Extracurricular Research Research Articles

First steps in the physician-scientist pipeline: a longitudinal study to examine the effects of an undergraduate extracurricular research programme

ObjectivesMedicine is facing a physician-scientist shortage. By offering extracurricular research programmes (ERPs), the physician-scientist training pipeline could already start in undergraduate phases of medical training. However, previous studies into the...

Undergraduates’ motivations to engage in extracurricular research: Evidence from Hong Kong

ABSTRACT This qualitative case study examined a group of undergraduate students’ motivations towards extracurricular research in a Hong Kong university. Drawing upon data from semi-structured interviews, this study analysed the students’ motivation change from the cognitive, social, and affective perspective. The findings revealed that the students were externally and internally motivated to join informal research activities and that their motivation change was intertwined with their cognitive learning, social interactions, and emotional experiences in the research process. The paper concluded with practical implications on supporting and sustaining undergraduates’ motivations in extracurricular research activities to benefit their academic studies and future work.

The effects of long-term extracurricular scientific research on the medical students: Insight from Jinan University Medical School.

The benefits and long-term effects of extracurricular scientific research on undergraduate students in many countries have been intensively investigated, but it remains obscure for Chinese medical students. In this study, we investigated the outcome of 60 medical students who have participated in extracurricular scientific research at Jinan University Medical School over a period of 7 years (2011-2018). The results revealed that these students have contributed to 31 biomedical science articles in reputable academic journals, as first- or co-authors. Furthermore, they also independently procured various funding based on their research achievements, and smaller awards for achievements in conferences and competitions. Assessment of the grade point average score of these students revealed that conducting extracurricular scientific research did not affect their routine medical study and exam grades (P>0.05). The students benefited from participating in extracurricular research, by acquiring the ability to think scientifically and enhancing their communication skills. In addition, the medical students were motivated to enlist for postgraduate studies so that they could further embark in scientific research. In sum, Chinese medical students are capable of participating in scientific research and make a significant contribution to science.

Intrinsic vs Extrinsic Motivation as Drivers for Early Engagement in Research by Medical Students.

BackgroundA student’s motivation is a key factor in their success in undertaking an education endeavour. However, how this relates to involvement in research by medical students is unclear.MethodsAn electronic questionnaire was sent to all medical students at our institution. To ascertain students’ motivation to undertake research, they were asked an open-ended question to describe the single major factor that would encourage them to get involved in research as a medical student. A framework of self-determination theory was used to deductively code the responses as intrinsic motivation (“IM”; e.g., interest/passion) or extrinsic motivation (“EM”; e.g. improving CV). The two groups were then contrasted in relation to their research engagement.ResultsA total of 348 students were included in the survey, of whom 204 were coded as IM responses, and 144 were coded as EM responses. Students who engaged in extra-curricular research activities were more likely to report an underlying EM (48% vs 36%, p = 0.03). They were also older (23.7 ± 3.5 vs 21.9 ± 3.7, p = 0.005), and more likely to have completed a prior research degree (15% vs 3%, p = 0.01).ConclusionIn this study, EM was a bigger influencer on research involvement by medical students than IM. Future studies should explore promoters of IM, and include longitudinal data in order to assess whether EM students continue to be involved in research long-term.

ANALYZING ADVANCED EXPERIENCE OF THE JUNIOR ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF UKRAINE IN SCIENTIFIC EDUCATION

