Using poster presentations for student learning and assessment

Nicola Spurling, University of Lancaster

Siân Etherington, University of Salford

ECE Conference, 2007

Overview

Our poster project Assessing posters: what criteria? Your assessment Feedback Discussion

Difficulties of international students in UK HE

Academic Academic cultural cultural

adjustment adjustment

Spurling (2004; 2005)

Educational Cultures project Aims: Introduce students to the concept of

academic cultures Raise consciousness about Ss’ own

academic cultures Explore student expectations of UK HE Allow students to investigate one

aspect of educational culture in Salford University

Develop transferable ethnographic skills

Allow students to experience some (possibly) challenging aspects of academic culture

The Project Week 1

Academic cultural expectations Analysis of student interview data

Week 2 Group formation & Topic choice Questions for tutors Arranging to meet tutors

Week 3 Working with interview data Preparation of posters

Week 4 Preparation for poster session (Q&A) Poster session

Interviews with tutors

(outside class)

The Poster Session

The Poster Session

The Poster Session

Our Criteria What have the students learned about the

topic (content knowledge)? How have the students connected the content

and process learning on the project to imagined/expected future experiences?

To what extent have the students reflected on the topic (converting content into process knowledge)?

To what extent have students reflected on the process of undertaking the project?

Discussion Points

How might you use posters in your own teaching context?

Content or experiential learning? Assessment of the poster session? Follow-up to consolidate and

facilitate further learning?