Effective Learning in the Life Sciences: How Students can Achieve their Full Potential

278 Pages·2011·10.502 MB·English

by  David J. Adams (ed.)

Effective Learning in the Life Sciences
Effective Learning
in the Life Sciences
How Students Can Achieve Their Full Potential
Edited by David J. Adams
UK Centre for Bioscience, Higher Education Academy
Thiseditionfirstpublished2011(cid:1)2011byJohnWiley&Sons,Ltd
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LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData
Effectivelearninginthelifesciences:howstudentscanachievetheirfullpotential/[editedby]DavidAdams.
p. cm.
Summary:“DrawsonexperiencefromamajorprojectconductedbytheCentreforBioscience,withawide
rangeofcollaborators,designedtoidentifyandimplementcreativeteachinginbiosciencelaboratories
andfieldsettings”–Providedbypublisher.
Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex.
ISBN978-0-470-66156-7(cloth)–ISBN978-0-470-66157-4(paper)
1. Lifesciences–Studyandteaching(Higher) 2. Lifesciences–Studyandteaching(Higher)–Great
Britain. 3. Creativeteaching. 4. Biologicallaboratories. 5. Lifesciences–Research.
6. Lifesciences–Fieldwork. I. Adams,DavidJ.(DavidJames) II. UKCentreforBioscience.
QH315.E332011
570.71’1–dc23
2011022847
ePDF:9781119976653;WileyOnlineLibrary:9781119976646;ePub:9781119977636;Mobi:9781119977643
AcataloguerecordforthisbookisavailablefromtheBritishLibrary.
Thisbookispublishedinthefollowingelectronicformat:
Setin9.5/11.5ptTimesbyThomsonDigital,Noida,India
FirstImpression 2011
To my colleagues in the UK Centre for Bioscience.
It was a pleasure and a privilege to work with you all.
Contents
Listofcontributors xiii
Introduction xix
1 Creativity 1
DavidJ.AdamsandKevinByron
1.1 Introduction 1
1.2 Adaptorsandcreators 1
1.3 Definingproblems 2
1.4 Accessingyourcreativepotential 4
1.5 Creativitytechniques 7
1.6 Incubation 16
1.7 Workingingroups–creativeenvironments 18
1.8 Workingingroups–facilitatedcreativitysessions 19
1.9 HowmanyusesforanoldCD? 22
1.10 Evaluatingyourideas 22
1.11 Puttingyourideasintoaction 23
1.12 Howyoucanachieveyourcreativepotential 23
1.13 References 24
1.14 Additionalresources 24
2 Problemsolving–developingcritical,evaluativeandanalyticalthinkingskills 25
TinaL.Overton
2.1 Whatisproblemsolving? 25
2.2 Problem-solvingstrategies 26
2.3 Criticalthinking 31
2.4 Criticalreading 32
2.5 Usingjudgement 34
2.6 Constructinganargument 35
2.7 Visualisation–makingrepresentations 36
2.8 Otherstrategies 37
2.9 Pullingittogether 38
2.10 Howyoucanachieveyourpotentialasaproblemsolver 39
2.11 References 39
2.12 Additionalresources 40
3 Inthelaboratory 41
PaulineE.MillicanandDavidJ.Adams
3.1 Introduction 41
3.2 TheScientificMethod 42
viii CONTENTS
3.3 Preparingforalaboratoryclass 44
3.4 Laboratorynotebooks 45
3.5 Laboratoryequipment 46
3.6 Calculationsinthelaboratory 50
3.7 Workinginagroup 58
3.8 Workingonyourown 58
3.9 Writing-upexperiments–thelaboratoryreport 59
3.10 Concludingcomments 62
3.11 Howyoucanachieveyourpotentialinthelaboratory 62
3.12 Acknowledgements 62
3.13 References 62
3.14 Additionalresources 63
3.15 ProblemsassociatedwithKoch’spostulates 64
4 Fieldwork 65
JuliePeacock,JulianR.ParkandAliceL.Mauchline
4.1 Introduction 65
4.2 Fieldwork–excitingoroverwhelming? 66
4.3 Planningandtimemanagement 67
4.4 Groupworkandsocialaspectsoffieldwork 70
4.5 Collectingtherightdata 71
4.6 Technologyinthefield 73
4.7 Costs,sustainabilityandethics 75
4.8 Safetyandpermissions 76
4.9 Accessibility 81
4.10 Makingthemostofdifferenttypesoffieldwork 83
4.11 OvercomingtheproblemsthatWILLoccur 85
4.12 Feedbackandassessment 87
4.13 Concludingcomments 88
4.14 Howyoucanachieveyourpotentialduringfieldwork 88
4.15 References 88
4.16 Additionalresources 89
4.17 Potentialsolutionsforkick-samplingcasestudy 90
5 Invivowork 91
DavidI.Lewis
5.1 Introduction 91
5.2 Animalwelfarelegislation 92
5.3 Theprinciplesofthe3Rs 94
5.4 Alternativestotheuseofanimalsinthedevelopment