Integrating into the European Research Area, Ukrainian scientists try to bring local terms and concepts in line with the corresponding international ones, which is not always an easy task since western terminology cannot be translated literally without regard to local scientific tradition that has developed in specific historical conditions. In particular, a large national network of extracurricular research institutions, the Junior Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (JASU), has been operating for nearly a century in Ukraine. It is focused on the nurturing future generation of scientists and inventors, and has an unprecedented range of activities. When selecting an equivalent for an international concept, however, can we call such education a Science education if the JASU applies the scientific method in teaching not only natural sciences and interdisciplinary fields but also humanities and social subjects? And when studying the innovations of the organization, can we consider the use of a scientific method to be innovative, which has been underlying the JASU’s educational activities since its establishment? And at the same time application it in general educational institutions is innovative. During the research and identification of the JASU’s innovative educational practices, we had to address these issues and weigh all subtle aspects. The author presents the results of research into the innovative practices of scientific education where the latter is assigned a broader meaning than science education, taking into account all the disciplinary diversity of the JASU system. However the science education are deemed to be the basis for scientific education and a source of innovation activity enabling to respond to current challenges. The article defines the concepts of “scientific education”, “specialized science-oriented education”, “educational practices of teachers”, “innovative practices in scientific education”, describes the features of scientific education: modern educational trends within certain innovative lines are outlined and substantiated, the principles for identification of the JASU’Ss high-potential innovative practices in the context of scientific education are presented and exemplified.

The Research Project «Names of Modern Professions» in Extracurricular Work with 6-th Grade Russian Students

The aim of the study was to investigate approaches to the formation of general educational skills. A survey examining the design and research process was carried out by 6th-grade Russian students over the course of an extracurricular project entitled «Names of Modern Professions». In the paper, the selection of the «Lexicology» section for such activities carried out by school pupils is substantiated and stages of work on the project are described. The applied methodology involves theoretical analysis of scientific literature, formative experimentation, analysis of products of educational activities, observation and description. It is concluded that the design of extracurricular research activities in the Russian language contributes to the formation of general educational competencies in conducting surveys and searching for information on the basis of subject skills.

Assessing Student Perceptions to Enhance Undergraduate Research in Kinesiology

The benefits, barriers, and methodologies of the enhancement of undergraduate research have been widely studied in higher education. However, there are limited studies on undergraduate research in the field of kinesiology. The previous studies centered around student or faculty evaluation of existing curricular or extracurricular undergraduate research programs. The extent to which these studies may inform a kinesiology department that does not have an established undergraduate research curriculum or program is questionable. This article provides a general overview of existing undergraduate research enhancement programs in other universities, presents a recent research study on perceptions of undergraduate research in exercise and sports science students at Texas State University, and offers future recommendations on enhancing undergraduate research in kinesiology.

An eight-year medical program aiming at improving the students' research ability: curriculum design and preliminary effects

The cultivation of research ability can promote eight-year medical students to explore the uncharted academic fields and solve complex clinical problems. One of the firts pilot universities to provide eight-year programs, Xiangya Medical College of Central South University builds on its profound experience in medical education, and establishes a curriculum structure aiming at improving the students' research ability. In the general education stage, cross-disciplinary courses are set up. In the core medical education stage, basic medical innovation experiment extracurricular research courses are set up, and a two-year overseas exchange program is set up in the postgraduate training stage. Different evaluation methods are also designed to meet the specific needs in each stage. This program has achieved preliminary effects. Key words: Eight-year medical students; Research ability; Curriculum; Medical education

Semillero de investigación: Estrategia educativa para promover la innovación tecnológica

La propuesta de formación del semillero de investigación, tal y como se concibió gracias al apoyo del área académica del Instituto Tecnológico José Mario Molina Pasquel y Henríquez (ITJMMPH), Campus Puerto Vallarta, refleja el interés que se tiene en concretar proyectos de desarrollo tecnológico e innovación que no solo permitan al estudiante adentrarse en la investigación básica y aplicada, sino también incursionar, por medio de la transferencia tecnológica, en la posible comercialización de sus proyectos.
 La metodología empleada es la de una investigación de acción participativa. Debido a que se busca que el estudiante desarrolle habilidades específicas para pensar de forma autónoma. Esto se expresa en dos aspectos: el primero, mediante el diseño y construcción de una propuesta de investigación individual o colectiva que propicie la participación activa, crítica, reflexiva y propositiva de todos los miembros del grupo; y el segundo, en la gestión y desarrollo de dicha propuesta. Se establecieron tres categorías de análisis: diseño del proyecto de investigación, desarrollo y seguimiento del proyecto.
 En este artículo se proponen los mecanismos administrativos, académicos y elementos metodológicos mediante los cuales se fomenta la formación de investigadores, así como la práctica de la investigación extracurricular, tanto de alumnos como docentes, para la generación y desarrollo de proyectos tecnológicos y prototipos funcionales que formarán parte del patrimonio institucional

