Centre for Academic Practice
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://eresearch.qmu.ac.uk/handle/20.500.12289/29
Browse
33 results
Search Results
Item Supporting staff transitions into online learning: A networking approach(Edinburgh Napier University, 2018-09-05) Peacock, Susi; DePlacido, ChristineAs online programmes in higher education continue to grow in number, the literature identifies emerging areas of concern. Whilst appreciating the flexibility and accessibility of online learning, learners often experience challenges in balancing their professional and personal lives whilst studying. In addition, such students have complained that their online educational experiences may be irrelevant and inappropriate, with tutors having limited presence or interest. Online learners’ experiences are contingent upon the skills and characteristics of the tutors, who face the challenges of changing and developing practices, such as taking a more student-centred approach in order to provide opportunities that foster deep learning. Current, familiar practices may no longer be appropriate. There is a need to support tutors as they develop and expand their practices, facilitating familiarity and confidence with the opportunities afforded by a range of technologies. Research indicates that communities of practice as a form of staff development may assist tutors in this transition. This paper shares the early experiences of a recently formed Network for online tutors at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, Scotland. This community of practice was based upon an adapted Community of Inquiry Framework (Peacock & Cowan, 2016). The Network, endorsed by management, was launched in 2017, with two co-leads, one from an educational development unit and one from the School of Health Science. Sub groups, all led by members of the Network, were subsequently developed to look at specific aspects of online delivery and development within the University. The purpose of the Network and the successes achieved in the first academic year are outlined. The challenges arising in the early stages of implementing the Network are reported, and proposals for progress in the next academic year are discussed. Finally, suggestions are offered to those embarking on a similar endeavour.Item Learning and Teaching in the Disciplines: Challenging Knowledge, Ubiquitous Change(Routledge, 2012-01) Bamber, Veronica; Bamber, Veronica; Saunders, Murray; Trowler, PaulThe 'tribes and territories' metaphor for the cultures of academic disciplines and their roots in different knowledge characteristics has been used by those interested in university life and work since the early 1990s. This book draws together research, data and theory to show how higher education has gone through major change since then and how social theory has evolved in parallel. Together these changes mean there is a need to re-theorise academic life in a way which reflects changed contexts in universities in the twenty-first century, and so a need for new metaphors.Item Learning and Teaching, Disciplines and Social Practice Theory(Routledge, 2012-01) Bamber, Veronica; Bamber, Veronica; Saunders, Murray; Trowler, PaulItem Academic practices and the disciplines in the 21st century(Routledge, 2012-01) Trowler, Paul; Saunders, Murray; Bamber, Veronica; Bamber, Veronica; Saunders, Murray; Trowler, PaulItem Using feedback and ePortfolios to support professional competence in healthcare learners(AABRI, 2012-07) Peacock, Susi; Scott, Alison; Murray, Sue; Morss, K.This article presents a learner-centric approach to feedback for healthcare students based upon current research literature and the authors' own research into student experiences of feedback using ePortfolios. Feedback is essential for all learners but for healthcare learners failure to engage with feedback may impact on patient care with potentially life-threatening consequences. Therefore, the aim of this practical approach is to support learners in the development of their professional competency and identity through deeper and broader engagement with feedback facilitated through learner-generated internal reflective and external dialogues. Such an approach requires learners to broaden their conceptual understandings of feedback, embracing its different forms and types regardless of when it is provided and by whom. Learners are also required to become active agents in the feedback process seeking out feedback opportunities in all their learning environments within and outwith academia. Fundamental to the approach is the ePortfolio providing a highly flexible, integrative environment for learners to create, record, collect and collate feedback over a period of study which can be used for reflective dialogue, appraisal of current progress and to plan for future learning activities. Practical tutor guidance is provided and the suitability of this approach for other disciplines is also discussed.Item Tutor response to implementing an ePortfolio to support learning and personal development in further and higher education institutions in Scotland.(John Wiley & Sons Inc, 2010-09) Peacock, Susi; Gordon, Lisi; Murray, Sue; Morss, K.; Dunlop, G.Emergent research indicates that electronic portfolios (ePortfolios) can have a positive impact on the learning experience, but there are significant challenges-pedagogical and technological-which may limit their effectiveness. This paper contributes to research by providing further evidence about such challenges from the tutor perspective and offers suggestions about how institutions may address these issues. The paper draws upon 23 semi-structured interviews conducted with tutors in a range of subject areas, from Scottish further and higher education. Tutors were positive about the role that ePortfolios could play in the learning environment to encourage personal development and a more reflective approach to studies, assist student transition and, in some cases, support assessment. Concerns were raised, however, relating to moving paper-based assessed portfolios online, the legal issues of implementing an ePortfolio and the technical robustness and flexibility of systems. Barriers were identified regarding tutors' lack of understanding about personal development and reflection, and their role in the academic environment, initiative fatigue and lack of access to information technology. It was felt that these could be overcome, especially with long-term institutional commitment, significant staff development and the creation of tutor support networks. These findings should assist academics, staff developers and managers to implement an effective institutional ePortfolio solution.Item Challenging Students: Enabling Inclusive Learning(Routledge, 2015-07) Bamber, Veronica; Jones, AnnaItem The PhD by Publication(Informing Science Institute, 2017) Peacock, SusiItem Postgraduate taught students and preparedness for Master's level study: polishing the facets of the Master's diamond(Taylor & Francis, 2017-08-09) Bamber, Veronica; Choudhary, Carolyn J.; Hislop, Jane; Lane, JudithTransitions are increasingly recognised as difficult, and less has been written about transitions to postgraduate taught programmes than about transitions into undergraduate or doctoral study. A Scotland-wide project found that new taught Post-graduate (PG), and staff teaching them, can be unclear about what is expected at Master's level, and proposed a framework of seven facets that indicate how students are expected to engage with Master's study. The facets and accompanying resources were designed to be discussion tools, to promote staff and student discussion of what is expected in their programme and subject. In a follow-up project at one university, a questionnaire was designed and distributed to postgraduate students asking them to rate their current level of ability against the skills and capabilities identified as facets for Master's level study. The project found students felt ill-prepared for particular aspects of Master's level study, with sub-group differences between disciplines. Master's courses are intensive and fast-moving, so this has implications for students' preparedness for successfully navigating through their programmes. Some suggestions on how students can be better briefed on what to expect are made.Item Rudolf Steiner's philosophy of freedom as a basis for spiritual education?(Taylor & Francis Group, 2011-02) Oberski, IddoThe spiritual well-being of children is often thought to be an important goal and outcome of education. Such spiritual well-being is also implicitly assumed by the Human Rights Act, which includes the right to 'freedom of thought, conscience and religion' [Article 18]. I argue that such freedom requires an education that fosters development of spiritual freedom. What spirituality means to people can be determined through empirical research. However, the nature of actual spiritual freedom itself can be understood and experienced only through a phenomenology of one's own thinking. Steiner offered such an approach. As an extension of Goethe's earlier holistic scientific method, Steiner showed that in thinking we have hold of a corner of the world process in which we, as human beings, play a crucial part in its coming into being. Steiner's philosophy of freedom leads logically to spirituality, through intuitive thinking and forms the basis of Steiner- Waldorf education, which has the