Grant program: Teaching and Learning Development Grant (TLDG)

Grant recipient: Victoria Claydon, Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology (BPK)

Project team: Craig Asmundson and Gina Whitaker, BPK, and Brett Shaw, research assistant

Timeframe: January 2014 to July 2014

Funding: $4,975

Final report: View Victoria Claydon's final project report (PDF)

Courses addressed: The courses and learning experience of the three degrees of Bachelor of Science: Kinesiology, Biomedical Physiology, and Behavioural Neuroscience

Description: We are undergoing an analysis of current curriculum covered in our core physiology courses within the department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology (BPK). We wish to evaluate student perspectives on their learning experiences to ensure their learning needs are being met appropriately. We are interested in determining the types of learning experiences students encountered, and whether these were positive or negative experiences. We are also interested in students’ opinions as to how our programs could be improved. Our goals are:

• to conduct a retrospective analysis of previous surveys administered by Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, aimed at both evaluating responses and appraising survey content;
• to generate an exit survey for use to track student perspectives on their learning experiences, and to identify areas for future enhancement of our programs.

Data will be collected through surveys and focus group interviews. Previous versions of BPK student surveys will be compiled and analyzed such that the surveys can be compared, with respect to learning experiences encountered, whether this was a positive or negative experience, any themes that emerge that are consistently viewed as positive or negative, and any suggestions for improvement. In addition, two focus groups will be conducted with faculty and student representatives in order to evaluate the learning experiences. Lastly, a new survey will be developed; the responses will be tracked over time and with respect to curriculum/program change.

Questions addressed:

• What are student perspectives on their learning experiences in BPK?
• What is the optimal format, delivery and content of future constructs designed to evaluate student perspectives on their learning?

Knowledge sharing: Results will be shared within the Department and at SFU, and outside of SFU.

Claydon, V., & Shaw, B. (2014, May). Current and historical approaches to assessing student engagement and experiences of students completing degree programs offered by the department of biomedical physiology and kinesiology. Poster presentation at the Symposium on Teaching and Learning: Provocative Pedagogy, May 14-15, 2014, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC.