Several modules in the Department of Life Sciences have run online journal clubs for second year students as an assessed activity.

Each week, a paper is assigned as a topic for online discussion within small, predefined groups. The goal is for students to learn how to read the scientific literature and discuss it with their peers.

Students post a brief contribution about an aspect of the paper they think is important or valuable and are then encouraged to read their team-members' posts and provide feedback, ask questions, and engage in an in-depth discussion of the scientific concepts.

Staff monitor the discussions, but intervene only if there is no activity or if something is posted that is factually wrong.

The journal club discussions are marked as an indication of class participation, with marks awarded on a simple six-point mark scheme.

Students have actively participated in these sessions and one student commented ‘I did find the idea of partaking in a Journal Club useful - it is beneficial to hold discussions with your course mates who understand certain parts of the course better than you’.

Immunology course convener Dr Marc Dionne states: "Almost every group has had serious discussion. I thought I would have to guide things, but I ended up just posting a general note on one confusing point in the assigned paper."