The impact of teaching experimental research on-line : Research-informed Teaching and COVID-19

Higgins, RN; Murphy, FJ; Hogg, P

Abstract

Introduction
As part of the BSc (Hons) Diagnostic Radiography programme students learn and undertake research relevant to their development as first post radiographers (dose optimisation and image quality) within the Research-Informed Teaching experience (RiTe). Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the delivery of RiTe to our year 2 students was moved to an online format using Microsoft Teams and Blackboard Collaborate and focused on a key area of current practice - COVID-19 and chest X-ray imaging. Within RiTe students are placed into collaborative enquiry-based learning (CEBL) groups to share tasks, but to also support and learn from one another.

Methods
An online survey was used to explore the year 2 student cohort task value and self-efficacy of this online version of RiTe.

Results
A 73% (32/44) response rate was achieved. Students found the online version of RiTe to be a positive learning and development experience. There was strong agreement that they not only found it relevant to their area of practice (task-value), but also strongly agreed that they understood and could master the skills taught (self-efficacy).

Conclusion
This online version of RiTe was effectively structured to help scaffold student learning and development of research data analysis skills despite the lack of face-to-face teaching. The students also valued the topic area (COVID-19 and chest X-ray imaging). A blended learning approach with RiTe will be used next year with a combination of collaborative online teaching and physical data collection and analysis in the university-based X-ray imaging laboratory. Further evaluation and data collection will also be undertaken.

Implications for practice
University-based empirical work in groups to learn about research can be replaced by an online mechanism whilst still maintaining task-value and acceptable self-efficacy.

Citation

Higgins, R., Murphy, F., & Hogg, P. (2021). The impact of teaching experimental research on-line : Research-informed Teaching and COVID-19. Radiography, 27(2), 539-545. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radi.2020.11.014

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 16, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Nov 21, 2020
• Publication Date: May 1, 2021
• Deposit Date: Nov 23, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 21, 2021
• Journal: Radiography
• Print ISSN: 1078-8174
• Electronic ISSN: 1532-2831
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Volume: 27
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 539-545
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radi.2020.11.014
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radi.2020.11.014
• Related Public URLs: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/radiography