Study and Self-Test Resources on LAPT and Moodle
LAPT has provided self-test resources at UCL since 1994, when I devised and set up the CBM scheme (1,2,3 / 0,-2,-6) to improve automated marking. With Moodle coming to dominate provision of UCL teaching resources and my retirement several years ago, it will require some commitment on the part of UCL for the resources to continue. Do you think this worthwhile? If so, you need to explain why, both on this forum and to your teachers - who with constant turnover may not even be aware of the resources or the way in which they are used for study and self-challenge by students.
Much of your study material (including quizzes) is provided on Moodle. How does this compare and relate to what the material on LAPT (some of it now transferred to my own site TMedwin.net/cbm outside UCL? Please enter your comments here, and respond to those made by others - anonymously if you wish, though please indicate your status (year, background, etc.)
Tony Gardner-Medwin
20140519, 1211.14,,,,,,,
COMMENT from anon: Please keep as much of LAPT as is possible! It is a very valuable resources for practice questions that we are otherwise unable to have access to.
20140519, 1755.28,,,,,,,
COMMENT from anon: If UCL remove LAPT from my life, Im removing UCL from my life.
20140519, 2021.97,,,,,,,
COMMENT from anon: Without LAPT I would have no hope in ever passing my exams! Moodle doesn't provide enough questions for our own self-testing!!
20140519, 2055.09,,,,,,,
COMMENT from anon: LAPT is the most useful and important revision material to me, and we have almost no other option when it comes to testing our knowledge and being given helpful answer explanations. Please keep supporting it!
20140520, 905.01,,,,,,,
COMMENT from anon: If UCL want to watch the results for next year drop drastically below the embarrassingly low 50% pass mark we currently have now, then removing LAPT is probably the best way to go about it. There is absolutely no guidance from the medical school on the level of knowledge required to even get 50%. Currently the only resource available to students that is at all practical is LAPT. The formatives are significantly easier than summative exams, especially in first year, the end of module quizzes are far too short and the lack of any up to date papers is ridiculous. No other university gives its students such a lack of information. The current students manage to get by by either selectively targeting their revision, resulting in no one spending any significant time on certain topics (such as embryology) at the expense of their future careers, just so they can revise what they think will come up. Student are forced to practice for the exams with papers from 2006 back, almost a decade out of date. LAPT is the only viable resource available to students and removing it will remove the only practical, useful and informative way for students to prepare for the examinations properly. Good luck dealing with the situation when over a third of the year fails next year!
20140520, 1705.86,,,,,,,
COMMENT from ucgbarg: This graph shows LAPT self-test starts over the last 10 years, for (1) UCL preclinical medical material, (2) clinical material (no longer promoted as part of the course and removed in 2012 at the request of the medical school) and (3) Imperial College use (mainly through BlackBoard).
The graph shows that UCL medical use in recent years has become primarily as a revision tool (before exams) rather than the coursework tool for which it was principally intended. I developed CBM to encourage deeper thinking and more self-awareness. Course organisers need to decide on what resources UCL supports. They can certainly establish new facilities equivalent to what is there now if they wish. In my own opinion, self-testing is hugely valuable as a study aid, but last minute rote learning for exams (cramming) and excessive re-use by staff of old exam Qs are terrible practice and should be discouraged. Imperial handles this better, with time-limited access to study materials on LAPT via links on its VLE (BlackBoard). This could perfectly well be done on Moodle, and perhaps is to a limited extent. More student input about which resources are well used or could be better developed, looking back over the year, would I'm sure be welcome.
Tony Gardner-Medwin
20140520, 1914.7,,,,,,,
COMMENT from anon: We need LAPT, there are so few resources for our exams it's ridiculous. The past papers we do manage to find are out of date, in the wrong format, and have no official markschemes that we can use to target our revision effectively. The questions with feedback are good revision tools also
20140520, 2317.4,,,,,,,
COMMENT from anon: LAPT is a brilliant resource and definitely needs to be continued!
20140521, 1610.44,,,,,,,
COMMENT from ucgbarg:
Please try to be more specific.
Is it just the Qs you're after, or do you find CBM worthwhile? Do you value the option in LAPT to refrain from submitting your results (i.e. working completely privately)? Are there other features of LAPT or Moodle that you consider advantages when you compare? What about the different categories? ....
There are 5700 Qs in what I regard as the prime material (mostly with explanations) that is currently working (I hope well) on TMedwin.net/cbm/selftests : anat=1782 Qs physiol=1885 biochem=1634 misc=690.
Material from old UCL exams is less well supported and mostly lacks explanations: past exams = 6700 Qs plus 6500 Qs arranged by subject. These categorically belong to UCL and can only continue to be available if UCL hosts them or relinquishes all rights.
TGM
20141022, 1134.61,,,,,,,
COMMENT from ucnvs20: CBM provides a critical role in enabling students to know the extent of their knowledge and ignorance and to subsequently work on the gaps in their knowledge and retest themselves. I have been asked by students to re-open the CBM multiple choice questions near exam time. Students do find it very useful. CBM can also be used by groups of students as a starting point for discussion, and learning from one another and by talking about the problem/question. Immediate marking and feedback helps individuals as well as a group of student working together.
20150113, 1341.31,,,,,,,
COMMENT from anon: TGM - in response to that graph, doesn't that just suggest that there is a clear need for more up to date MCQs and SBAs in the medical school? If medical students are using LAPT to practice for exams, then there obviously isn't anything else they think they can use to get some actual marked feedback. That's the one problem with the UCL medical school.