The Project Outline
At present we employ a CAL package (written by Drs Salter and Boorman in the Division) to teach vitamin A to 2nd years, while the other vitamins are covered in various lecture courses. The CAL package is now 8 years old and needs updating, while another vitamin (vitamin K) is taught as 2 stand alone lectures. The project will involve conversion of the vitamin A CAL package to an up-to-date web-based package and will include a self-assessment section not included in the CAL package. At the same time the package will be extended to include vitamin K as well, thus replacing 2 lectures. Once completed, the package will be tested both by members of my learning set and by students on the relevant module/course and feedback obtained. If it proves to be successful, we would then consider extending the package to eventually cover more, or even all of the vitamins, and possibly certain relevant minerals. Thus, converting a substantial portion of a module to a student-centred learning format and reducing the number of lectures (and lecturers) involved at present.

Once completed (and possibly extended), the package could be used by students in all 3 years of various degrees within the school, but also by other schools involved in teaching basic nutrition (e.g. Biomedical Sciences). There is also the possibility of making the package commercially available. The student centred, web-based package will allow students to progress at their own pace and to find information in a form appropriate to their individual method of learning. The inclusion of updated information and a self-assessment section will be an enhancement to the existing CAL package and allow the students to test their understanding and knowledge prior to an exam situation. It will also be possible to have more regular updates, which is not possible in the present CAL format.

An understanding of various aspects of vitamin function and metabolism is relevant to other courses included in the various degrees offered at Sutton Bonington and also the Medical School and therefore the package will be a useful additional reference resource.

Project Aims:

1. To replace and update the CAL package currently used to teach vitamin A to 2nd year students.
2. To extend the package to include vitamin K.
3. Use of a web-based format to allow incorporation of a self-assessment component, as well as being able to up-date more regularly and possibly extend the package in the future.
4. To convert from a mainly transmissive method of teaching (i.e. lectures) to a more student-centred (and hopefully active learning) method of teaching the subject of vitamins.

Project Outcomes:
A student centred, user-friendly web-based package to teach and learn about vitamins. This will then be evaluated ?in-the-field? by the students themselves, with the web package being tested in parallel to existing lectures and CAL package. Feedback will be obtained before deciding whether to convert a larger proportion of the module to a student-centred format.