Learning Activities

Chapter 11

In Class

This is a task that requires some time and effort on behalf of the lecturer to provide access to at least one relevant research paper. We thought that many of the papers in Chapter 11 would be readily available and so we have put this task in here but it could equally be used for any chapter. The aims of this task are to:

• To give learners experience of reading research papers and coming to brief conclusions about what they mean.
• Provide experience of communicating the main research ideas from scientific papers to peers.

Background

We hope you will have heard of the Nobel prizes in which people who have made great contributions to our lives and well-being are rewarded. For example, there is a Nobel Peace Prize and also a Nobel Prize in science. The 24/7 challenge is based on the Ig Nobel awards for science which attempts to first makes people laugh and then makes them think. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ig_Nobel_Prize and http://improbable.com/ig/ for further details. Contestants in the Ig Nobel awards have to summarise their work in 24 seconds and say in 7 words what it means to Joe or Josephine Bloggs.

Procedure

Working in groups of 3 or 4 and spend some time reading the research paper you have been provided with. [Note: this could be a pre-class requirement or time can be provided in class for this]. Make brief notes from the paper to aid your understanding.

With the others in your group prepare and rehearse a 24-second presentation about this paper and identify a clear summary, that anyone can understand, in seven words. Nominate one member of your group to present this summary.

Before the presentation, begin to record your 7 words on a board or flip chart. Each group will then present in the 24/7 format the main themes arising from your paper to the rest of the class. Your group will be scored by the rest of the class on completion of your presentation. You can use the marking sheet provided below.

Please assess each group on the following aspects of their presentation by writing the most appropriate rating for each assessed component.

Out of Class

Go to a local GP practice and see if there are any opportunities advertised or available from the reception staff about how you might consider doing more physical activity. This might be in the form of a leaflet, a chance to have an ‘exercise referral’, a class to join, a walking group, a set of maps for cycle or walking trails etc. In 500 words write a critique of how well the practice is doing in terms of promoting physical activity to the patients.