Group items tagged

Code of practice for the assurance of academic quality and standards in higher education The Code of practice for the assurance of academic quality and standards in higher education (the Code of practice) provides guidance on maintaining quality and standards for universities and colleges subscribing to QAA. It is made up of 10 sections and was originally prepared by QAA between 1998 and 2001. Revisions of individual sections began in 2004.

Professional standards The UK Professional Standards Framework (UK PSF) for teaching and supporting learning, launched in February 2006, is a flexible framework which uses a descriptor-based approach to professional standards. There are three standard descriptors each of which is applicable to a number of staff roles and to different career stages of those engaged in teaching and supporting learning. The standard descriptors are underpinned by areas of professional activity, core knowledge and professional values. The framework provides a reference point for institutions and individuals as well as supporting ongoing development within any one standard descriptor. The framework was developed by the Academy on behalf of Universities UK (UUK), GuildHE and the four UK higher education funding councils after extensive consultation with the higher education sector. They recognise the diversity of institutions and enable a sector-owned approach to learning and teaching standards.

Promoting Self-Authorship to Promote Liberal Education Marcia B. Baxter Magolda, Miami University 1 ______________________________________________________________________________ Abstract Contemporary college learning outcomes such as critical thinking and intercultural maturity require transformative learning. Self-authorship-the capacity to internally generate one's beliefs, values, identity, and relationships-is a necessary foundation for transformational learning. This essay describes the evolution of self-authorship and the conditions that promote it based on a 22- year study of adult learning and development. Learning partnerships model how to promote self- authorship and enable learners to take charge of their learning. __________________________________________________________

International Student Experience UAL, like London itself, is a melting-pot of nationalities. But how well do the ingredients of the pot blend together? How easy is it for international students in the creative arts to find their feet, to find accommodation, make friends, and adapt to the English education system?Do we, as a host institution and host staff and students, understand their needs, and do we give them the appropriate support? This project tackled these issues. Fourteen postgraduate researchers interviewed 141 first-year students across the University from six regional groups - Japan, South Korea, India, Taiwan, Hong Kong and the USA - in their own languages. We also interviewed 21 British students to help us make comparisons. An internal report was presented to senior management in March 2008. There have been a number of dissemination activities and presentations at conferences. The project is coordinated by Dr Silvia Sovic. For further information, please contact s.sovic@fashion.arts.ac.uk

The appropriate role of the professoriate has been a topic of ongoing debate in higher education. As different types of educational institutions have emerged, the focus of scholarly pursuits and their relative value to the organization have evolved. This module examines how Boyer's model of scholarship can be used to clarify and balance roles of college faculty. Expanded Definition of Scholarship Boyer (1997) proposed an expanded definition of "scholarship" within the professorate based on four functions that underlie the Profile of a Quality Faculty Member (1.2.4): discovery, integration, application, and teaching. He argues that, within this framework, all forms of scholarship should be recognized and rewarded, and that this will lead to more personalized and flexible criteria for gaining tenure. He feels that, too often faculty members wrestle with conflicting obligations that leave little time to focus on their teaching role. Boyer proposes using "creativity contracts" that emphasize quality teaching and individualized professional development. He recommends that this model be based upon the life patterns of individuals and their passions. The first element of Boyer's model, discovery, is the one most closely aligned with traditional research. Discovery contributes not only to the stock of human knowledge but also to the intellectual climate of a college or university. He stresses that new research contributions are critical to the vitality of the academic environment, and that his model does not diminish the value of discovery scholarship. The second element, integration, focuses on making connections across disciplines. One interprets one's own research so that it is useful beyond one's own disciplinary boundaries and can be integrated into a larger body of knowledge. He stresses that the rapid pace of societal change within a global economy have elevated the importance of this form of scholarship. The third element, appl

What is this website? This website was set up to share resources for funding postgraduate study in the UK. It was initially set up by staff and prospective students of the MA Social Media at Birmingham School of Media, a part of Birmingham City University but we have opened it up for other people to add to. Where should I start? There're four key ways to fund your study. Choose the one which might be right for you, and find out more. If you're unsure, read them all: * Self funded * Grant funded * Loan funded * Sponsorship * Other financial advice For a quick introduction, Prospects have a useful video that outlines your options.

Last week I went to the annual conference of the Practice based Professional learning unit at the Open University; mainly to see David Boud, whose research I've quoted from extensively in my work on reflective practice and experiential learning. David's paper was on assessment, experience and reflection, and was very provocative and challenging in terms of his interpretation of the role of assessment. He posed a simple question to the audience: 'If we were going to modify assessment as if making a contribution to their ability to learn after their course rather than during it was the primary need, how would it be different?' His focus was then on how to reshape assessment policies so that their main intention was to help the learner build their capacity for self and peer judgment to further their lifelong learning.

Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) - What is it?\n\nIntroduction\n\nIn this section, we offer both a brief definition of SoTL (SoTL in brief), as well as a much more detailed and scholarly discussion of the history and different conceptions of SoTL (starting with Conceptions of Scholarship and SoTL, and progressing through the subsequent sections).\n\nThe aims of this section are:\n\n * to inform the reader of the different conceptions of scholarship in general and the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) in particular, and to highlight any interesting points and controversies;\n * to encourage the readers' own consideration of what scholarship, and in particular SoTL, might be; and,\n * to provide a working definition for the purposes of this web resource. \n\nThus, this section includes a brief review of the work of leading academics regarding scholarship and SoTL, as well as links to relevant articles etc., to allow readers to become familiar with several different currently-merited conceptions, and so provoke thought on the matter. The sections titled In Depth are optional extras for those who are interested in more of the intricacies in the debate about SoTL.\n\nNote - although SoTL is our preferred term here, some authors have referred to is simply as the scholarship of teaching (hence, SoT), thus when considering a particular author's work, we shall refer to the concept with the same terminology as used by each author.

Position paper on assessment ASKe's position paper on assessment sets out ASKe's views on the current state of assessment in the higher education sector as a whole, and in Brookes in particular. It draws on the generic literature, studies conducted at Brookes, and the detailed knowledge and experience of the ASKe team. From all this data, the paper seeks to distil key issues and sets out the premises which underpin ASKe's analysis. It also proposes a range of ideas and actions. The overall aim of the paper is to support Brookes in addressing assessment issues and to assist in plans for future development. The paper is currently being considered within Brookes and in due course the ASKe team plans to produce a version of the paper that will be suitable for journal publication.

Unlocking Knowledge, Empowering Minds. "My life is in teaching. To have a chance to do that with a world audience is just wonderful." * Gilbert Strang MIT Mathematics professor United States Read more Free lecture notes, exams, and videos from MIT. No registration required.

Unlocking Knowledge, Empowering Minds. "My life is in teaching. To have a chance to do that with a world audience is just wonderful." * Gilbert Strang MIT Mathematics professor United States Read more Free lecture notes, exams, and videos from MIT. No registration required.

Assessment Standards Manifesto In November 2007, ASKe hosted 'Designing assessment in the 21st Century' an assessment colloquium looking at the current state of assessment and ways in which practice might be improved in response to conclusions put forward by the Burgess Report. Watch Margaret Price, ASKe Director giving a presentation on the Manifesto. The event brought together the ASKe International Advisory Group (a group of seven world-class experts on assessment) and

Podcasts from iPED09 - Etienne Wenger (Learning in a Landscape of Practice) and David Young (Transformative Learning in the Workplace)