Rebecca McCready Learning and Teaching Advisor School of Medical Sciences Education Development The IT Skills Certificate of Attainment

Content Which IT skills and why? Teaching in the curriculum IT skills assessment models The Certificate Feedback Improvements for 2011/12

Which IT skills? Essay Management Using Word Images and tables Long documents EndNote (with Library) Data Management Excel Access Presentation Skills PowerPoint Posters

Why is it important? The 1997 Dearing Report review of HE: Recommendations on key skills including use of information technology. »Yorke (2006) Greater and more complex use of IT in curriculum. Development takes time and practise. »Yorke (2006)

Teaching in the curriculum Stage 1Stage 2Stage 3 Essays Data Presentations Support for dissertation BSc PSYCHOLOGY DataEssays Presentations Essays Dissertation Support BSc BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES Essential to link skills taught to skills assessed

Integration is important “In no case can skills development be ‘boxed off’ from the rest of the curriculum, since students develop through a range of curricular (and extra-curricular) engagements.” »Yorke and Knight (2006)

Assessment Model: Biomed Sci Data Handling and Spreadsheet Skills Supports Pharmacology module Assessed on attendance, completion, coursework Stage 1 Document Management 01 Supports a range of word processed coursework Assessed on attendance, completion, coursework Stage 2 Document Management 02 Supports a range of word-processed coursework Assessed on attendance, completion, coursework Document Management 03 Supports dissertation Assessed on attendance and completion Stage 3 Formative feedback Summative assessment Formative feedback All attended and completed = Certificate awarded

Assessment Model: Psychology Essay Management PSY1001 (Text) PSY1010 (Objects) Formatted essay and report Data Handling PSY1010 Experiment write up Presentation Skills PSY1001 Delivered presentation Summative assessment Stage 1 All attended and assessed = Certificate awarded Also includes Library Skills assessment

Skills assessed – PSY1001 Marked by Library staff (5%): Search grid; Medline or PsycInfo. Marked by IT staff (5%): School template; Use of styles; Next page breaks; EndNote and APA 5 th style. Marked by Module Leader: Presentation skills (10%). Essay content (80%).

Skills assessed – Certificate only PSY1010 report: Captions and cross-references; Management of images and tables. Excel: Coursework submission in PSY1010.

Feedback provided

Why assess? “Curriculum goals should be assessed because that which is assessed gets taken seriously. That which isn’t, doesn’t.” »Yorke and Knight (2006)

Resits

Student success

Skills covered detailed on back. Distributed March ~60p/certificate

Why provide a Certificate? Students need to be ‘knowing students’. »Knight and Yorke (2006) Need help with claims to complex achievements that cannot be assessed by more traditional means. »Knight and Yorke (2006) Employability skills should be assessed. »UKCES (2010)

Feedback from Psychology

Feedback from Psychology

Feedback from Psychology } 15%

Feedback from Psychology 12% }

Feedback from Psychology

Improvements Course revisions Information Skills Assimilation: essay formatting skills only. Writing a lab report: Managing images and tables; Using captions, cross- references; Inserting equations. Admin improvements Clarify and simplify requirements. Simplify the administration. Provide feedback electronically. Make the physical certificate more generic. NEW

Conclusion TaughtAssessedUsed The Certificate: Focuses learning; Encourages uptake and use; Raises awareness of skills learnt; Rewards achievement; Provides evidence of employability skills. Key skills need to be

References Knight, P. T. and M. Yorke (2006). Employability: judging and communicating achievements. York, Higher Education Academy. UK Commission for Employment and Skills (2010). Employability: Incentivising Improvement. London, UKCES. Yorke, M. (2006). Employability in higher education: what it is – what it is not. York, Higher Education Academy. Yorke, M. and P. T. Knight (2006). Embedding employability into the curriculum. York, Higher Education Academy.

Further Information Contact x4542 Visit To discuss delivering and supporting IT skills in your curriculum