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Medical Sciences 3383F/G/Z
Medical Sciences 3383F/G/Z: Independent Study is a course designed to allow students completing experiential learning, for example research with a supervisor, to receive academic credit for their experience.
Keep in mind that it cannot be used as a modular course in any basic medical science modules. It can be only used as an option towards a degree and students must receive approval of the Dean (or designate) and reach mutual agreement on a detailed study/research/work plan, prior to the experiential learning opportunity.
Experiential Learning Principles
In order to qualify for a Med Sci 3383F/G/Z credit, the EL activity will need to align with all of Western’s Experiential Learning principles:
- The experience is designed to enable the application of knowledge and skills in a workplace, or realistic workplace scenario.
- The experience is designed to strengthen students’ transferable skills, career competencies, and citizenship.
- The experience emphasizes ethical approaches to partnership and student engagement.
- The experience includes learning outcomes.
- The experience includes active, continuous supervision and mentorship.
- The experience is designed to facilitate reciprocal connections between theory and practice.
- The student engages in guided reflection.
- The experience includes formal evaluation of learning outcomes by the institution (and partner, where applicable)
- The student receives recognition for the experience on their curricular record.
Project Types
To qualify as an experiential learning opportunity for Med Sci 3383F/G/Z, the activity must align with one of the definitions below and meet all of the above-mentioned experiential learning principles.
- Industry Project: A course that involves students working with an external partner on a specific project to propose strategies that address an organizational challenge or idea (e.g. consulting project).
- Research/Scholarly Creation: A supervised/mentored project extending over at least a term, during which the student engages in original research or scholarly creation.
Application
You applicaiton must include:
- Project title
- Project description
- a minimim of five learning outcomes
- a supervising plan, which must:
- include an evaluation plan, and
- meet the expectations for each graded component (see below)
To pass the course each of the components below must be completed. The supervisor is responsible for submitting grades for all components below to the Associate Dean within 14 days following the last day of the term. The supervisor is also responsible for grading up to two final reports from other students in the course. The final report must receive a passing grade from all evaluators to receive a passing grade in the course. If the student receives a failing grade on the final report, they will be given one opportunity to revise the report.
Written Proposal (2 pages): 15% due September 30 for MedSci 3383F/MedSci 3383Z and January 30 for MedSci3383B
E-portfolio: 15% due on the last day of the term
Project Engagement grade (participation, attendance, work ethic, independence, attitude): 30%
Final Paper: 30% due on the last day of the term
Seminar: 10% to be presented to the lab group/team in the last two weeks of the term
Written Proposal: A written proposal (approximately 2 pages) including an introduction to the topic area, their research question/hypothesis and an overview of the approaches and methodologies. Students are expected to include a visual timeline of the proposed work.
E-portfolio: Weekly chronicling of progress and setbacks of the work, along with personal reflection on learning experiences. A guideline for the ePortfolio will be provided by the BMSUE office and will be marked by the supervisor.
Project Engagement: A portion of the course grade will be dedicated to the students’ commitment to and progress in the project. This will be assessed based on: (i) regular and reliable attendance and participation in group meetings, (ii) competency in skills, and (iii) a developing ability to demonstrate sound reasoning and critical thinking. Where experiments are involved, they DO NOT have to be successful to achieve competency in these areas.
Final Paper: The final paper will be approximately 10 pages in length and will include an Abstract (~250 words), Introduction, Methods/Approaches, Results/Deliverable and Discussion. The content must include enough detail to provide the reader with background, findings and impact of the findings in the context of the existing literature.
Seminar: This should be a 10-15 minutes oral presentation going over the background and findings . The oral presentation will be given to the mentor and other members of the team and is usually presented in the last two weeks of the term.