Fiona Campbell , Napier University

1. Hearing the student voice:using students to enhance professional development and inform academic practice in higher education Fiona Campbell, Napier University

2. Using the student voice in professional development • Napier University experience

3. Impact on staff appreciate the courage that students have inspired by hearing the students’ stories powerful stuff compelling now that I know… I am going to… reminded me what we’re here for easy to relate to and think of the implications for teaching and learning

4. Value: students’ views (I gained) a feeling of accomplishment and relevance, people listened to what I had to say I liked being listened to I found the interaction between staff and students very beneficial It created a platform for me to spell out my experiences

5. Investigation of practice • SEDA grant to conduct • Literature search • Survey of practice

6. The bringing together of faculty and students for discussion of the processes of teaching and learning in which they are jointly involved (rather than the usual focus on the content of the curriculum) is as rare as it is valuable. • (Asmar 1999)

7. Project aims (1) • Investigate and promote the use of the student voice in informing academic practice by: • developing and evaluating case studies capturing and harnessing student voices

8. Case study development: capturing student voices

9. Case study development: harnessing student voices • Contribute to: • Professional development workshops and seminars • Staff conferences • Inform: • Curriculum development • Programme evaluation • Academic strategy

10. Project aims (2) • Investigate and promote the use of the student voice in informing academic practice by: • 2. sharing outcomes with the sector • 3. building a community of practice.

11. Application process • do get advice from ESCalate • do follow ESCalate guidelines: • transferability • dissemination • don’t over-commit • don’t be fazed by evaluator’s comments

12. Balance development/ dissemination • don’t wait until development work completed before dissemination activities begin • do focus on dissemination • don’t over commit • do build on feedback from dissemination

13. Dissemination strategies:project-based • do create project identity • do develop project website www.napier.ac.uk/studentvoices/ • do develop project materials • do organise project events • do use project reports as stepping stone for further publication

14. Dissemination strategies:external • do participate at relevant conferences • do contribute to relevant journals • do accept invitations to present at other institution’s internal events

15. Dissemination strategies:in-house • do promote project internally • do encourage participation at local project events • do work with colleagues on project activities eg case studies • do use the project activities as an ‘in’ for other work with colleagues

16. Selecting development project area • do choose motivating topic • do consider transferability opportunities • if possible, do select area where some initial work completed

17. Build a good team Liz Beasley Jenny Eland Fiona Campbell Ann Rumpus LMU UCE Napier Westminster

18. Build a good team • do ensure enthusiasm for project • do define roles • do ensure members are willing and have time to contribute • do keep in touch • do meet regularly, document discussions and action points • don’t allow escapes!

19. Timing • do start project early • do develop timeline with milestones • do update timeline as project develops • do arrange dissemination well in advance • do inform ESCalate of time slippages

20. Keep in touch with ESCalate • do discuss application process • do ask for assistance with dissemination activities • do advise project changes • do submit reports as requested

21. Do go for it! • ESCalate development project: • provides credibility for innovative activity • gives a new dimension to work • creates opportunities to meet and work with colleagues from elsewhere with shared interests • offers stepping stone for further activity, new opportunities, career development …