Projects
Our Projects
We have a strong focus on performing research to inform educational practice.
Analytics and assessment
Towards SDG 4: Transferring Forum Brain’s Success to Health Sciences, and BeyondInvestigators: Angus S, Ilic D, Darcy R.Today, over 100 million people learn on a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), and in every single course, an online discussion forum is used. Yet, no automated human-quality grading and feedback technology for open ended forums exists. ForumBrain.monash.edu, an automated, intelligent, forum analysis platform powered by cutting edge AI technologies, has recently been developed and trained by A/Prof S Angus at SoDa Laboratories in the MBS. This project takes Forum Brain to the next level by partnering with educational domain leaders and specialists in the health sciences, to test, and demonstrate, crucial cross- knowledge domain efficacy through transfer learning and beyond. Funding: Interdisciplinary Research Support Program | 2019 |
Defining and assessing the utility of assessment categories in health professional educationInvestigators: Ilic D, Diug B, Maloney S, Mundy M, Davis E, Gibson S, Sarkar M, McKenzie S, Mak V, Darcy R.Assessment is a key component of any health professions degree. Robust assessment processes are fundamental in ensuring graduates practice safely and professionally while optimising health outcomes of patients and populations. The overall aim of this study is to create, apply and test consistent definitions and categories for assessment types (i.e. an assessment framework) in the health professions, in the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences (FMNHS). Funding: Learning & Teaching Grant, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences | 2019 |
Psychometric validation of a tool used in the assessment of professionalism for pre-clinical medical studentsInvestigators: McArdle A, Karim N, Tara M, Reser D, Ilic D, Barton P, Presley M.Professionalism, defined as “the ability to meet the relationship-centred expectation required to practice medicine competently”, is a core competency for medical graduates. Lapses in professionalism may risk patient’s health and lead to disciplinary action. Development of an objective, fair, consistent, accurate, and robust means of assessing professionalism beginning from the earliest stages of training will maximise opportunities for Monash medical graduates to develop critical communication and inter-personal skills that underpin success in healthcare delivery. This project aims to develop and psycho-metrically validate a professionalism assessment tool for pre-clinical medical students. Funding: Monash Education Academy | 2019 |
Research- and practice-based development of a framework and guidelines for Assessable Online Discussion (AOD)Investigators: Darcy R, Ilic D, Gasevic D.Online discussion forums have become a key pedagogical component of online education. Participation in online discussions is more effective if it is linked to assessment. There is ongoing debate, however, on what should be assessed in online discussions, and how that assessment should be implemented. This project will undertake a systematic review of literature in regards to assessable online discussion (AOD), and investigate the use of AOD in units within the Master of Public Health courses. The results of the review and investigation will be used to develop a framework and guidelines for AOD in the MPH, with the ultimate goal to develop a model for best practice AOD that potentially will be incorporated into Faculty and University policies and guidelines. Funding: Monash Education Academy (MEA) | 2018 |
Development of an Objective Structured Clinical Exam (OSCE) for internationally qualified nursesInvestigators: Griffiths D, Brooks I, Endacott R, Dix S, Rees-Sidhu C, Barton P, Hall H, Gibson S, Harrison J, Ilic D, Maloney S, Leech M, Adams K, Merriman C, Fuller R, Homer M, Vance S.This project on developing and evaluating a series of objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) for the assessment of internationally qualified nurses. All aspects of assessment were examined including blueprinting, station development, psychometric and cost analysis. Funding: AHPRA | 2017 |
Developing psychometrically validated tools for assessing medical students' competency in research knowledge and skillsInvestigators: Ilic D, Diug B, Campbell D, Sadasivan S, Bell R.The current MBBS degree is in transition to a MD in 2020. A key aspect required for the current degree to meet the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) for a MD is the presence of specialized knowledge and skills in research. This current proposal aims to develop a suite of psychometrically validated tools that will assess MBBS student competency in research knowledge and skills. This will provide the Faculty with evidence to demonstrate student competency at the AQF level 9, which is currently lacking in the MBBS degree and a key requirement for its transformation into a MD. Funding: MBBS Development Grant Scheme | 2015 |
Cost and value
The Cost and Value of Implementing Active and Flexible PedagogiesInvestigators: Maloney S, Ilic D, Rivers G, Li J, Foo J, McDonald S, Reupert A, Brookes R.Educational demand has outstripped our space-management supply. As a result, strategies to maintain the growth and accessibility to educational offerings are being considered. This project will provide a greater understanding of the relationship between innovating pedagogy, and its impact on resource utilisation. Funding: Monash Education Academy (MEA) Interfaculty Transformation Grant | 2017 |
