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Programme
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| 10.00 |
Registration; Tea and Coffee |
| 10.20 |
Welcome and Introduction
Update by LTSN Bioscience |
| 10.25 |
Keynote Presentation: Why offer Final Year Projects?
Prof Ed Wood, Director LTSN Bioscience |
| 10.50 |
Matching Student and Staff Expectations
Dr Janice Harland, Liverpool John Moores University |
| 11.20 |
Overview of Project Allocation
Dr Richard Cowie, Co-ordinator of the Final Year Projects Special Interest Group
- Brief report on project allocation practices based on the findings from the recent survey in Final Year Projects
- Discussion
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| 11.55 |
Student Preparation
Dr Mark Williams, University of Glamorgan
- The traditional method of preparing students for their final year project is the "embedded" approach, in which the young scientist develops their research skills as they progress through their degree course (nature). Practicals and projects are used to provide the student with the opportunity to gain the necessary research skills to enable them to conduct, in their final year, an independent research project. The "formal" approach (nuture) is to timetable, lecture series, tutorials and workshops on qualitative and quantitative research methods and to coincide these with the final year project. In either case the student is supervised by experienced staff members.
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| 12.25 |
Lunch |
| 13.10 |
Group Session
Dr Richard Cowie, Co-ordinator of the Final Year Projects Special Interest Group
- What is good supervision and support?
- Followed by Showcase of relevant resources
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| 14.10 |
Refreshments |
| 14.30 |
Overview of Assessment Practice
Dr Richard Cowie, Co-ordinator of the Final Year Projects Special Interest Group
- Brief report on project assessment based on the findings from the recent survey in Final Year Projects
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| 14.45 |
Portfolios as a means of assessment
Dr John Wright, University of East London |
| 15.15 |
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Dr Jac Potter, Chester College
- In 2001, with financial support from a LTSN Bioscience Teaching Development fund grant, the Department of Biological Sciences at University College Chester developed Origin, an in-house journal of undergraduate research. Published once a year, Origin aims to offer self-motivated students the opportunity to publish their research by providing a rigorous but supportive review and editorial process. The journal also functions as an accessible form of best practice of an achievable undergraduate standard to other students in the Department.
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| 15.45 |
Plenary |
PDF summary
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