Final Group Presentation Assignment

Assignment overview

This assignment is a student group study followed by presentations to the rest of the class. The assignment is designed to maximize active and collaborative roles for each participant.

Each group of students must choose a topic and have it approved by the course instructor. The topics may be deeper dives on previously discussed debate or class topics or a new topic. Topics should be about a controversial topic or a recent discovery in environmental health. Environmental health here is inclusive of both human and ecosystem health.

The assignment will be to identify one primary manuscript, and do some background investigation regarding what accessory information led to the work or was the outcomes of it. This may include prior cited works, contradictory works, news articles, new policies, datasets, blogs, and other content that provides the background information or translational impact.

The student group should create a markdown Github page for their “reading list” for the class to review in advance. Accessory files for review can be uploaded into Github for review as needed, or simply linked on the markdown page. This reading list should be posted on the Friday before the presentation is scheduled.

There will be four groups scheduled for the weeks of 5/29 and 6/5.

The goal of the presentations are to not only consider a timely and/or interesting recent topic in environmental health, but also to discuss and consider the following aspects to the topic:

1. Can you tell who did what?
2. What resources were used in the work and were they attributed? C
3. an you follow the provenance chain? Can you get to the primary data?
4. Who funded the work, and any dependent resources? Do you think this could have led to any bias?
5. Is there confounding evidence, and do you support the current conclusions, and why?

Students in the audience should prepare to ask the presenters penetrating questions. Presenting groups–especially those not burdened with presenting–are charged with explaining the methods, results and significance of the papers in response to questions.

Goals

Use presentation skills to formulate an “elevator speech” to use in networking and professional activities Engage in active group-based learning Become more familiar with collaborative web-based tools Gain leadership and organizational experience Increase evidence-based thought processes and conclusion drawing

Group Roles

Master of Class (MC).

2 min. Sets the tone and pace by introducing the topic and two speakers. Introductions are mini-speeches. Introduce the speakers to the audience and the audience to the speaker to establish mutuality—a common bond.

Introduction: Make audience aware of the importance of the topic. Explains “why this subject”. Explain that there will be time for one question after each talk followed by a general discussion period at the end of both talks.

Also responsible for managing the timing of the presentations and discussion. Keeps the pace by keeping everyone, including evaluators (and yourself!), on time. Communicates with the speakers and Lead Evaluator.

Presenter 1.

8 min. Introduces the topic including a concise background of the topic, perspectives and relevance. Include any special methods, terminology needed to understand the papers.

1 min Q&A

Presenter 2.

8 min. Summarizes the findings reported in the paper, methods and conclusions.

1 min Q&A

Discussion Leader (DL).

MC turns over class to DL once following presentions. DL invites questions from audience and also has 3 ideas to discuss (these are posted before class) in case discussion has a hard time. Look first to the students who were not presenting for answers to any questions.

8 mins Q&A

Class Curator CC).

CC makes coordinates posting links to papers with speakers, bonus materials on group markdown site, collects materials in Google drive and organizes the information.

Creates a written short nontechnical abstract–a layman’s summary– of the topic on the markdown page. The abstract may edited by the class, but the curator is responsible initiating the work and, for final content and posting.

Also responsible for designing and collecting evaluation form for the group and gives the forms to students before the presentations.

Grading

This assignment is worth 60 pts.

Participation and content posted on Github & Google Drive 15pts Shared Presentations: 30pts Individual roles: 15pts