Minutes – February 8, 2013

Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology Student Association

Meeting Minutes

Friday, February 8, 2013

Opening

The meeting of the BPKSA was called to order at 1:30pm on Friday, February 8, 2013 in the BPK Seminar Room by Steven.

In attendance

  • Steven, Glen, Shaila, Kirstin, Loryn, Brent, Megan, Debbie, Sam, Jake, Leandra, Joyce, Dora, Matt, Megan, Alex, Jason, Jordan

Open Issues

  • Glen Tibbit’s Visit
  • Upon reviewing the course surveys each semester there seems to be a correlation between course difficulty and prof likeability, any comments?
    • courses we find interesting, we find easier so we rank the prof higher
    • for example: Kin 205 has 3 profs, certain prof’s lectures were better and those were the lectures we tended to pay better attention to so we learned more in them
  • How could Kin 205 be improved?
    • More communication between profs
    • lecture slides with mainly figures from the textbook doesn’t help us to distinguish what’s important and what’s not from the chapters
    • having specific goals laid out for each lecture would be helpful
    • the delivery of lecture can be improved
    • it seems that the profs have used feedback from past semesters as there are more practice assignments now
  • Do you like using iClickers?
    • we like the use of them periodically in lecture
    • how effectively they are used seems to be instructor-dependent
    • try to create questions with clear answers as ambiguities lead to confusion
    • a great way for profs to see how well concepts are being understood by the class as a whole instead of just asking one student
  • I’ve heard that there aren’t enough “interesting” 4th year courses
    • looking at the course lists we feel that there are lots of good ones to take
    • the complaint may not necessarily be about the number of courses but the availability of them
  • How do you feel about getting exposure to research faculty?
    • it isn’t discussed much in lecture during the first few year
    • profs could quickly discuss their research interests on the first day of classes
    • if profs need research subjects for their lab they could ask their classes (this could be turned into something similar to Psych’s Research Participation system used in first year courses)
    • Research Day is showcasing more undergrad research
    • Developing a BPK Orientation (with lab tours and profs promoting their labs) would help bring the new BPK students closer together and closer to the faculty
    • co-horts were great for introducing us to different parts of the BPK faculty; these are hard to organize but even having a BPK Orientation would bring students together who would very likely have classes together
  • What are the big problems with your major
      • Anatomy
        • we touch on anatomy in first year, skip over it in second and then return to it in third
        • 241 is helpful but not a required course for all majors
        • 201 expects us to return to the knowledge learned in 142 without being gone over in detail again in lecture
      • Lab Time
        • BP majors need more lab time as there seems to be a discrepancy in the workforce that BP and Kin grads have similar degrees
        • the faculty is currently trying to develop an introductory lab course where you will learn all the basics a BP major would need to know
      • General Science Courses in the First Few Years
        • some people don’t feel that they are a part of the BPK faculty yet as they take so many science courses besides Kin ones those first couple years
        • there is talk of amalgamating all the Kin, MBB and Bisc student’s first year
      • Kin 241 Should Be Mandatory for all BPK Majors
        • it is such a practical course
        • you not only learn how to diagnose and treat injuries but also how to think critically which is important for anything you go on to do
      • MBB 201
        • it needs to be offered more than one semester a year
        • the course is in the process of changing

Adjournment

Meeting was adjourned at 2:30pm by Steven. The next meeting will be Friday, February 22, 2013 in the BPK Seminar Room at 1:30pm.

 

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