A project-based approach
This year the Applied Learning Academic Interest Group are focussing on projects to develop knowledge relating to applied learning in the areas of the first contact, first year experience and transition into Higher Education. These projects are being led by a member of the Academic Interest Group and are supported through peer review.
Colleagues leading and contributing to the projects benefit by,
- leading innovation with the potential for university-wide impact;
- receiving peer recognition;
- developing evidence of project leadership or contributing to change in an area of strategic priority;
- gaining wider recognition by making a significant difference to our students’ experience;
- working collaboratively within the AIG and in other configurations, as determined by you;
- creating a research opportunity;
- receiving support from LEAD staff for innovation and research.
Projects
Please contact the Project Lead directly if you are interested or would like to get involved.
| Project Lead | Descriptor | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frances Robertson | Department of Natural & Built Environment D&S |  | 0114 225 4247 | ||
| Addressing the Attainment Gap through Mentoring | Addressing the attainment gap by linking students' to positive role models via LinkedIn (e.g. alumni networks, mentoring, community) in order to develop student's social and cultural capital. This project has a particular focus upon BME students and a pilot is being run in the Architecture course. | ||||
| This month's milestone! | |||||
Jay Idris | Department of Tourism, Hospitality, Events Management & Food SBS | | 0114 225 2178 | ||
| Creating Community from Day 1 | Create a sense of community at Level 4. Exploring and developing my student's role in society e.g. community cohesion, good citizen | ||||
| This month's milestone! | |||||
Glen Cookson | Department of Finance, Accounting & Banking Systems SBS | | 0114 225 2046 | ||
| Developing student expectations from day 1 | How do we reset student's expectations of university and their course and behaviours when they arrive? Or do we work with what we've got and adapt (notwithstanding ever-changing industry standards and requirements?) Ensuring students are clear about what is different about learning at university in contracts to 'A' level study or FE. | ||||
| This month's milestone! | |||||
Charlotte Rowley | Department of Finance, Accounting & Banking Systems SBS | | 0114 225 3152 | ||
| Developing learner autonomy and self-perception | Looking at the link between the student charter and the attributes we want How do we assess, monitor and develop students’ sense of responsibility, accountability and engagement to improve themselves? How do we make students responsible for their own development? (academic, personal and professional)? My project will look at what strategies are needed to manage expectations from day one. | ||||
| This month's milestone! | |||||
Pam Dewis | Department of Education, Childhood & Inclusion D&S | | 0114 225 4679 | ||
| Student's academic self-efficacy, confidence and esteem | I’m in looking at ways of developing students’ academic self-efficacy beliefs with a view to reducing assessment related stress and improving attainment and retention/progression. This interest stems from looking at Bandura’s work on academic self-efficacy in particular and how closely related this is to students’ academic performance. | ||||
This month's milestone! | |||||
| Project Lead | Ian Glover | Charmaine Myers | Directorate Learning Enhancement and Academic Development (LEAD) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| | |||
| 0114 225 2944 | 0114 225 3461 | |||
 |  | |||
| Descriptor | Pre Enrolment - Introducing Your Applied University | This project will co-develop a customisable Transition-In environment for adoption by any course programme. The environment will orientate new students to forming effective learning habits and how these relate to shaping aspirations for life beyond university. It is likely to be composed of student, tutor, alumni and employer orientation video case studies and will connect new students with the integrated Venture Matrix-Connect approach they will experience, in particular at Level 4. The environment will be delivered through a BB site, where course related information and relevant social media networks and tools will be provided. | ||
| This month's milestone! | Our Colleagues on the Sociology course have agreed to pilot our "pre-enrolment" transition-in project this summer! This is a huge step forward for us and we're very grateful to Sociology for getting on-board. | |||