Open assignments to facilitate inquiry-based learning: Strengths and weaknesses

Research output: Contribution to conferenceAbstractpeer-review

Abstract

Embedding research into teaching can help engender research skills that are transferable and beneficial to students. Academics can also benefit by generating more research hypotheses from within the classroom. One way to promote a research-teaching nexus is to align open assignments with inquiry-based learning and to promote research hypotheses/methods within these assignments. In our MSc level module, we created an open assignment where groups of students can choose an open dataset from any domain (e.g. healthcare, finance etc.). They are then required to analyse this dataset using their chosen data science methods to answer any research questions that they formulate as a group whilst also co-authoring a paper. The benefit of this approach is that groups of students can select a dataset (e.g. perhaps a phenomena) in a domain that they are naturally interested in. This can perhaps promote enthusiasm/impetus for inquiry-based learning. The are other benefits to this approach such as the opportunity for students and academics to engage with literature where research techniques are applied to a wide range of domains which can allow for new research directions for the academic/s. There may also be an opportunity to co-author papers with students based on new findings. The paper submissions are also very varied which can create interest, however, one might argue that this makes it more difficult to benchmark assignments. There may be challenges to consider such as, 1) given the assignment may not be overly specified, students will need to make a key decision on selecting a domain-specific dataset which may take time, and 2) the marking criteria needs to be dataset agnostic (focussing on the process). In this presentation, we will present our experience in using an open assignment and discuss strengths/weakness of ‘open assignments’.
Original languageEnglish
Publication statusUnpublished - 20 Nov 2024
EventInternational Pedagogic Conference -
Duration: 20 Nov 202421 Nov 2024
https://www.staffs.ac.uk/research/scolpp/scolpp-international-pedagogic-conference

Conference

ConferenceInternational Pedagogic Conference
Period20/11/2421/11/24
Internet address

Keywords

  • open assignments
  • assessment

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Open assignments to facilitate inquiry-based learning: Strengths and weaknesses'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this