Developing Problem Solving Skills in Bioscientists

Problem solving skills are highly valued by academics and employers. Unfortunately, research supervisors and industrialists frequently indicate that many of our graduates have very poor problem solving abilities; for the majority of our students there would therefore appear to be a need to reach the parts that currently our educational systems fail to reach. It is also important to note that bioscience courses are increasingly taught in a climate of reduced funding per student, increased student numbers and burgeoning subject content. We are therefore faced with the very considerable challenge of developing students’ problem solving skills in this difficult environment.

In response to these challenges the Centre organised a workshop along the the theme: ‘Engaging Students: What’s the Problem?’ The report from this workshop, its recommendations and accompanying materials provide a taster of what is currently happening in bioscience. Ultimately it will form the basis of a more extensive resource in support of the development of problem solving skills in our community.

Get your copy of the report

Copies of the report are available free of charge upon request to the Centre. Please email heabioscience@leeds.ac.uk or telephone us on 0113 343 3001.

Download the Report: Developing Problem Solving Skills in Bioscientists

Accompanying materials

Case Study 1 — John Shuttleworth, University of Birmingham
The examples of worksheets, handouts and tutor's notes, together with a summary of a recent course evaluation, are contained in these files:

• Research Methods Session 1
• Research Methods Session 2
• Research Methods Session 3
• Draft Research MS
• Course evaluation

Case Study 2 — Raul Sutton & Sara Short, University of Wolverhampton
Appendices 1 - 3, referred to in this case study, are contained in this file:

• Appendices 1-3

£100 paid for further case studies