a) Description of the task/what are students
required to do?
The task given to students was that involving
electric currents, resistors and voltages, the task was designed such as to
provide both real world example calculations used in electricity and explaining
the fundamental principles of current in an electric circuit though means of
calculating current in an electric circuit at different points/ between different
points using Kirchhoff’s law. Students were then provided with a set of
problems which they were expected to attempt, in addition to that students were
also required to explain the variance of electric potential at different points
in an electric circuit.
b) What are students the primary learning
outcomes that are assessed through this assignment?
From the given task the expected outcome
are as follows:
-
Students understand electric circuit components
and the underlying principles governing current, voltage and resistor in a
circuit.
-
Gain understanding
on the application of Kirchhoff’s law
-
Be able to apply their basic knowledge in solving and understanding everyday electricity
problems
c) Consider whether students are given clear
guidance in respect of information sources to be used.
The list of information sources was not
supplied explicitly to students, however they were expected to use the
recommended text book and their lecture notes including videos related to the
content being covered and the internet for additional information.
d) Is there any recognition of the underpinning
information tasks and skills that may be necessary to fulfill the assignment?
Is provision made for supporting students in these?
Yes, the task is in a form a group
discussion with tutors available for assisting students if there are any
difficulties, working with a group allows individual students to learn other
ways of tackling the problems with the guidance of tutors, students then get to
understand how to tackle or approach problems.
e) Are information skills specified as part of
the criteria for performing the task? Are marks awarded for this?
Yes, students are given pre-tasks that will
require certain information skills before attempting the assignment and marks
are awarded.
f) How could this assignment be re-designed to
explicitly build and recognise students’ information literacy competencies
In the design of the task it is important
that learning outcomes be clearly stated as this indicates the level of
engagement of students in completing the task. Normally task would have one or
two questions which are not necessarily covered in class or in a recommended
text book thus requiring some further preparedness from students, however such
questions would require skills covered in lecture, thus list of resources
needed for the task must also be highlighted to students for such cases
especially.