Choreographic practice and pedagogy as embodied ideological critique of the labour for knowledge

ABSTRACT Choreographic practice still competes for the same level of value as language-based study in higher education and therefore choreographic practice and pedagogy can be a means through which to address issues of precarity for dance and dance studies in the university economy today. This article addresses this problem by sharing a UK-based extra-curricular choreographic research project exploring academic labour in a university library. The project uses a practice research framework to explore the idea of embodied ideological critique as a critical choreographic lens to view the library as a site of labour for knowledge. The method of site-specific choreography is used to replicate activities observed in the library and explore what activities at the site suggest about what the academy implicitly values as knowledge. The article advocates for ways to engage students to explore and question the changing landscape of higher education in terms of the historical, social and political values of knowledge in the academy and how this changing landscape impacts on dance in university contexts. Post-project reflections further advocate for the potential for small acts of resistance to increasing pressures of austerity, neoliberalism and corporatisation on university activities with choreographic pedagogy.

ОРГАНІЗАЦІЯ ДОСЛІДНИЦЬКОЇ РОБОТИ УЧНІВ ЗАСОБАМИ ХМАРНИХ СЕРВІСІВ OFFICE 365

The purpose of the work is an investigation of cloud services Office 365, as a means of student's research work implementation and coordination. The basis of considering the students’ research organization by means of Office 365 is the analysis of the psychological and pedagogical aspects of students’ educational and research work informatization, as well as a comparison of professional research activities and students’ research work. The work briefly describes individual researches and publications which are related to the use of Office 365 cloud services and to the organization of research works by students of the Minor Academy of Sciences. The author has noticed the importance of the Minor Academy of Sciences students’ research work. The student’s educational research is described as a means of attracting young people to future scientific activities. It is indicated on a certain identity of scientific research and research and experimental work of students. The tasks of the student's extracurricular research and experimental work are determined, as well as explained the priorities of these tasks. The psychological and pedagogical aspects of informatization of students' educational work are considered. Some peculiarities of pedagogical mentoring students-researchers of the Minor Academy of Sciences have been analyzed and explained. Recommendations as for mentoring based on the use of information and communication technologies are presented. The use of some Office 365 services is analyzed in details: Outlook, Calendar, OneDrive, Sites, Delve, Video, Word Online, Excel Online, PowerPoint Online, OneNote Online, and OneNote for learning. The use of Office 365 services at different stages of preparation for the contest-defence works of students of the Minor Academy of Sciences of Ukraine is considered. The list of Office 365 services, which is used at each stage of preparation work, is presented in the article. The practical use of cloud learning services for the organization of students’ research work is described. It is indicated on the prospects of using cloud services for the organization of students’ extra-curricular learning and experimental studies and noticed the need for further research on this issue.

Development of a web-based tool for undergraduate engagement in medical research; the ProjectPal experience

