Impact of COVID-19 on student attainment and pedagogical needs when undertaking independent scientific research

Jeyapalan, Jennie N.; James, Victoria.; Gardner, David S.; Lothion-Roy, Jennifer H.; Mongan, Nigel P.; Rutland, Catrin Sian

Abstract

Research is often an essential component of completing a veterinary medicine degree, with universities worldwide aiming to teach students a variety of techniques and general research comprehension and skills. As universities worldwide navigated the COVID-19 pandemic, it was often necessary to move towards distance learning, this was employed for the research module at The University of Nottingham, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science. Following completion of their independent research project, each student cohort was sent a student evaluation of the module questionnaire and quantitative and qualitative analysis was undertaken. In addition, assessment outcomes based on dissertation grade, supervisor grade and overall module score were analysed quantitatively. This was conducted on both the individual cohorts and between the pre- and peri-pandemic groups, ranging from 2017–2018 through to 2021–2022 cohorts. The students received increased dissertation and supervisor grades (by nearly 6%) during the 2021–2022 peri-pandemic cohort, when compared to the pre-pandemic cohorts, but did differ significantly compared to the 2020–2021 cohort. The pre- and peri-pandemic Likert-scale ratings for module organisation and assessment criteria were similar, workload management and the ability to explore concepts and ideas was reduced in the peri-pandemic cohorts, whereas the accessibility to resources was increased in the peri-pandemic students compared to those taught prior to the pandemic. Student feedback can provide essential information when designing and managing research projects and when compared to assessment grades it can help us understand attainment, essential information when providing a quality university level education whilst supporting student welfare following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Citation

Jeyapalan, J. N., James, V., Gardner, D. S., Lothion-Roy, J. H., Mongan, N. P., & Rutland, C. S. (2022). Impact of COVID-19 on student attainment and pedagogical needs when undertaking independent scientific research. Anatomia, Histologia, Embryologia, https://doi.org/10.1111/ahe.12842

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 13, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Jul 23, 2022
• Publication Date: Jul 23, 2022
• Deposit Date: Aug 18, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 18, 2022
• Journal: Journal of Veterinary Medicine Series C: Anatomia Histologia Embryologia
• Print ISSN: 0340-2096
• Electronic ISSN: 1439-0264
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ahe.12842
• Keywords: General Veterinary; General Medicine
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/9410573
• Publisher URL: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ahe.12842