{"title":"Suck it and see – transforming STEMM university teachers’ assessment perspectives and practices through disorientating experiential learning","authors":"Kate Ippolito, Monika Pazio","doi":"10.1080/23752696.2019.1631707","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23752696.2019.1631707","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT At the heart of changing institutional assessment and feedback practices is the need to transform university teachers’ ways of thinking about feedback and assessment. In this article, we present a case study of a three-year Master’s in Education offered to UK STEMM university teachers as an opportunity to develop critically reflective and theoretically underpinned approaches to their practice. We outline the extent to which, in Mezirow’s terms, through a disorientating combination of studentship, self-reflection and paradigm crossing, the programme has the potential to change the participants’ frames of reference. Drawing on our experiences of working with these students and in-depth interviews we discuss the impact the programme has had on the participants’ assumptions around feedback and assessment, their identity, own practice and wider institutional perspectives and practice. Barriers identified by participants that inhibit assessment and feedback change are also explored.","PeriodicalId":43390,"journal":{"name":"Higher Education Pedagogies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2019-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/23752696.2019.1631707","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48737232","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Design and evaluation of plagiarism prevention and detection techniques in engineering education","authors":"Basel Halak, M. El-Hajjar","doi":"10.1080/23752696.2018.1563757","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23752696.2018.1563757","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Higher education students are expected to develop critical analysis and creative thinking skills, where plagiarism can damage the development of these skills in addition to damaging the whole education process and experience. Furthermore, plagiarism undermines the trust between the lecturers and students and the reputation of the academic institutions can be affected if plagiarism is not considered seriously, where the degrees offered by these institutions can be devalued. In this paper, two plagiarism prevention techniques followed by two plagiarism detection techniques used in the engineering education in the University of Southampton are presented. The plagiarism prevention techniques presented are based on assigning individual coursework specifications to students and the use of individual presentation of coursework findings. Then, the plagiarism detection techniques are based on detecting the writing styles of students and testing the student’ codes in different configurations.","PeriodicalId":43390,"journal":{"name":"Higher Education Pedagogies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2019-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/23752696.2018.1563757","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46747427","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Game-based learning for postgraduates: an empirical study of an educational game to teach research skills","authors":"D. Abbott","doi":"10.1080/23752696.2019.1629825","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23752696.2019.1629825","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Research skills are challenging to teach in a way that is meaningful to students and has ongoing impact in research practice. This paper investigates constructivist and experiential strategies for effective learning and deep understanding of postgraduate research skills and proposes a game-based learning (GBL) solution. A (non-digital) game called How to Fail Your Research Degree was designed and iteratively developed. Gameplay loop analysis identifies various learning and game mechanics and contextualises them in relation to GBL theory. Evaluation of gameplay (n = 127) demonstrates effective transmission of intended learning outcomes and positive game experience based on Keller’s Attention-Relevance-Confidence-Satisfaction (ARCS) model. Discussion proposes that the game has high cognitive authenticity, relies heavily on tutor facilitation, can create tension between knowledge and confidence, and is applicable to multiple domains and learning situations. GBL is proposed to be an original and effective approach to teaching high-level, functional learning outcomes such as academic research skills.","PeriodicalId":43390,"journal":{"name":"Higher Education Pedagogies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2019-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/23752696.2019.1629825","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45667474","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
S. Walker, Emily Salines, A. Abdillahi, Sharon Mason, Aanesh Jadav, Catherine Molesworth
{"title":"Identifying and resolving key institutional challenges in feedback and assessment: a case study for implementing change","authors":"S. Walker, Emily Salines, A. Abdillahi, Sharon Mason, Aanesh Jadav, Catherine Molesworth","doi":"10.1080/23752696.2019.1649513","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23752696.2019.1649513","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT As a consequence of increasing pressures to enhance assessment and feedback in response to the National Student Satisfaction (NSS) and Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), universities continue to invest significant time and resources in making improvements to this area of practice. Since 2013 the University of Greenwich has adapted, enhanced and implemented an approach called TESTA (Transforming the Experience of Students through Assessment). This case study offers a unique and sustained institutional perspective of the landscape of assessment and feedback. It examines the results from the analysis of 157 programmes over 5 years categorised as a top ten set of