UniServe Science - Benchmarking - collaborative evaluation of first year Chemistyr and Biology

UniServe Connections, The University of Sydney
Serving Australian Science and Technology

A collaborative evaluation of the teaching of first year Chemistry and Biology at the University of Melbourne and the University of Sydney

Using the process of benchmarking to improve teaching
2003-2004

The University of Sydney	The University of Melbourne
Dr Sue Franklin Director, First Year Biology School of Biological Sciences	Ms Dawn Gleeson Director, First Year Biology Department of Genetics
Dr Adrian George Director, First Year Chemistry School of Chemistry	Associate Professor Peter Tregloan Director of Chemistry
Associate Professor Mary Peat Associate Dean International Teaching Initiatives Faculty of Science

This project arose from discussions at the April UniServe Science Symposium at the University of Sydney in 2002. The collaborators from Biology and Chemistry at both universities have been heavily involved in both the teaching of first year science to large student groups and the development of computer-aided resources for at least a decade. As a group of colleagues from two large universities we are committed to quality assurance within our teaching and learning arenas.
The objectives of this collaborative project include:
self-improvement - to improve processes within our discipline areas on the basis of identifying and adopting best practice; and
to pilot benchmarking techniques to instill an understanding of the value of benchmarking for quality improvement in our discipline areas.

	Contents page
Section 1:	Executive Summary
Section 2:	General Introduction
Section 3:	General overview
	Appendix 3A:	Overview Comparison of the Universities, the Faculties of Science and First Year Teaching in Biology and Chemistry
	Appendix 3B:	Transition Programs
		Mapping Documents
Section 4:	Comparison of Chemistry units of study at the Universities of Sydney and Melbourne
		Mapping Documents
	Appendix 4A:	Teaching Evaluation Questionnaires
	Appendix 4B:	Where do our Chem 1 students go?
Section 5:	Comparison of Biology units of study at the Universities of Sydney and Melbourne
		Mapping Documents
	Appendix 5A:	CAL Modules used in first year
	Appendix 5B:	Teaching Evaluation Questionnaires
Section 6:	Comparison of the use and perceptions of usefulness of ChemCAL on-line learning modules in supporting the learning of Chemistry
	Appendix 6A:	Index of ChemCAL modules used at the University of Sydney
	Appendix 6B:	First Year Chemistry Questionnaire
	Appendix 6C:	Results and brief analysis of chemistry survey for the University of Sydney
	Appendix 6D:	Results and analysis of question 10 on the joint chemistry survey
Section 7:	Comparison of the use and perceptions of usefulness of the various resources, including ICT, in supporting the learning of Biology
	Appendix 7A:	Report on the use and perceptions of usefulness of a variety of learning resources at the University of Sydney
	Appendix 7B:	First Year Biology Resource Usage at the University of Melbourne
Section 8:	Mapping Documents
Section 9:	List of presentations and publications
	Appendix 9A:	Abstract for Conference presentation (RACI, 2004) Adrain George & Peter Tregloan
	Appendix 9B:	PowerPoint presentation for Conference (RACI, 2004) Adrian George & Peter Tregloan
	Appendix 9B:	PowerPoint handout for Conference (RACI, 2004) Adrian George & Peter Tregloan

For further information contact
Kaye Placing

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Last Update: Friday, 27-Apr-2007 13:50:52 EST
URL: http://science.uniserve.edu.au/disc/benchmarking/index.html

A collaborative evaluation of the teaching of first year Chemistry and Biology at the University of Melbourne and the University of Sydney

Using the process of benchmarking to improve teaching2003-2004

Using the process of benchmarking to improve teaching
2003-2004