Mind the Gap!

1. Mind the Gap! Dr Christine Laennec & Dr Mary Pryor, Senior Academic Skills Advisers Student Learning Service Centre for Learning & Teaching January 2008 Curriculum Reform Presentation to Steering Group

2. Introductions • Student Learning Service works with students: • at all levels of study (UG, TPG, RPG), across the university • at all levels of academic achievement • in groups (workshops, in-course sessions) and individually (study advice sessions) • How many? Approximately 2000 in 2006-07 • Ourselves: • Job share (.5 each) • Work closely with CASS, because of arts backgrounds Curriculum Reform Presentation to Steering Group

3. Introductions • This presentation: • Will look at 5 aspects of academic engagement that pose challenges both for students and for staff – the gap to be bridged • Will address considerations of the ‘how’ of learning and teaching, more than the ‘what,’ as a crucial part of the process of Curriculum Review / Reform Curriculum Reform Presentation to Steering Group

4. Challenges facing students: Taking responsibility for own learning (for some) Breaking with past experience of ‘spoon feeding’ Challenges facing staff: What to assume as a starting point? Mixed group teaching (some students well-practiced in independent learning) How / when / who to help? Mind the Gap!Active Learning Curriculum Reform Presentation to Steering Group

5. Challenges facing students: Difficulties with this term: ‘Who am I to criticise?’ ‘Am I allowed to give my opinion?’ May have been discouraged from questioning Challenges facing staff: Communicating expectations discipline-specific at different levels Mind the Gap!Critical Thinking Curriculum Reform Presentation to Steering Group

6. Challenges facing students: Little practice of discussion / debate Living in culture of the sound-bite Often difficulty with vocabulary and basic English grammar Challenges facing staff How to encourage discussion? How to encourage critical thinking in discussion? Living in working environment / culture where being articulate is taken for granted Mind the Gap!Formulation & articulation of thought Curriculum Reform Presentation to Steering Group

7. Challenges facing students: Often only versed in directed / supported writing Lack of practice with writing discursively / analytically Lack of reading experience Challenges facing staff: How much guidance to give? (How much do you assume?) Being explicit about expectations Differentiating between generic and discipline-specific expectations Mind the Gap:Academic Writing Curriculum Reform Presentation to Steering Group

8. Challenges facing students: May previously have been rewarded for ‘cut and paste’ In some cultures, unacknowledged citation is seen as respectful ‘How can I have anything to say – all I know is from other people!’ Challenges facing staff: What does it mean to expect students to ‘do their own work’? How to teach accountability (and thus avoid plagiarism) without terrifying / inhibiting students? Mind the Gap:Intellectual Accountability Curriculum Reform Presentation to Steering Group