Upload
lambert-taylor
View
214
Download
0
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Academic Rigour…Academic Rigour…
Step by Challenging StepStep by Challenging Step
Escher: http://www.salineschools.com/users/davismar/EscherStairs.GIF
Mary M BuhrMary M BuhrDept of Animal & Poultry ScienceDept of Animal & Poultry Science
University of GuelphUniversity of Guelph
What is “academic rigour”?
•Knowing a concept well enough to explain it
clearly and accurately to someone else
•Understand the implications of the concept
•How to use it
Want students to think, but it’s not easy
Students may be:
•Scared of making mistakes/peer ridicule
•Anxious to get good grades
•Lazy•Lazy/not want to work•Lazy/not want to work/don’t care•Not used to it
Instructors may be:
• Scared of making mistakes• Anxious to avoid conflict• Not used to it• Need to provide background information
First things first….
• Get the academics right
http://www.hometips.com/images/content/stairs_intro.gif
What is the PURPOSE of the course?
• Clear outcome that I tell the students
• Secret added bonus purpose
ANSC*4120: Fundamentals of Animal Reproduction
Course Objectives:a. Provide a solid understanding of reproductive
processes
b. Enable you to apply this information to maintain and optimise reproductive efficiency.
What is the PURPOSE of the course?
• Clear outcome that I tell the students
• Secret added bonus purpose
• Make expectations/structure very clear
• Commit to a partnership
ANSC*4120: Fundamentals of Animal Reproduction
Course Objectives:a. Provide a solid grounding in reproductive processes
b. Enable you to apply this information to maintain and optimise reproductive efficiency.
Relevance to the Learning Objectives:a. Love of Learning: Independent student research
b. Independence of Thought: Group organises, assesses and presents a major project. Take home assignments require thoughtful application of academic material
c. Literacy: written lab reports; written report of group project
What is the PURPOSE of the course?
• Clear outcome that I tell the students
• Secret added bonus purpose
• Make expectations/structure very clear
• Commit to a partnership
• Detailed course outline
• schedule & description of activities
• due dates & grades all ‘gradable
components’
LECTURE SCHEDULE
Date TopicSept 11 Introduction: Reproductive concepts
13 Introducing Hormones 18,20 Hormones and male reproduction25 Making sperm27, Oct 2 Hormones and female reproduction
Take-home Assignment 1 handed out in class Oct 2. Due at start of class Oct 4.
………
Oct 18 Term Test (material including Sept 11 - October 11)
How is the student evaluated?
• Brief description of the nature of each piece
• Grade value
• Committed date for detailed instructions
•Earlier, electronic better
method of evaluation: Please read pages 36-37 of the 2005-06 Undergraduate
calendar for a description of what the various grades mean: I do my best to apply these criteria.
Term test (2 x 20%) 40%Lab work 13%Lab project 25% Take-home assignments (2x 6% + 1x10%) 22%
How is the student evaluated?
• Brief description of the nature of each
• Grade value
• Committed date for detailed instructions
•Earlier, electronic better
• Degree of flexibility, if any
• Academic integrity
method of evaluation: Please read pages 36-37 of the 2005-06 Undergraduate
calendar for a description of what the various grades mean: I do my best to apply these criteria.
Term test (2 x 20%) 40%Lab work 13%Lab project 25% Take-home assignments (2x 6% + 1x10%) 22%
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:academic code of conduct: use UG regulations, read calendar
Please, if you are having any problems handling the work or completing assignments for any reason, come and see me and we will work something out.
How is the student evaluated?
• Brief description of the nature of each
• Grade value
• Committed date for detailed instructions
•Earlier, electronic better
• Degree of flexibility, if any
• Academic integrity
• Nature of special/unusual assignments, plus
promise to practise in class
http://www.victorybriefs.net/webs/LiveNFL/frontpage/day5audience.jpghttp://www.somerset.kctcs.edu/theatre/Photo%20Gallery/Festival%20Audience.jpg$
Different groups need different things to stimulate them
Design ‘challenge’ assignments to engage students, and serve academic
needs
I keep reminding myself…
Students are like me and everybody else – they care about the things that
relate to their current lives.
Design ‘challenge’ assignments to engage students, and serve
academic needs
4th years• Majority of class
cares about the subject of the course
• Intrigued by an actual use of their education
http://netti.nic.fi/~amantes/1am_litter_E.jpg
Design ‘challenge’ assignments to engage students, and serve
academic needs
1st years• Wide range of
commitment to course content
• Intrigued by things they do, are, or live with
http://www.speight.org/pets%20together%20on%20couch.jpg
Once the academic basics are set….
http://www.hometips.com/images/content/stairs_intro.gif
…how do we add the challenge?
http://www.uofpp.uillinois.edu/docs/UIC/images/0919%20Molecular%20Biology%20Research%20Building/0919I02%20MBRB%20STAIRS.JPG
Start with the simple things…
• Get them talking
http://www.scrapbookscrapbook.com/DAC-ART/images/spiral-stairs/spiral-stairs-cambridge-england-2.jpg
http://i2.ebayimg.com/02/i/04/d6/88/3a_1_b.JPG
http://www.pratt.duke.edu/download/ciemas_classroom.jpg
http://www.eiu.edu/~eiuaam/newsletter/archive/dec04/images/question.jpg
Start with the simple things…
how do I get them talking?
http://www.scrapbookscrapbook.com/DAC-ART/images/spiral-stairs/spiral-stairs-cambridge-england-2.jpg
• Learn their names
• Ask questions & wait for answers
• use ‘buzz groups’
Work in pairs or groups
• Safety, new thinking
• Need to allow display of individual ability
•Similar ‘challenge’ style question on tests
•Later assignments, allow choice of group or self
A sample for in-class practice:(4th year animal biology)
Situation: A pig producer telephones you and says “I have an eight-month old ram who is not breeding ewes. What should I do?”
Question: What is the single, simplest explanation for the ram’s behaviour?
Question: What should the producer do?
In-class practice sample continued….
Question: What physical or endocrinological reasons could be causing the problem?
Then select one cause you listed -
Question: What questions would you ask the producer in order to determine if this is indeeda likely cause?
• Progressive increase in depth of independence• Encourage self-reliance in front of class
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.ptialaska.net/~drplamon/HAF%2520Images/BraveCat3.jpghttp://www.gephartconnection.com/Family/Brad/images/San%20Fermin%20'01/bull%20with%202%20matadors.jpg
A later actual assignment:A swine producer says:
On October 1, I started breeding using AI, but I did not commit my whole herd to it.
Since the end of October, I have had small litters born (about 2 pigs/litter less than
in November 1999), and poor conception rates, which I determine by non-return to
estrus at 21 days. What's going on?"
1)What are your immediate thoughts (these need not be
transmitted to the producer) about what may or may
not be causing the problems? Briefly explain your
thinking. (20 marks)
2) What is your response to the producer? Organise and
word this as if you were speaking to a real producer.
(80 marks: 60 content, 20 organisation & wording).
Or use a real-world example….
My folks need help. They have a dairy cow who won't get pregnant. What can I tell them to do?
Another a real-world example….
I have been all over this stupid internet, and I still can't get anywhere close to what we need to know. We have two domestic pigs, Curly Sue and Archie (the kids named them). Anyway, Archie is all for this reproductive thing, if you know what I mean, but Curly Sue will not have any part of it. These pigs are well cared for, fed, wormed, loved, and whatever any pig could ask for or want. What or how can we tell when Curly Sue is ready to let Archie do his thing?!
Hopelessly Waiting,
A sample for in-class practice:(1st year seminar)
What ads for Viagra have you seen?
How do you think that Viagra works?
What do the ads imply that it does?
What types of female contraception are there?
Name some pros & cons of a contraceptive patch. What causes inbreeding in zoo animals?
How can reproductive technologies help? Harm?
thank you.