We present the evaluation of the student response to a novel form of practical assessment: the Practical Skills Portfolio (PSP). The PSP is a concise record of a practical activity for the purposes of assessment, which prompts students to engage in reflective practice on laboratory skills, and provides opportunities for enhanced feedback delivered in a timely manner. Key goals of this new approach are to assist students in assimilating the practical skills they are developing during their studies and to support them in developing their ability to write the different components of a full laboratory report.

Many instructors globally reported a lack of engagement in synchronous online sessions during the Covid-19 lockdowns. This article outlines the use of collaborative small group tasks mediated via breakout rooms in Teams during the 2020/21 academic year. The rationale for the activities, which are available for download, is described along with details of the evaluation of their impact. Key findings were that a majority of students reported enjoying the tasks and felt that they improved their learning during online sessions.

Ontario code of ethics. Hereafter the society will meet every two months, on the second Wednesday of the month. ONTARIO'S VITAL STATISTICS. The apparent decrease in the birth-rate of the province of Ontario in 1898 was thought to be attributable to defective returns, but in spite of the fact that stricter precautions have been taken in this regard, even to the extent of prosecutions and fines for neglect to register, the birth-rate of this province still continues to go down. Marriages have increased, but the births have decreased. In 1899 there were 16,514 marriages, as against 15,375 in 1898, an increase of 1139. Of births, there were 44,705 in 1899, as against 46,599 in 1898, a decrease of 1894. The deaths for 1899 number 28,607, as compared witr 26,370 in the preceding twelve months. In Toronto alone, although the population has increased by 5000, the births show a decrease of 116. In Hamilton they have decreased by 156 in 1899. THE INSANE OF ONTARIO. The Ontario government has recently been receiving some pretty severe criticism for failing to provide proper and full accommodation for the lunatics who are confined in the com¬ mon gaols of the province. Toronto especially is taking active steps to have this abuse immediately removed. In the.gaol of that city no less than 49 insane people are confined like other criminals, awaiting transference to government asylums, but as there is no accommodation for them, they continue on in their present quarters. The medical health officer, Dr. Sheard, and Dr. Richardson, the gaol surgeon, have been appointed a committee to lay this matter before the provincial secretary, seeking to have the wrong remedied. The government claims that it is hurrying on the work at the old Victoria College at Cobourg, which, when completed, will accommodate 200 pa¬ tients. MONTREAL GENERAL HOSPITAL.