Indigenous Knowledges and native science as partners: a rejoinder

In this response to commentators on our article entitled, How might Native science inform “informal science learning”?, we offer elaboration on the role of Indigenous Knowledges (IK) in informing Native Science. In the response, we argue that IK is not only pertinent to the conversation of Native Science, but that it is a necessary piece in the conversation. Rather than addressing the commentaries directly, we attempt to point to the ways that the commentaries support and challenge our original arguments.     

Assessment matters: The why and how of cracking open and using assessment results

The authors interviewed two dozen educators at several institutions to better understand how data from the National Survey of Student Engagement were (or were not) being used. Their results offer guidance to those with dusty data binders on their shelves.     

Assessment methods in medical education

Since the 1950s, there has been rapid and extensive change in the way assessment is conducted in medical education. Several new methods of assessment have been developed and implemented over this time and they have focused on clinical skills (taking a history from a patient and performing a physical examination), communication skills, procedural skills, and professionalism. In this paper, we provide examples of performance-based assessments in medical education, detailing the benefits and challenges associated with different approaches. While advances in psychometric theory and technology have been paralleled by the development of assessment instruments that improve the evaluation of these skills, additional research is needed, particularly if the assessment is used to make high stake decisions (e.g., promotion and licensure).     

Exploring perceived support of postgraduate medical science research students

There is still much to learn about the support required by postgraduate research students, across academic disciplines, to facilitate successful completion of a research degree. The primary aim of this study was to explore postgraduate medical science research students’ perceptions of academic and mentoring support at different stages during their degree programme. A second aim was to explore the feasibility and acceptability of peer mentoring as a strategy to enhance student support in this population. A mixed method study design was used. Students first completed an online questionnaire, which was then supplemented with focus group discussion to explore emergent findings in greater depth. The main results indicated that the nature and quality of academic supervision support have a significant influence on research student training and development. ‘Functional’ and ‘relationship development’ concepts of supervisory styles were highlighted as important aspects to perceived support in this research population. The main facilitators to enhance academic support were effective communication, project planning and timely feedback. There was a high degree of acceptability for a peer mentoring programme as a complementary approach to enhance student support. Peer mentoring psychosocial functions such as friendship, counselling and career guidance were considered potentially beneficial to enhancing student support. Students also discussed peer coaching as central to their learning and research skill development. This work is a useful starting point to explore perceptions of research student support in the target population. Further work is required to develop strategies to enhance student support in academic practice.