Active Learning Resources for 'Students as Researchers'

In this project we have developed a range of active learning resources designed to teach chemistry research skills to undergraduates. The work draws on concepts of such as ‘self-paced learning’, ‘autonomous learning’ and ‘assessment for learning’. Topics include how to keep a lab book, research ethics, referencing, how to read a paper and the history and philosophy of chemistry. For each of these topics students are required to engage with specific material, such as directed reading or watching a video, whilst making notes guided by a set of learning objectives. They then upload the notes to unlock a quiz based on the material studied. The overall aim of these resources is to help undergraduate students to develop as researchers early-on in their training (first year) and for them to acquire skills that can be drawn upon for research projects later in their degree programme (second and final year). The work also draws inspiration from and contributes towards the fulfilment of our institutions teaching and learning strategy in relation to the ‘students as researchers’ enabling strand. Here, we present an outline of resources developed.