BackgroundWe report the development and evaluation of a web-based tool designed to facilitate student extra-curricular engagement in medical research through project matching students with academic supervisors.UK based university students were surveyed to explore their perceptions of undergraduate research, barriers and facilitators to current engagement. Following this, an online web-based intervention (www.ProjectPal.org) was developed to support access of students to research projects and supervisors. A pilot intervention was undertaken across a London-based university in January 2013 to February 2016. In March 2016, anonymised data were extracted from the prospective data log for analysis of website engagement and usage. Supervisors were surveyed to evaluate the website and student outputs.ResultsFifty-one students responded to the electronic survey. Twenty-four (47%) reported frustration at a perceived lack of opportunities to carry out extra-curricular academic projects. Major barriers to engaging in undergraduate research reported were difficulties in identifying suitable supervisors (33/51; 65%) and time pressures (36/51; 71%) associated with this. Students reported being opportunistic in their engagement with undergraduate research. Following implementation of the website, 438 students signed up to ProjectPal and the website was accessed 1357 times. Access increased on a yearly basis. Overall, 70 projects were advertised by 35 supervisors. There were 86 applications made by students for these projects. By February 2016, the 70 projects had generated 5 peer-review publications with a further 7 manuscripts under peer-review, 14 national presentations, and 1 national prize.ConclusionThe use of an online platform to promote undergraduate engagement with extra-curricular research appears to facilitate extra-curricular engagement with research. Further work to understand the impact compared to normal opportunistic practices in enhancing student engagement is now underway.

A Strategic Plan for Increasing Scholarly Activity Among Medical Students, Residents, and Faculty.

Scholarly activity among students, residents, and faculty provides the foundation for medical education. However, a decline in the number of physician-scientists has been acknowledged during the past few decades. As a result, institutions have attempted to increase research activity among students and residents through a variety of means. This study describes a replicative model for medical institutions to increase their research enterprises among medical students, residents, and faculty. Des Moines University College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery (DMU-CPMS) developed a Strategic Research Plan (SRP) to increase scholarly activity in the college. The SRP outlined an innovative model to increase research activity, including creating a Director of Research position, modifying the existing curriculum toward an evidence-based focus, increasing extracurricular research opportunities, and fostering collaborative research efforts among students, residents, and faculty. After SRP implementation, an increase in scholarly activity was observed. In the 6 years before implementing the SRP, DMU-CPMS published 11 manuscripts. In the 6 years after initiating the SRP, manuscript publications increased to 50. During this same period, podium presentations at scientific meetings increased from 6 to 40, and students listed as lead author increased from 0 to 16. The SRP provides a replicative model for medical institutions seeking to increase their research enterprises through collaboration among students, residents, and faculty. To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate a research plan aimed at increasing scholarly activity among a comprehensive scope of individuals in medical education.

The endangered clinician-investigator profession in Saudi Arabia: curricular attention is required

The endangered clinician-investigator profession in Saudi Arabia: curricular attention is required

Features of the integration of training and extracurricular research work of students: a science-oriented approach

Features of the integration of training and extracurricular research work of students: a science-oriented approach

Road to Researcher: The Development of Research Self-Efficacy in Higher Education Scholars

Aim/Purpose: Understanding how students develop a sense of efficacy as researchers can provide faculty members in higher education doctoral programs insight into how to be more effective teachers and mentors, necessitating discipline-specific research on how graduate programs are and can be fostering students’ research self-efficacy (RSE). Thus, the purpose of this study was to explore how doctoral programs and early research experiences contribute to the development of RSE in higher education scholars. Background: Participants identified elements of the formal and “hidden” curriculum that promoted and inhibited RSE development. Methodology: We employed multiple case study analysis of 17 individual early career scholars in higher education and student affairs. Contribution: Findings indicate that the development of RSE is complex, but that Bandura’s four main sources of efficacy are a useful way to understand the types of experiences that students are and should be having to promote RSE. Our findings also highlight the importance of the research training environment in RSE development. Findings: We found that the formal curriculum of participants’ doctoral programs – their research methods coursework and the process of writing their dissertations – were important facilitators of their RSE development. However, we also found that the “hidden curriculum” – the availability of extracurricular research opportunities, faculty and peer mentoring, and the overall research culture of the doctoral programs – were influential in participants’ development. Recommendations for Practitioners: Our findings point to a number of implications for higher education graduate programs seeking to improve students’ RSE. First, with regard to coursework, our findings point to the importance of recognizing the negative experiences students may bring with them to their doctoral programs, particularly related to quantitative methods, and of finding ways to help them see quantitative methods in different ways than they have before. Second, our findings suggest important implications for how faculty members as teachers, advisors, and men-tors can think about providing feedback. Finally, our findings suggest the importance of understanding the “hidden curriculum,” and how faculty members can influence students’ experiences outside of coursework and dissertations.

