Supporting Students and Faculty In The Implementation Of Capstone Projects Into Programmes In a Pandemic Education Environment

Abstract

The current Covid environment, with no or limited access to research facilities, has made it impossible for undergraduate students to undertake laboratory-based final year research projects. Lewis (2020) currently offers his students a sector-leading portfolio of 15 different traditional research and capstone project opportunities to choose from. Our aim was therefore to share our knowledge and expertise of research and capstone project opportunities which can be undertaken remotely, and supporting resources, with colleagues globally to enable them to provide meaningful and educationally robust projects for their students. In March-August 2020, online interactive workshops were provided for colleagues. To provide scaffolding and support, Choosing Your Capstone and How to do it guides were created for students and Faculty respectively, and shared globally. Collections of simulations and large publically available datasets were also shared. Follow-up surveys of workshop participants were undertaken in December 2020. This research was approved by the University of Leeds Faculty of Biological Sciences Research Ethics Committee. The workshops attracted over 500 participants. The support resources have been viewed 11,000 times from over 50 Countries. All survey participants, representing 53 Universities within the UK and overseas, found the workshops extremely informative and inspirational. All are implementing multiple formats of non-traditional capstones as alternatives to laboratory-based research projects into their programmes in 2020-21. Eighty-six percent wish to be involved with this initiative going forward. This programme of work has shown the need for alternatives to laboratory-based research projects for students in the Biosciences, not only during the current pandemic, but going forward. By offering a portfolio of both traditional research and non-traditional capstone projects, students can select the project that best provides the experience and develops the skills required for their particular career intentions. We have also developed a global community of practice to take this initiative forward. Lewis DI (2020). Final year undergraduate research project or a “Capstone Experience”? Time for a re-think. Brit J. Clin. Pharmacol. 86 (6): 1227-1228