News
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Centre Update June 2010Welcome!Contents
Centre NewsNew Chief Executive for the Higher Education AcademyProfessor Craig Mahoney has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of the Higher Education Academy. Professor Mahoney, who is currently the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Learning and Teaching) at the University of Northumbria, takes up his position from the 1st July 2010.More details at: www.heacademy.ac.uk/news/detail/2010/CEO_news_May10 National Teaching Fellowship Scheme 2010 Awards announcedDetails have been announced of the 50 lecturers and learning support staff awarded National Teaching Fellowships. The Centre would like to congratulate bioscientists Dr Adam Hart and Dr Catherine Sanderson on their awards. In the projects strand of the Scheme, eleven teams have been awarded grants to work in their own institutions and across the sector on projects that will improve the student experience, working with one or more National Teaching Fellow. Again bioscientists feature amongst the successful teams and we look forward to the development of their projects and bringing news of their progress to the bioscience learning and teaching community at large. Further details of individual and project successes are available from the central Academy website: http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/news/detail/2010/ntfs_press_release_2010 Practical Biology SkillsThe quantity and quality of practical biology at HE level is a priority concern for the UK Centre for Bioscience. To address current issues surrounding practicall work in education the Centre is participating in a Priority Action Group which held a workshop during April. Following this workshop, recommendations for future projects are being considered by the group. Options include: publishing a briefing paper on why practical biology is important at all levels of education; developing a strategy for collaboration with the UK Centre for Bioscience to promote the development of practical and other skills as a continuum from school to higher education, and further development of the practical biology web site at: www.practicalbiology.org Student Award 2010
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New guide available on Understanding the UK Mathematics Curriculum Pre-Higher Education for STEM subject areas. A considerable number of pre-higher education mathematics qualifications are available within the UK and, for those working within the higher education (HE) sector, it is not always clear what mathematics content, methods and processes students will have studied (or indeed can be expected to know and understand) as they commence their university level programmes.This guide outlines what students with given prior qualifications in mathematics are likely to know and be able to do and is written for those within the HE sector. Printed copies of the guide can be obtained free of charge from the Centre. To order your copy please email: heabioscience@leeds.ac.uk |
Survey reminder
A big "thank you" to those of you who have already completed our survey and given us your feedback.
We are very keen to know and understand the extent to which our work is having an impact on learning and teaching in bioscience disciplines. We are also interested in the issues likely to concern you over the next year or so in relation to learning and teaching. Your views really do matter to us - if you haven't already done so, please give us your thoughts by noon on Wednesday 14th July. Go to survey: https://www.survey.bris.ac.uk/heacademy/bioscience10
Centre Events
Provisional dates for upcoming events
- Mathematical Challenges for Biologists: 20th October 2010
- Assessment and Feedback: 15th December 2010
- Graduate Attributes: 9th February 2011
- Practical Work: 6th April 2011
If you have an idea for an event that you would like to attend, please make your suggestions at www.bioscience.heacademy.ac.uk/events/evaluation/eventthemes.aspx
Interested in hosting an event? If you would like to help host an event, please contact the Centre on heabioscience@leeds.ac.uk
News from the HE Learning and Teaching Community
Website for students by students
This site showcases articles, videos and blogs by students on their time at university. Topics range from the social aspect to the pressures of submitting work on time and life after graduation. A site that could provide hints and tips for your teaching as well as being a useful place for your students to visit. www.studentstories.co.uk
Technology supported learning and teaching
The Open University Educational Technology team is running a project funded by the Higher Education Academy investigating evidence-based practice in the use of technology in teaching and learning in higher education. We are particularly interested in hearing from practitioners about the kinds of evidence they use, or would find useful, when using technology to support teaching and learning. Please complete a short online survey at: www.surveymonkey.com/s/ZZPGKGY.
The team is also interested in supporting a network where practitioners can talk about their practice and issues in relation to supporting learning and teaching with technology. If you are interested, please go to www.cloudworks.ac.uk/cloudscape/view/2050 where you can follow and contribute to discussions.
Contact Linda Price l.price@open.ac.uk or Adrian Kirkwood a.t.kirkwood@open.ac.uk for further information.
