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University
of North Carolina School of Public Health EPID600, Principles of Epidemiology for Public Health About the case studies (Classroom edition, Spring 2009) |
OverviewMost modules have a case study, generally consisting of a published article and a set of questions. Students work on case studies alone or with others, and then discuss and refine their answers in their assigned small groups. Each group must submit a set of consensus answers. The average of grades for selected questions from the group case study answers is applied to all members of the group. In advance of the group discussion, individual students may opt to submit their individual answers to selected case study questions (marked with an asterisk) to receive additional credit. (See below. Please note: groups and students must not have access to the instructor answers before they are posted in Blackboard.) 1. Individual case study submissions (Optional - earns credit)Up to 10% of the course grade can be earned for adequate answers to selected case study questions (denoted by asterisks on the submission form). These answers are submitted via webform and reviewed by your teaching assistant. The individually-submitted case study answers are intended primarily as a learning activity, so even incorrect answers can receive full credit if they reflect a reasonable degree of effort. Your TA will rate your answers to each case study as full credit (1 point) or something less. These points can replace up to 5 percentage points for each of Exam 1 and Exam 2 (see course grading procedure for an explanation and example). You may work with others on the case study answers. The submission webform will ask with whom you have worked. Regardless, of whether or not you have collaborated with another student on a case study, in order to receive credit for submitting your individual answers you must personally submit them. The only conditions are that: (a) you actually work on all questions rather than divide them up so that you work only on some and use someone else's answer for others, and (b) that neither you nor anyone working with you has access to the instructor answers. (Your TA will have the instructor answers and can provide some assistance.) The deadlines for submitting your individual answers (to the starred questions) are shown on the course schedule. For each case study, first you submit the Honor Pledge form, and then you will see the form for pasting in your answers. 2. Group case study submissions (Required)The group submission should consist of answers to all questions in the case study, not just the starred ones (exception: in the case study on HIV in Zimbabwe there are several unassigned questions; they are included so that the case study can also serve as a sample examination). Due dates for group submissions are shown on the course schedule. Extensions should be obtained from your TA and require a promise by all group members not to look at the posted answers or talk with other groups. Each group decides how it would like to organize its work. For example, some groups may divide up into 2-4 member "task forces", who can communicate by telephone, email, or chat sessions. The task forces can come to consensus on their own answers and then exchange these the other task forces or post them in the Discussion Forum in Blackboard. Different task forces could be assigned primary responsibility for achieving consensus on different subsets of questions. The final steps in the consensus process should be posting of the proposed consensus answers in the Blackboard Discussion Forum where all group members can review and comment on them. One or more designated faciltators for the module should then submit the consensus answers via webform. Answers will be graded across all groups, separately for each question and without knowledge of which group submitted which answer, to promote uniformity of grading. Only answers to selected questions will be graded to reduce the grading burden. Note that it is a violation of the Honor Code for any student or group to have access to the instructor answers before these have been posted in Blackboard. More information about this semester’s course 8/3/2008 by Vic |