challenges. Through an examination of programme documentation and module evaluation by staff, the paper highlights some findings of facilitators, barriers and impact at institutional, faculty, departmental, programme and module levels. Its ultimate aim is to explore the real impact of TESTA and to contribute to an understanding of the conditions required for making and disseminating changes and spreading good practice across an HE institution.","PeriodicalId":43390,"journal":{"name":"Higher Education Pedagogies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2019-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/23752696.2019.1649513","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44702031","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Academic and pastoral teams working in partnership to support distance learning students according to curriculum area","authors":"R. Hilliam, Gareth Williams","doi":"10.1080/23752696.2019.1606674","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23752696.2019.1606674","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT The Open University has provided distance learning opportunities for 50 years and succeeds in offering its students many of the attributes of flexible learning. This article is a case study of the development of a highly successful partnership model of academic and pastoral support in mathematics and statistics at The Open University, and its application to flexible learning. The model involved reciprocal governance structures and equal status in the making of curriculum-related decisions. The model is illustrated by three examples throughout the student learning journey before, during and after study. The partnership model is applicable regardless of the curriculum area; hence the article is relevant to all disciplines. Equally, although the model was developed in the context of distance learning, its ethos remains relevant in the face-to-face context, all the more so given the prevalence of flexible learning and the growing number of distance learning courses being offered at traditional Higher Education Institutions across the sector. Abbreviations: OU: Open University; School: School of Mathematics and Statistics; SST: Student Support Team; VLE: Virtual Learning Environment","PeriodicalId":43390,"journal":{"name":"Higher Education Pedagogies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2019-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/23752696.2019.1606674","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49130674","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"An experiential reflection of a mindful lecturer: exploring enhancement of active learning in higher education","authors":"M. Mantzios, H. Egan","doi":"10.1080/23752696.2019.1629826","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23752696.2019.1629826","url":null,"abstract":"The practice of mindfulness is described as an awareness that emerges through purposefully paying attention in the present moment, non-judgmentally (Kabat-Zinn, 1990). Practice usually entails attentional training, which is executed through meditation. Mindfulness meditation involves actively observing the present moment by attending to the breath, moment-to-moment, and without adding any meaning to the feelings and thoughts that emerge. This process assists people who observe the constant flow of information unfolding in the present moment and to systematically develop an ability to accept (instead of judge) the experiences that are encountered. Working with mindfulness meditation practices has been shown to lead to other multi-layered indirect benefits, such as compassion, self-compassion, and equanimity, which are parts of advanced mindfulness practice (Kabat-Zinn, 2003; Grossman & Van Dam, 2011). Interestingly, while benefits of mindfulness have been explored within higher education contexts, and improvements in achievement and mental health across student populations have been reported (e.g. Bennett, Egan, Cook, & Mantzios, 2018), the potential for teacher development and enhancement of teaching and learning has not been explored. Researchers have primarily focused on the health benefits within student populations (Bowen & Marlatt, 2009), while similar benefits have been observed in teaching staff when appropriate population-specific practices are put into place (Braun, Roesner, Mashburn, & Skinner, 2018). From simple and quick interventions (Mantzios & Giannou, 2018a, 2018b) to longer mindfulness programs (Beshai, McAlpine, Weare, & Kuyken, 2016; Gold et al., 2010), the evidence of mindfulness practices for health and well-being has been considerable in the past decade. However, are there any direct benefits to teaching and learning of students with more mindful teachers in higher education? In the next section, we put forward one example of how a mindful teacher could enhance active learning during core lectures and big groups of learners. Within higher education settings, the usual teaching practice is to embed more interactive and engaging material (such as videos, multiple-choice questions, different scenarios or case studies) in between the slides that hold the essence and the key","PeriodicalId":43390,"journal":{"name":"Higher Education Pedagogies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2019-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/23752696.2019.1629826","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41311432","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Bridging the gap between teaching and research: a case study for engineering & applied science","authors":"A. Roudaut","doi":"10.1080/23752696.2019.1605836","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23752696.2019.1605836","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Higher education systems need to rethink the way teaching content is delivered to face the evolution of education and breakthroughs in educational online services. One way in which systems can innovate is by allowing students to apply their knowledge to real research problems. The benefits are dual: the students work on highly innovative topics and real examples; and for teaching staffs, there is a seamless integration of their research into their teaching. We present a case study in the form of an observational analysis of an Engineering & Applied Science undergraduate lecture taught in the UK at master level and teaching skills in electronic and rapid prototyping. We present the rationale chosen to better integrate research aspects in the unit and the results of an observational study: we used thematic analysis to expose eight guidelines for better integration of research in teaching as well as consideration for higher education curriculums.","PeriodicalId":43390,"journal":{"name":"Higher Education Pedagogies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2019-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/23752696.2019.1605836","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45096194","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