ofnewmedicines 96
5.5 Animalmodelsofdisease 98
5.6 Experimentaldesign 99
5.7 Recognitionofpain,sufferingorillhealthinanimalsusedforresearch 100
5.8 Ethicalreviewofinvivostudies 101
5.9 Harm/benefitanalysis 105
5.10 Theargumentsforandagainstanimalexperimentation 105
5.11 Howyoucanachieveyourpotentialininvivowork 108
5.12 References 108
5.13 Additionalresources 109
CONTENTS ix
6 Researchprojects 111
MartinLuck
6.1 Introduction 113
6.2 Researchproject–roleandpurpose 113
6.3 ApplyingtheScientificMethod 114
6.4 Typesofprojectandideasforresearch 116
6.5 Characteristicsofgoodresearchprojects 118
6.6 Workingingroups 125
6.7 Writingup 126
6.8 Thepossibilityofpublication 128
6.9 Howyoucanachieveyourpotentialduringfinal-yearproject
studies 128
6.10 Tutornotes 129
6.11 Acknowledgements 131
6.12 References 131
6.13 Additionalresources 131
7 Mathsandstatsforbiologists 133
DawnHawkins
7.1 Introduction 133
7.2 Motivation–thischapterisimportant! 134
7.3 Confidence–youcandoit! 139
7.4 Skills–doit! 142
7.5 Howyoucanachieveyourpotentialinbiomaths 148
7.6 Acknowledgements 148
7.7 References 148
7.8 Additionalresources 149
8 E-learningforbiologists 151
JoL.Badge,JonJ.A.ScottandTerryJ.McAndrew
8.1 Introduction 151
8.2 Onlineworkingenvironment 151
8.3 Resources 154
8.4 Legalconsiderations 159
8.5 Protectingyourwork 160
8.6 Organisation 161
8.7 Developingasaprofessional 162
8.8 Informationonline 163
8.9 Workingeffectively 168
8.10 Howyoucanachieveyourpotentialusingcomputersand
onlineresources 171
8.11 References 172
8.12 Additionalresources 172
9 Bioethics 175
ChrisJ.R.Willmott
9.1 Introduction 175
9.2 Theriseofethicsinthebiosciencecurriculum 175
9.3 Whatexactlyisbioethics? 177
x CONTENTS
9.4 Puttingthecaseforethicseducation 181
9.5 Developinginsightintoethicalissues 185
9.6 Takingitfurther 186
9.7 Conclusion 190
9.8 Howyoucanachieveyourpotentialinbioethics 190
9.9 Tutornotes 190
9.10 References 192
9.11 Additionalresources 193
10 Assessment,feedbackandreview 195
StephenJ.MawandPaulOrsmond
10.1 Introductionandsomedefinitions 195
10.2 Typesofassessment 197
10.3 Markingcriteria 198
10.4 Learningoutcomes 198
10.5 Feedback 199
10.6 Peersupport–learningfromandwithyourclassmates 203
10.7 Peerassessment 205
10.8 Self-reviewandassessment 207
10.9 Bringingitalltogether 208
10.10 Howyoucanuseassessment,feedbackandreviewto
helpyouachieveyourpotential 209
10.11 References 210
10.12 Additionalresources 210
11 Communicationinthebiosciences 213
JoannaVerranandMaureenM.Dawson
11.1 Introduction 213
11.2 Communicationskillsintheundergraduatecurriculum 214
11.3 Opportunitiestodevelopcommunicationskills 214
11.4 Writtencommunication 216
11.5 Visualcommunication 219
11.6 Oralcommunication 226
11.7 Publicengagement 228
11.8 Howyoucanachieveyourpotentialasacommunicator 233
11.9 References 233
11.10 Additionalresources 233
12 Bioenterprise 235
LeeJ.Beniston,DavidJ.AdamsandCarolWakeford
12.1 Introduction 235
12.2 Phase1 Identifyingandprotectinganidea 238
12.3 Phase2 Researchingthemarketpotentialforyouridea 240
12.4 Phase3 Settingoutyourideasandgoals–thebusinessplan 243
12.5 Communicatingyourbusiness–the‘Pitch’ 252
12.6 Concludingcomments 253
12.7 Howyoucanachieveyourenterprisingandentrepreneurial
potential 253
12.8 Tutornotes 254
CONTENTS xi
12.9 References 254
12.10 Additionalresources 255
Appendix 257
Index 261
List of contributors
DavidJ.Adams
UKCentreforBioscience,HigherEducationAcademy
Room9.15,WorsleyBuilding
UniversityofLeeds
Leeds,LS29JT
JoL.Badge
SchoolofBiologicalSciences
UniversityofLeicester
UniversityRoad
Leicester,LE17RH
LeeJ.Beniston
LeedsUniversityBusinessSchool
MauriceKeyworthBuilding
UniversityofLeeds
Leeds,LS29JT
KevinByron
TheLearningInstitute
Room3.03A,FrancisBancroftBuilding
MileEndCampus
QueenMary,UniversityofLondon
London,E14NS
MaureenM.Dawson
c/oCentreforLearningandTeaching
ManchesterMetropolitanUniversity
2ndFloor,CavendishNorth
CavendishStreet
Manchester,M156BG