We aim to develop a learning and teaching environment in which individual students’ motivations and goals are better known understood and supported throughout the student life cycle from pre-enrolment to employment.
During 2009/10 and beyond the project team plans to focus on the following key issues in the context of one of the University’s core values ‘Individuals Matter’:
- Establishing a University-wide understanding of what is meant by inclusive learning and teaching and how this can help motivate students to believe they can reach higher levels of attainment. This will be informed by students’ views on what types of learning teaching and study patterns best support their success gathered via a research project using a process of appreciative inquiry
- Using the shared understanding of inclusive learning and teaching promote a more positive and effective experience for students in which staff have better knowledge and understanding of the backgrounds prior learning experiences and individual motivations of students. To do this we will review and improve:
- Pre-enrolment procedures and resources (to help us gather more useful information about individual students and their previous experiences);
- The Personal Tutor system (to help us use that individual information more effectively from the first tutorial onwards to form a holistic view of each student including their motivation goals and progress);
- Links between the Personal Tutor system and the Portfolio for Employment (to help students build their portfolio from induction week onwards);
- Communication in relation to students who withdraw and why they do so;
- Provision of examples of good practice in relation to ‘knowing your students’;
- Good practice in student-centred/personalised learning teaching and assessment.
3. Explicitly requiring inclusive practice to be addressed in programme design validation and annual programme evaluations
Our aim through this work is to see a medium-term improvement in retention achievement and employability rates.
Team members:
Yassein El-Hakim Director of Learning and Teaching
Barry Fry Associate Dean Faculty of Social Science
Kristyan Spelman-Miller Associate Dean Faculty of Arts
Terri Sandison Director of Lifelong Learning and Staff Development
