BIOLOGY TEACHING ORGANISATION

PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT RECORD
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MY P. A. R.
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Here is YOUR PAR PAGE. It shows the skills you should aim to acquire and record on your Personal Achievement Record. But note that this web-based version of PAR is only a template - everything you write on it will be lost when you log off.

In order to record your achievements, you should download a Microsoft Word 97 version of this page then save it either to a floppy disk or to your "H drive". Then you can call up your PAR in Microsoft Word, regularly update it and save it.We recommend updating at least once per term.

IT (Information technology) skills

E-mail: (Click for HELP)

• Sending and receiving emails
• Sending to multiple users
• Forwarding emails
• Sending and opening attachments
• Make your own distribution lists - friends, group members etc.

Use this box to make notes for future reference. For example, you can only send an attachment (e.g. a Word document, or picture) after you have closed it. You then specify the file name, to send the item.

Word-processing: (Click for HELP)

• Using Microsoft WORD
• Using Spell-check facility
• Importing images into WORD documents
• Importing tables and graphs

Use this box to make notes for future reference. For example, is your computer set to check spelling in English (British) rather than English (United States)? Check or change this with the "Tools" menu on the top bar of Microsoft Word.

Spreadsheets and databases: (Click for HELP)

• Using the Microsoft EXCEL spreadsheet
• Producing graphs, histograms, pie charts
• Using the equation function of EXCEL

Record your achievements here, and make any notes that might help you in future. For example, you might like to note down how to calculate formulae in Excel. To start you off, click "Help" on the top menu bar of Excel and type in "equations".

World-wide web: (Click for HELP)

• Accessing the WWW, using Search engines
• Refining your search for relevant information
• Downloading material (images, etc.)
• Awareness of Copyright issues

Record your experiences here for future reference. Try to find a web site title (one that you know exists) by using different search engines - Netscape, Yahoo, HotBot, Google, etc. Make your own list of "favourite" websites on a floppy disk or your H drive. But remember that you cannot save anything on the C drive of a public-access computer.

Web site design: (Click for HELP)

• Designing a simple web site

Record your achievements here. There are lots of things to remember when you produce a web site. For example, you never have absolute control over how it will appear on different screens and different people's computers. You just have to live with that!

Numeracy, statistical tests, etc. (Click for help)

Basic numerical skills:

• Basic mathematical skills
• Logarithms and exponential growth
• Presentation of data in graphs, charts, etc.

Record your experience here. Often you will want to make a note of how you did a calculation (or where to find it) so that you can refer to it at a later date.

Statistical tests: (click for HELP)

• Calculating a mean and dispersion about a mean
• Comparing two means by statistical tests
• Using the Chi-squared test
• Fitting equations to graphs
• Working with probabilities

Record your achievements here. Make a note of the tests you have done in the past and where you can find them again, as a guide for next time.

Laboratory measures:

• Calculating molarities, dilution factors, etc.(Click for help)
• Proper use of SI Units (Click for help)

Record your experiences here. Make a note of how you did your calculations, as a guide for next time.

Writing skills - basic, reports, essays, etc. (Click for help)

• Sentence construction, spelling, punctuation
• Correct use of Latin names and common names
• Composition - structuring your argument and getting your point across
• Writing of essays, reports, summaries, etc.
• The use of tables, graphs and images in essays and reports
• Correct citation of literature sources and the WWW
• Plagiarism - the does and don'ts

Record your achievements here. Make a note of things that were criticised in each assessment (spelling, structure, etc.) so that you will not make the same mistakes again. Learning is a hard process - accept that all criticism is meant to be constructive. Learn to take the knocks!

Library skills (Click for help)

• How the libraries are organised - finding what you need
• Use of databases, on-line search facilities
• The hierarchies of information - primary journals, reviews, books, etc.
• Science 'dates' quickly - critical evaluation of information
• Effective browsing/ scanning for information
• Effective filing of information and references
• Citation of information

Record your experiences here. Make a note of the resources you found most helpful, and of any "tricks" or short-cuts you learned.

Laboratory skills (Click for help)

• Safety and conduct in a laboratory
• Experimental design - sampling, replication, etc.
• Accurate experimental manipulations
• Accurate record keeping and recording
• Construction and testing of hypotheses
• Report writing, summary and conclusions

Make notes of any techniques or procedures that you might want to refer to again - for revision or in future work.

Field work skills (Click for help)

• Safety and conduct in the field
• Appropriate sampling design
• Accurate recording and record keeping
• Construction and testing of hypotheses
• Report writing, summary and conclusions

Make notes of any techniques or procedures that you might want to refer to again - for revision or in future work.

Communication skills - oral presentations, poster presentations (Click for help)

Oral communication:

• The basics of public speaking
• Preparing an abstract (handout) of your talk
• Effective use of visual resources (slides/overheads etc.)
• Keeping to time
• Dealing with questions from your audience
• Powerpoint presentations

Citically evaluate your performance - the things you know you did poorly, the things you know you did well, the feedback you got, the techniques you learned from listening to other students. Immediately after your talk, go through the guidance notes again and score yourself against the entries.

Poster presentations:

• Preparing an effective and informative poster

Record your achievements here. What feedback did you get? What have you learned for the future? What did you learn by looking at other students' posters?

Personal & Interpersonal skills - group work, assertiveness, etc. (Help)

• Evaluate your achievements at University
• Evaluate your other achievements and activities
• Evaluate what you have learnt about yourself

Think carefully about your achievements - how you overcame difficulties, negotiated a situation, and also what you are not proud of - the missed opportunities, etc. Be honest with yourself - nobody else will see what you write!

Team skills

• Working in a team
• Leading a team
• Negotiation, diplomacy, assertiveness

Record your experiences (good and bad) of working in a team. What role did you play in the team? Did you feel comfortable in that role? Were you sufficiently assertive?Were you over-assertive? etc.

Career skills - jobs, CVs, interview skills (Click for help)

• Writing a CV (curriculum vitae)
• Interview technique
• Recognition of your strengths and weaknesses
• Effective time management and personal organisation
• Problem-solving techniques
• Record of work experience (voluntary or paid)
• Extramural activities - personal interests
• Realistic evaluation of your career opportunities

Record your achievements and activities here, especially the roles you have played or tasks and duties you have undertaken outside of normal course work. What are you proud of having done? What gave you satisfaction? What did you hate doing? How do you think an employer would view your activities to date? What other skills should you try to develop?

Graphics and multimedia skills (Click for help)

• Manipulation of electronic images
• Preparing poster presentations
• Producing brochures, flyers, newsletters, etc.

Record your achievements here. These are important skills to have because your work is bound to impress people if it looks professional.

Foreign language skills (Click for help)

• What languages do you know (record level of competence)
• What languages would you like to speak?

What languages do you know? (basic working knowledge? proficiency? etc.) What language courses have you taken?

Examination and study skills (Click for help)

• Effective and useful lecture notes
• Preparing and revising for exams
• Learning from past papers
• Effective use of time during examinations
• Succeeding in course assessments
• Critically evaluate your exam performance/record and see how to improve it

Here you should keep a record of all your assessed work (including in-course assessments) - the mark you achieved, the feedback, and your own evaluation of how you can improve your performance in future. Also keep a record of all your exam marks, including the "fails" (if any). Ask yourself critically why you underachieved - selective revision (question spotting)? inadequate preparation? poor exam technique?

You will want to keep a record of your achievements, and to update it periodically. You can do this by adding the details to your own PAR page (CLICK HERE) and saving it to a floppy disk or your H drive.