Determining the cost and value of the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI), Situational Judgement Test (SJT), and UMAT in undergraduate medical course selectionInvestigators: Hay M, Maloney S, Foo J, Ilic D, Rivers G.This aim of this project is to undertake a cost and value analysis of three widely used selection tools - the UMAT, the SJT, and the MMI. This will be achieved by applying the principles of cost and value analysis of medical education to medical student selection. The overall aim of the project is to accurately determine the economic cost and value of each selection tool. Funding: UMAT Consortium | 2017 |
AMEE Guideline and Checklist for applying cost and value research methodology to teaching and learningInvestigators: Maloney S, Ilic D, Rivers G, Foo J, Walsh K, Cleland J, Reeves S.High-quality research into education costs can inform better decision making. Improvements to cost research can be guided by information about the research questions, methods and reporting of studies evaluating costs in health professions education. This project aims to appraise the overall state of the field and evaluate temporal trends in the methods and reporting quality of cost evaluations in health professions education research. Funding: Office of the Vice-Provost (Learning and Teaching) | 2016 |
‘In-house' example of applying cost and value to assessment practicesInvestigators: Maloney S, Ilic D, Rivers G, Foo J, Walsh K, Cleland J, Leech M.The mini-CEX and OSCE are mainstay assessments implemented across health curricula worldwide. Various studies have examined the reliability of the mini-CEX as a workplace-based assessment, and the OSCE as a high-stakes assessment. This project examines the impact of cost in developing and implementing these assessments in practice, and the practical implications when trading off between cost and value. Funding: Office of the Vice-Provost (Learning and Teaching) | 2016 |
A 360-degree analysis of the cost of an underperforming student within health professional educationInvestigators: Maloney S, Rivers G, Ilic D.Failure by students in health professional clinical education intertwines the health and education sectors, with actions in one having potential downstream effects on the other. It is unknown what economic costs are associated with failure, how these costs are distributed, and the impacts these have on students, clinicians and workplace productivity. This study examines the additional economic costs associated with failure by students in health professional clinical education. Funding: Office of the Vice-Provost (Learning and Teaching) | 2015 |
Determining the cost-effectiveness, and impact on student value, for implementing BTBL agenda within a first-year marketing unitInvestigators: Maloney S, Tojib D, Rivers G, Ilic D.Over the last decade, teaching and learning has shifted away from a traditional didactic format, to one that is grounded in blended learning. In facilitating such a move, educators must translate teaching and learning materials to suit a different teaching modality. Such changes come at a cost – both monetary and opportunity. This project examines the cost of flipping a curriculum from a didactic format into a blended learning format. Funding: Office of the Vice-Provost (Learning and Teaching) | 2015 |
Graduate attributes and employability
Curriculum design for graduate employability: an evidence-based approachInvestigators: Howard B, Czech D, Sarkar M, Ilic D.Over 80% of students enter university to enhance job prospects, yet a university degree no longer seems to guarantee job security. In Australia, universities have responded by focusing on developing graduate attributes and/or employability skills. Whilst we know that the development of these skills is important, data indicates that the translation of attribute policies into effective curricula may be lacking. This project aims to systematically review the literature to determine best practice curriculum design for employability. Through the establishment of an employability Community of Practice, we will translate the systematic review findings in accordance with current practices, resources and perspectives of Monash academics and professional staff. From this process, we will generate contextualised, evidence-based recommendations for developing curricula that support the employability of learners at Monash. Funding: Monash Education Academy (MEA) | 2019 |
Work readiness – understanding the needs and experiences of health graduates in the workplaceInvestigators: Howard B, Ayton D, Czech D.“Today, many young people enter university solely to prepare for their careers”. As a result, universities are focusing on improving graduate work readiness. Degrees that do not include mandatory work placements or set career pathways (e.g. health sciences) are particularly relevant. This study aims to look beyond employment rates and provide insight into whether we have equipped recent health and biomedical science graduates for their chosen careers. We will explore their needs, barriers and enablers of work readiness. Results from the study will inform the development and implementation of work ready programs for the Faculty’s non-vocational courses. Funding: Learning & Teaching Grant, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences | 2019 |
Pathways to the Public Health WorkplaceInvestigators: Ilic D , Marais D, Baird M, Robertson W.Work-integrated learning opportunities for students are essential for their development of key employability skills, consolidation of learning (as a capstone experience), and ensuring their ‘work-readiness’. This project aims to develop, implement and evaluate virtual workplace based public health capstone unit for the Monash University Master of Public Health (MPH) course. Funding: Monash-Warwick Alliance Education Fund | 2018 |
Narrative of Progression: from medical student to doctorInvestigators: Carr S, Celenza T, Wearn A, Canny B, Wilkinson T, Leech M, Diug B.The aim of this research is to explore the experience of medical students who may have had some interruption to their progression through the medical course, how this translates into subsequent transition to and performance in early practice as a junior doctors and to identify links between selection of students, progression and performance as a junior doctor. Funding: UMAT Research Committee | 2018 |
Evaluating health students' work readiness as evidence-based practitionersInvestigators: Ilic D, Maloney S, Brown T, Davidson Z, Wright C, Diug B, Williams B.The Monash Graduate Attributes aims to ensure that graduates are (i) responsible and effective global citizens and (ii) critical and creative scholars. However, the question remains – how can these attributes be effectively and reliably evaluated? This project develops a suite of tools to assess the level of student competency in the Monash Graduate Attribute of creating critical and creative scholars. Student cohorts include physiotherapy, radiation science/therapy, occupational therapy, paramedics, biomedical science and nutrition & dietetics. This project provides students and educators with a unique measure of this key Monash Graduate Attribute, and provide evidence to inform student work readiness (as critical thinkers). Funding: Learning & Teaching Grant, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences | 2017 |
Evaluating research knowledge and skill development in our medical students as graduate attributeInvestigators: Diug B, Bell R, Ilic D, Wallace M, Wright C, Robinson P.The aim of this project was to evaluate the changes occurring in our student cohort as a result of the implementation of the research methods in medicine module which is a core part of the MBBS- MD transition. Funding: Learning & Teaching Grant, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences | 2017 |
Strategies to empower students to initiate challenging conversations around professional practices with workplace supervisorsInvestigators: Maloney S, Kent F, Williams C, Ilic D, Bowles K.We know that most health professional students will encounter practice in the clinical environment that they will recognise as being either out-dated, or unsupported by the evidence base. Unfortunately, we also know that the power-imbalance frequently causes students to remain silent during such encounters, forgoing the opportunity to influence clinical practice. This research aims to engage clinical educators in identifying practical approaches for empowering students to engage in discussions concerning best-practice. Funding: Learning & Teaching Grant, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences | 2017 |
Students as change-agents – Equipping our students on clinical placements with practical approaches to counter observations of out-dated or poor practiceInvestigators: Maloney S, Galbraith K, Ilic D, Kent F, Williams C, Denniston C, Bowles K, Harrison C, Clemans A.Workplace integrated learning (WIL) is utilised for advancing student learning and professional socialisation within health education programs. It provides an apprenticeship style approach, where students are supervised and assessed by their qualified peers. Education within these WIL settings is often characterised by a two-way exchange of information between the student and educator. This project examines the use of students, as knowledge brokers, for clinicians. Funding: Monash Education Academy (MEA) Interfaculty Transformation Grant | 2016 |
Cultural Competence Program for Local and International Students going on Placement and Studying Locally and AbroadInvestigators: Diug B, Normand-Marconnet N, Kendal E, Tant Kevin, Jacobs N, McDonald S.The aim of this project was to increase the cultural competence of Monash students engaged with external learning opportunities, such as placements and internships. More generally it also aims to enhance graduate attributes of cultural sensitivity and awareness for all students. Funding: Monash Education Academy Interfaculty Transformation Grant | 2016 |
Creating a culture of professionalism: the development and trial of shared resources medicineInvestigators: Diug B, Kendal E.The aim of this project was to support student employability through the development of key professional, personal and intellectual graduate attributes. To further equip 1st year undergraduate health students with an understanding of professional expectations through the development of related graduate attributes. Funding: Office of the Vice-Provost Learning and Teaching University wide (Better Teaching Better Learning) grant | 2016 |
Scholarship of education
Factors associated with undergraduate students’ academic and clinical performance success in an innovative nursing curriculum: a mixed-methods studyInvestigators: Fooladi E, Zanjani ME, Brand G, Karim MN, Walker L, Vance S.Research exploring factors that influence nursing students’ academic and clinical performance success in entry to practice nursing education programs in Australia is scarce. This study will identify important factors that influence nursing students’ clinical and academic performance in the current curriculum, including types of academic support accessed. The findings from our study will inform the effectiveness of the provided support and whether curriculum changes meet the student needs, and how we can advance nursing education and make an important contribution towards future improvements in nursing courses. Funding: Learning & Teaching Grant, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences | 2019 |
Why do students plagiarise? A systems-based approach to inform teaching & learning policy and practiceInvestigators: Ayton D, Drieberg M, Diug B, Ilic D.Plagiarism occurs when an individual uses someone else’s work without acknowledging the original source. This research aims to better understand the phenomena of plagiarism using a systems approach. A systems approach investigates the relationships between different components and factors, including the behavioural, situational and contextual factors the drive plagiarism. Funding: Learning & Teaching Grant, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences | 2018 |
Implementation of faculty evaluation strategy: Impact and outcomes of Monash University health science and health profession courses using Contribution AnalysisInvestigators: Palermo C, Ilic D, Diug B, Morphet J, Kumar A, Lindley J, Wee Ming L, Brooks I, Wright C, Simmons M, Powell A, Bonham M, Volders E, Brock T, White P, Sarkar M.Quality evaluation is likely to identify the gaps in training that can be addressed to equip health graduates with skills required to meet healthcare needs. To date no comprehensive, theory informed evaluation of courses has been conducted in health science and health profession graduates at Monash University. This project will evaluate the outcomes and factors that contribute to the outcomes of four health professions and two health sciences courses and test the feasibility of this approach as a mechanism for regular robust, credible and dependable evaluation of health science and health professions courses. Funding: Learning & Teaching Grant, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences | 2018 |
Monash Online Education Community of Practice (MOEC) – development of a Monash Digital Education Campus, a shared online student orientation module to support learning in the online mode at Monash UniversityInvestigators: Mundy M, McKenzie S, Garivaldis F, Rose G, Reupert A, Ilic D, Hillier M, Aziz Z, Braganza L, Mowbray T, Bangerter M, Rowan P, Malik G, Zahora T, Li M.University programs of study that adopt an online mode of delivery, either fully or in part, are becoming increasingly more popular, and open the door to a wider and more versatile use of space and time for teaching and learning to take place. However, the demands on students studying in this mode are unique, and include the need for competence in the use of technological tools and digital literacy, which enhance learning and meet the needs of employers. The aim of this project is to meet the needs of the growing body of Monash University students studying in the online mode by developing the Monash Digital Education Campus (Monash DE Campus)—an online learning orientation capacity. Funding: Monash Education Academy | 2018 |
Ascertaining student readiness and outcomes on inter-professional education in health professional programsInvestigators: Ilic D, Ross L, Wright C, Bay U, Rajan R, Williams B.Systematic review evidence has highlighted the benefits of student learning outcomes with interprofessional education (IPE); however, all studies have been limited to exploring IPE in the medical and nursing disciplines. This project examines the effectiveness (including cost) at providing an IPE program to healthcare students across public health, radiation sciences, human services and paramedic practice. Funding: Learning & Teaching Grant, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences | 2016 |
Supporting International Mobility Experiences (IME) at MonashInvestigators: Fitzgerald A, Diug B, Williams J, Parr G, Roffee J, Wellam R.The aim of this project was to build a more cohesive, better coordinated and more comprehensively resourced set of international mobility experience offerings that maximises the sharing of knowledge, expertise and experience across faculties and Monash. Funding: Monash Education Academy Interfaculty Transformation Grant | 2016 |
Developing core research skills: biostatistics, analysis and interpretation using a shared an interactive e-book resourceInvestigators: Diug B, Bell R, Ilic D, Wallace M.The aim of this project was to develop innovative resources that could support the develop of core biostastics skills throughout the faculty. Funding: Learning & Teaching Grant, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences | 2016 |
Peer-assisted learning in paramedic education: A randomised control trialInvestigators: Williams B, Ilic D, Wallis J.Peer-assisted learning (PAL) strategies typically involve students from the year above facilitating learning and teaching sessions with students from lower years. For the PAL leaders it provides a unique experience to consolidate knowledge, but also develop new skills in communication and teaching. For those students engaging in PAL, it provides the opportunity to consolidate knowledge and skills in an ‘informal’ learning environment. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of PAL in a cohort of paramedic students. Funding: Learning & Teaching Grant, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences | 2015 |
Educators unite to develop and trial shared resources for teaching and learning research skillsInvestigators: Keating JL, Diug B, Rajan R, Ilic D.The aim of this project was to create a community of practice who would work together to create an online resource that supports research teachers across the university. Funding: Learning & Teaching Grant, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences | 2015 |
Medical role models in popular cultureInvestigators: Kendal E, Diug B.This project aims to host 6 interactive seminars on the use of popular culture for teaching medicine, medico-legal studies, and medical ethics. Funding: Learning & Teaching Grant, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences | 2015 |