Peer Review

Health Sciences 495 & 496: Research Design & Development

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Reviewed:: May 22, 2024 by Health Sciences

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:

Learning Management System template for a capstone research project in in Health Sciences that includes self-guided readings, resources and learning activities/assignments. The Health Sciences 495 & 496: Research Design and Development can be implemented while preparing an introduction research course. Canvas has most of the readings, so this is a course design, not an OER textbook.

Type of Material:

Open (Access) Course Design Template

Recommended Uses:

Learning Management System template using CANVAS for a capstone research project in Health Sciences

Technical Requirements:

Internet access
Web browser

Identify Major Learning Goals:

The course design is constructed for learners to:

Develop relevant research questions about issues in the field of exercise science.
Use the process of scientific inquiry to obtain satisfactory resolutions to research questions.
Develop the ability to read and understand science literature.
Develop the ability to find, use, synthesize, and report on scientific information from peer-reviewed sources.

Target Student Population:

College Upper Division

Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

Final requirement course for graduation
Introduction to statistics
Microsoft Office skills
Basic computer skills

Content Quality

Rating:

Strengths:

Content is inconsistently presented across the modular components with references to support concepts, limited information related to group assignments, and tie to learning outcomes for the course.
The modules for the course are outlined in an appropriate conceptual approach to research.
Detailed introduction research information for implementing in a course

Concerns:

Potential for learner confusion in applying concepts and completing assignments due to inconsistency of organization and rubrics.
It was not clear how the modules linked up with the course calendar.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:

Strengths:

Teaching learning goals are identified in a downloadable syllabus with the course constructed to meet the learning goals through introduction of content in varied ways and assignments.
Syllabus also includes course expectations.
Would need to convert to Learning Management Platform under use, but is a fabulous start and would be quite helpful.
Step-by-step instructions for evaluating sources, etc.
The assignment evaluation details are well defined.
Includes information that would greatly make use in a course much easier!

Concerns:

The assignment evaluation details are well defined while the rubrics are brief; this can result in confusion. Suggest the rubrics contain the same evaluation detail to support grading.
There is not a scale of points for performance levels on the rubrics. Recommend having at least three levels of performance with points grouped with the levels of performance. As is, for example, the rubrics say 30 points available (or however many points for the criteria), but does not break down by level of performance.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:

Strengths:

Easy to navigate.
Easy to follow the modular format.
Easy to navigate from each section within each module.
Clear explanations of assignments.
Detailed information regarding the process of research.

Concerns:

More detail in the introduction to the course and an overview at the beginning of each module would be of great benefit
Including timing of Modules that aligns to syllabus weekly outline would be of great benefit.

Other Issues and Comments:

Unclear if this material can be fully integrated into CANVAS LMS unless it is in Canvas Commons; it would not be accessible for integration in other LMS, but is still a great resource to use to set up a course.
Outline of assignments evaluated by % of course grade in the syllabus, and the LMS defines assignments by points which could result in confusion for students and need for calculation.
Overall, Health Sciences 495 & 496 is a great resource for an introduction to a research course. The OER demonstrates the process of research from beginning to presentation.

Creative Commons: