Comprehensive Reflective Assessment
Course Improvement
Question #1
The most exciting learning activity is the research on what other sources discuss the history of pharmacy. Researching on this topic was interesting because it offered some knowledge and understanding, which were probably not considered in the course materials. By conducting the outside research, I encountered some interesting facts about the pharmacy and the changes that have taken place in various geographical regions like the US, China, and Britain. There are many scholarly articles that discuss different ideas surrounding the history of pharmacy. They provide an essential understanding of some of the concepts which have been left out in the course materials. This learning activity was also interesting because it requires critical thinking, and it enhanced my research skills. Additionally, new insight was acquired regarding the course, and this is what I find most interesting.
The learning activity that was most helpful in promoting the understanding of the history of the profession is the completion of various assignments—completing the series of assignments promoted creativity and curiosity, which enabled me to learn more about this profession. These assignments acted as a form of assessment that enabled the learners to identify their areas of weakness and improve them accordingly. BY reflecting on what we had already studied, I identified what I already know about the topic and used it as the foundation of improving on my weaknesses. Therefore, the learning activities played a significant role in ensuring that I understood various concepts in the course and provided new insight into the areas I can research in the future on the topic.
Question #2
The weekly reflections and their deadlines were useful as they promoted progress in this online course. They provided room for contemplating what had been learned, and this reduced the chances of forgetting various concepts. The reflection as a method of learning enabled me to step back from my learning encountered, promoting critical thinking aptitudes. This allowed room for future improvement by evaluating what I have learned and how far I have come. Further, these reflections enabled me to create a connection between the concepts presented in the course. Setting the new goals for the future lesson was made possible, after reflecting on what did not go well in the past topics. Therefore, reflection is an essential approach to learning, and it allows the students to learn about themselves and their behaviors in education. This promotes the improvement of academic skills. Therefore, the weekly reflection acted as the guidelines to the learners for identifying their mistakes and correcting them in the future.
The alternative method to weekly reflections is the written assignments. In this case, the instructor could set some essay questions testing the student knowledge on several topics covered in the course. The completion of short essays on various topics is a common and effective method of assessing my understanding of the course materials. These assignments will help in identifying the areas that I did not perform well and revise accordingly in order to improve. The weekly task will be valuable in enhancing the learner’s understanding of the course.
Question #3
The pertinent topic that I feel might be important to add to the course is the relevant, prominent figures who played an essential role in the development of the field of pharmacy. We have already assessed the crucial milestones in the profession. This promotes the necessity for discussing the crucial figures from all over the world who made important inventions that are of great importance today. Some notable individuals made memorable contributions in the field of pharmacy. By evaluating the major ones from different regions, the students will gain some insights about them and their significant achievements. This will enhance the understanding of the learners and enable them to make connections between various concepts in this course. Moreover, the learners will be in a position to relate some of the achievements of these figures and the critical milestones in the history of pharmacy. The other important topic is the present and future of the field of pharmacy. Since the future of this profession has been discussed in the course, it is vital to assess the profession in the present and future. There are some trends which run from the past to the present in pharmacy, by discussing this topic, the students will be able to predict the same patterns in the future. This is important as it will enable the learners to make a connection between events and trends in this profession. These topics should be embedded in the already existing content to enhance the understanding of the professionals in this field.
Great Moments
Question #4
The above illustration shows Biologist Charles H. Best and Dr. Frederick G. Banting in a laboratory at the University of Toronto. The individuals in this painting may be conducting research about a particular drug or medical procedure. They seem to test various substances to identify whether they fit for the treatment of specific maladies. In the picture, it is apparent that the events happening took place in the recent past following the advancement of the laboratory equipment being used. These are some of the experiment which formed the foundation of the current improvements in the field of pharmacy. The person in a brown coat seems to measure a specific substance in a syringe in order to test it. However, form the caption provided by the artist of the painting, the two inexperienced researchers worked on an experiment that proved that the extraction from the pancreas of an organism controlled the blood sugar.
The reason why the above was added into the great moments is that the above experiment probably gave rise to a remarkable invention not only in the field of pharmacy but also in the medical field. All the great moments in pharmacy will live in the minds of many as they gave rise to essential inventions that have contributed to the success of the current world of drugs and medicine. Since the event taking place in the painting added to the mass production of insulin, many people living with diabetes are saved daily.
Learning from the Past, Going Forward
Question #5
From the assessment done, it is apparent that the field of pharmacy changed, and it continues to change from year to year. This has changed my view on the field as well as the professionals in it. I have gained the knowledge that has promoted my understanding of the field and the reason behind why some things happen like they do in this profession. I have changed my view that the field of pharmacy was established some years ago, during the third industrial revolution. I have come to understand that this profession and its professionals have existed since the beginning of time. In the next decade, the field of pharmacy will have advanced in terms of the technology used and some of the methods used in the manufacture of the drugs. This is because technology will have advanced even further, thus enhancing the way various activities are carried out in the process of manufacturing drugs. The adoption of technology like artificial intelligence will provide an excellent opportunity for this field. Therefore, the profession will be far compared to where it is in the present day. Some of the critical skills that I will need to practice in the future are different technological skills. The change in technology presents the need for learning new skills related to the use of various technological devices used in the field. The technological capabilities will be the most important because of the increased need to use technology in all the realms of life.
Creativity
Question #6
Introduction
The objective of this learning exercise is to introduce the learners into the history of pharmacy. It includes assessing the significant concepts and achievements in historical times and their primary contribution to this profession. The purpose of this exercise is to enlighten the students on the critical milestones that have taken place and how they have changed the profession. Moreover, it focuses on helping the learners understand the structure and organization of this field, and this is depicted by the discussion of different organizations. Therefore, the understanding that the learners have in this field will be enhanced by this exercise, and this forms the foundation of the future courses.
Some of the questions that students will be asked as part of the assessment include:
- Choose three historical developments in pharmacy and discuss them comprehensively.
- What is the relationship between pharmacy and medicine? How are they different?
- What are the trends that can be identified in the past, present, and future of pharmacy?
- What do you think should be integrated into this profession to improve it?
The desired end product in this activity is the enhanced understanding of the learners regarding the matters that happened in the past, present, and future in this profession. The students are expected to be proficient in concepts related to pharmacy history and, therefore, achieve the learning goals and objectives. With the knowledge acquired from this exercise, the learners will gain understanding, which will form the foundation for learning different concepts in the pharmacy field.