Call for case studies: how does student engagement improve the learning experience
The Student Engagement project is looking for case studies of students as active partners in shaping their learning experience. The key focus is student involvement in developing curriculum design and delivery. The team are seeking a broad range of examples from across our programme areas and Subject Centres. These might include for instance, different forms of student engagement in developing curriculum, the impact of a student intern, using new technology in learning or student involvement with teaching. Case studies may also be from different contexts such as discipline-based examples, HE in FE or at an institution wide level.
If you would like to share an example of effective practice, please complete the case study proposal form to provide a summary of what your case study is about. If your proposal is accepted, you will be asked to submit a full case study. Download proposal form.
Case studies submitted by students that are accepted will be awarded with a £75 payment to the author.
For further details please contact Lauren Webb, Project Officer for Student Engagement, on 01904 717500 or email: studentengagement@heacademy.ac.uk
Equality Act 2010: Briefing for the HE sector
The Equality Challenge Unit (ECU) has produced an Equality Act 2010 briefing for the higher education sector. The briefing summarises key issues contained in the Act that institutions need to be aware of. It also provides information on the introduction of protected characteristics, prohibited conduct, admission and treatment of students, employment, provision of services and positive action. The briefing also looks at the specific sections of the act relating to each protected characteristic.You can download the briefing online at: www.ecu.ac.uk/publications/equality-act-2010
ECU is holding three seminar events to help prepare HEIs for the Equality Act. Details below:
- Manchester, 19 July: www.ecu.ac.uk/events/equality-act-2010-seminar-manchester
- Cardiff, 21 July: www.ecu.ac.uk/events/equality-act-2010-seminar-cardiff
- London, 3 August: www.ecu.ac.uk/events/equality-act-2010-seminar-london
Events from the HE Learning and Teaching Community
Open Educational Resources International Showcase
23rd July 2010, Holborn Bars, London
This free one day event is being held in partnership with JISC and the Higher Education Academy.
This event will showcase the work of the UK Open Educational Resources pilot programme and highlight how the UK is supporting innovative learning, teaching and assessment by enabling universities and colleges to share educational materials freely online. The day will bring together British and international colleagues who are working towards the sustainable development and delivery of Open Educational Resources nationally and internationally. Details at: www.jisc.ac.uk/ukoer10
Research informed teaching: Delivering participation, engagement and enquiry
14th July 2010, Staffordshire University
• Pedagogies for the research-teaching nexus for example, inquiry/ enquiry-based learning
• The student voice in Research informed Teaching
• The role of technology in the research-teaching nexus
• The role of information literacy in the research-teaching nexus
• Reports from Research informed Teaching projects – design and impact
• Fostering communities of practice in Research informed Teaching
• Benchmarking Research informed Teaching
More details and registration at www.staffs.ac.uk/research/research_informed_teaching/events/
e-Assessment Scotland 2010
3rd September 2010, University of Dundee
This year, the conference is broadening its scope to examine how technology can be used to enhance the use of assessment in education, training and the workplace. We will continue to highlight developments in Scotland, but will be inviting speakers from across the UK and beyond to share their experiences of e-Assessment.
Keynotes from the leading names in e-Assessment, seminars covering the latest advances and case studies, practical hands-on sessions, plus the second year of the Scottish e-Assessment Awards will be presented.
Attendance at this one-day cross-sector conference will be free to delegates.
Book your place now at: www.e-assessment-scotland.org
Enhancing the postgraduate research experience: skills, employability and careers
6th July 2010, Edinburgh Napier University
The event will explore postgraduate research skills, careers and employability. The programme includes overviews and case studies from a range of speakers, and allow attendees the opportunity to discuss key issues in this area arising from the Higher Education Academy’s postgraduate research experience survey (PRES) as well as the Smith report ‘One Step Beyond’.The event is free to attend and open to anyone who has an interest in enhancing postgraduate research provision within their institution.
Details at: www.heacademy.ac.uk/events/detail/2010/academyevents/06_July_PGR
Best wishes from all at the Centre
heabioscience@leeds.ac.uk