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One method of grading responses of the descriptive type is by using Structure of Observed Learning Outcomes (SOLO) taxonomy. The basis of this study was the expectation that if students were oriented to SOLO taxonomy, it would provide them an opportunity to understand some of the factors that teachers consider while grading descriptive responses and possibly develop strategies to improve scores. We first sampled the perceptions of 68 second-year undergraduate medical students doing the Respiratory System course regarding the usefulness of explicit discussion of SOLO taxonomy. Subsequently, in a distinct cohort of 20 second-year medical students doing the Central Nervous System course, we sought to determine whether explicit illustration of SOLO taxonomy combined with some advice on better answering descriptive test questions (to an experimental group) resulted in better student scores in a continuous assessment test compared with providing advice for better answering test questions but without any reference to SOLO taxonomy (the control group). Student ratings of the clarity of the presentation on SOLO taxonomy appeared satisfactory to the authors, as was student understanding of our presentation. The majority of participants indicated that knowledge of SOLO taxonomy would help them study and prepare better answers for questions of the descriptive type. Although scores in the experimental and control group were comparable, this experience nonetheless provided us with the motivation to orient students to SOLO taxonomy early on in the medical program and further research factors that affect students' development of strategies based on knowledge of SOLO taxonomy. (Contains 3 tables and 1 footnote.)

Vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes added V2O5 composite (MWCNT/V2O5) films were prepared by hydrothermal technique. The influence of various levels of MWCNT on the electrochromic properties of MWCNT/V2O5 films was investigated. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the films are polycrystalline in nature and belong to orthorhombic crystal system of V2O5. Raman and FTIR spectral analyses confirmed the formation of V2O5 phase and the influence of MWCNT on the vibrational frequencies of V2O5 films. V2O5 film added with 1 wt.% MWCNT showed enhanced transmittance and the bandgap of V2O5 increases with further increase in the addition of MWCNT in V2O5 films. The electrochromic studies revealed electrochromic reversibility of 82% (1 wt.% MWCNT added film) and 82.5% (5 wt.% MWCNT added film) whereas after 100 cycles the films added with 1 wt.% and 5 wt.% of MWCNT acquired excellent electrochromic reversibility of 92% and 88%, respectively. Further the switching kinetics of the film added with 1 wt.% MWCNT is 1.8 s for coloration and 2.4 s for bleaching processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]