Math Path: Encouraging Female Students in Mathematics Through Project-Based Learning

Although the number of bachelor's degrees in the U.S. awarded to women has gone up, engagement of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) continues to be low. This paper presents a project-based learning program, informed by education research best practices, designed to provide research experiences to female students early in their academic careers. Mentored by female faculty, students voluntarily collaborate on extracurricular mathematical research projects that they select together based on their interests and passions. They then prepare and share their work at an undergraduate research celebration event at the university and at other conferences.

Participation in a scientific pre-university program and medical students\u2019 interest in an academic career

BackgroundThe proportion of medical doctors involved in research activities is declining. Undergraduate medical research programs are positively associated with medical students’ research interest. Scientific pre-university programs (SPUPs) outside the medical domain are also positively associated with research interest, but have not been related to the shortage of clinician-scientists. This study examined the effect of an SPUP on medical students’ research interest.MethodsThis study was conducted at a Dutch medical school. Medical students in all years who had participated in an SPUP and first-year master students who had not participated in an SPUP were invited to fill out an online survey on extracurricular activities and future career interests. SPUP participants were compared with three groups of non-participants: (i) an unmatched group, (ii) a group matched on gender and pre-university Grade Point Average (pu-GPA) and (iii) a group matched on gender and first-year GPA, one to five years after finishing the SPUP. Participants evaluated the SPUP through ratings of statements about the program.ResultsTwo-hundred forty medical students, including 71 SPUP participants responded to the survey. SPUP participants participated significantly more often in the Honors class (i.e., extracurricular educational program for high-performing students), gained significantly more often extracurricular research experience, enrolled significantly more often in the Research master (i.e., research training program parallel to the clinical master program) and obtained significantly more often a scholarship than unmatched non-SPUP participants. Using a non-SPUP group matched on gender and pu-GPA reduced the effect size of the significant differences in Honors class participation, Research master participation and scholarship obtainment. Using a non-SPUP group matched on gender and first-year GPA rendered the significant difference in Research master participation and scholarship obtainment insignificant. Significantly more SPUP participants than unmatched non-SPUP participants preferred a combination of clinical care and research in their future career. Using a non-SPUP group matched on gender and either pu-GPA or first-year GPA did not change the effect size of this significant difference.ConclusionsThese findings demonstrate the potential value of an SPUP in increasing the number of medical students with research interest and as a policy measure to help to alleviate the shortage of clinician-scientists.

Extrinsic motives to encourage extracurricular research activities: a reminder call to medical schools in Saudi Arabia.

Extrinsic motives to encourage extracurricular research activities: a reminder call to medical schools in Saudi Arabia.

Construction and implementation of early clinical practice course in medical colleges and universities

Tianjin Medical University set up the module of Early Clinical Practice in the 2012 year's new curriculum system which takes the teaching mode of combining the in-class curriculum and the extracurricular scientific research as well as the social practice. The in-class curriculum refers to the early contact clinical curriculum, namely making the early contact clinical practice training as a compulsory course, which focuses on the cultivation of students' medical professional ethics and the cultivation of doctor-patient communication ability, health promotion and preventive medicine consciousness, to strengthen students' clinical thinking, clinical research ability and basic skills training. The extracurricular part mainly takes the innovation credit project as the instruction, which will make the social practice, scientific and technological innovation activity project, clinical basic skills training comprehensive, and train students' ability of organization plan, communication and coordination, word expression and scientific research ability. Key words: Early clinical practice; Course; Clinical practice; Social practice