Using the WebCT discussions function for seminars Mike Parkes School of Sport & Exercise Sciences

Problem- persuading students to do work on WebCT when they get no marks for it Grab their attention They must see they can get something useful by participating   

Interesting Task Students download ~15 old student essays from WebCt And given 10 days to mark the essays Also follow Links to Sportex webpage with marking schemes enter marks into WebCT assessment tool In the Seminar Lecturer produces a graph comparing student marks with Tutor’s marks   

Essay marking seminar 04/05 mean +/-~2sd students' essay marks 04/05 Tutors' marks   But they still don’t get any marks for doing this! How else can we make it interesting? 

Using the discussions tool to show there is something useful in it for them Student lists 10 points I learnt from marking the essays   Student WebCT discussion First student enters 10 Points I learnt from marking the essays remaining students enter “I agree” or new points  

Student discussion, 10 Points I learnt from marking the essays January 23, :46, Author: Smith, Jim 1. Don't ask a question in a middle of an essay. It looks untidy! 2. If use abbreviations, e.g. Ve for Ventilation, then make sure you use it everytime you mention ventilation rather than switching between the two. 3. Good idea to eliminate all possible mechanisms and then mention the one proposed, 4. Make sure an ideal experiment is suggested; method, number of subjects etc. 6. Use proper scientific terminology and don't be colloquial. 7. If anaesthetic was given then explain disdvantages or problems, e.g. how do you know everything was blocked? 8. In a 'discuss' essay then provide both sides of an rgument, i.e. for and against. 9. Be detailed but concise - especially in an exam. 10. Don't put,... "This essay will discuss...".   

J anuary 23, :58 PM, Author: James I agree with all the points apart from 10; i think you should state 'what the essay will discuss‘ Author: Emily I agree that there is no need to put: in this essay i will discuss....just get on and do it! Anna I agree! However, the use of abbreviations should be scientific one's not your own, as an examiner reading it will be confused after reading several essays if everyone uses their own abbreviations. Author: Steven I agree with all the points mentioned. In addition, state why a reference is useful before explaining it. Student discussions    

Annabel 1. Always write an introduction and a conclusion. 2. Include in the the introduction what you are going to say in the essay. 3. At the end, summarise what you have written. 4. If using abbreviations, explain what they mean. 5. Answer the question properly and do not include irrelevant information. 6. Give more information about each experiment discussed, not just the conclusions that can be drawn from the results. 7. Justify your essay. It looks neater. 8. Make sure you write enough, especially in the exam. 9. Check spelling and grammar thoroughly, mistakes look really bad. 10. Reference correctly and consistently.   

author: Emily An additional point to those already made - simply ensure that the conclusion does relate to the question being asked. so many essays dont really seem to address the question that well Author: Matthew I thought that the shorter exam answers got to the point a bit quicker. Author: James Great point Matt!! Author: Emily 5. Although an overview of mechanisms not related to the question may be useful, dont spend over half the essay focusing on them! 6. Relate each paragraph back to the question so it is obvious why you bother including it Author: Lucille Reread the essay to correct stupid mistakes     