John E. Mitchell, A. Nyamapfene, K. Roach, E. Tilley
{"title":"Philosophies and pedagogies that shape an integrated engineering programme","authors":"John E. Mitchell, A. Nyamapfene, K. Roach, E. Tilley","doi":"10.1080/23752696.2018.1507624","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23752696.2018.1507624","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Accredited engineering degrees call upon students to develop a wide range of knowledge and skills. These range from technical, scientific and mathematical knowledge, through to transferable skills such as communications, teamwork, business acumen and critical analysis. Through a faculty-wide curriculum development programme we have sought to implement cross-department teaching framework whereby a range of pedagogies are employed to deliver against core philosophies for a new way of teaching aimed at developing students’ knowledge, skills and attitudes while meeting a diverse range of learning outcomes. We argue that is it vital that learning takes place in the context of authentic engineering problems and processes. In this paper, we look at the philosophies, pedagogies and outcomes of an educational-based project which creates a connected curriculum that joins distinct disciplines at key points during the students’ education to provide preparation for, and experience of, professional engineering. It describes the motivation for change and described the implementation and impact of these approaches.","PeriodicalId":43390,"journal":{"name":"Higher Education Pedagogies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2019-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/23752696.2018.1507624","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45654865","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Timothy Simpson, K. Holden, D. Merrick, S. Dawson, L. Bedford
{"title":"Does video feedback & peer observation offer a valid method of reinforcing oral presentation training for undergraduate biochemists?","authors":"Timothy Simpson, K. Holden, D. Merrick, S. Dawson, L. Bedford","doi":"10.1080/23752696.2019.1587717","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23752696.2019.1587717","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Presentations assessing public speaking skills are common features of undergraduate curricula. Performance feedback has often been traditionally limited to staff, yet students acting as peer assessors can also be a useful feedback source. Additionally, video recording offers a feedback method that can overcome a presentation’s transience and empower a student’s self-analysis. During 2016–17 a new 1st year module, ‘Core Skills in Biochemistry’, was implemented at the University of Nottingham. Peer assessment and video feedback were trialled as augmentations to lecturer-sourced presentation feedback. Student opinions were surveyed to gauge efficacy. Results indicate video feedback was appreciated to a greater extent than peer feedback, and both focussed on body language. As the year progressed students felt less confident in their colleagues’ judgement, and their willingness to receive peer feedback decreased. These results confirmed the validity of including these techniques within ‘Core Skills’, and laid the foundation for further innovations currently being trialled.","PeriodicalId":43390,"journal":{"name":"Higher Education Pedagogies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2019-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/23752696.2019.1587717","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42369574","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Critical analysis of a higher education benchmark via fuzzy logic","authors":"P. Martinez-Vazquez","doi":"10.1080/23752696.2019.1640630","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23752696.2019.1640630","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT A graduate profile benchmark developed by a higher education organisation is subject to scrutiny. This occurs through the numerical parameterisation of text collected through surveys and the use of basic concepts drawn from Information Technology. The process uses data processing, analysis and evaluation to show the degree to which established an academic practice at the host institution correlates to pre-conceived professional outputs. The paper discusses standard practices including traditional and innovative teaching methods, in the light of achieved results. To conclude that postgraduate students require further engagement with the industry and exposure to the public whilst showing that the scientific and technical components of the subject courses are highly rated by stakeholders. Mitigation measures for the identified gaps include further curriculum development and inter-disciplinary work, reinforced with industrial liaison plus engagement with learned organisations and the public, via educational enhancement activities.","PeriodicalId":43390,"journal":{"name":"Higher Education Pedagogies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2019-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/23752696.2019.1640630","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42431661","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}