University News Last updated 17 April 2018
New research at Birmingham City University is aiming to put the student voice and their active involvement in informing and shaping learning and teaching practice to promote excellence among scholars and staff.
‘Improving Learning and Teaching Through Collaborative Observation’ is a research project which looks at how teaching and learning in higher education can be developed for a more impacting experience. The project is funded by HEFCE and is being led by Dr Matt O’Leary and Dr Vanessa Cui from the institution’s Centre for the Study of Practice and Culture in Education (CSPACE).
The project looks at how teaching and learning in higher education settings can be improved for academics and their students by encouraging them to co-observe and co-reflect on their own practices – a first of its kind in the sector.
The duo leading the project will be hosting an event for students and staff at the University's City South Campus on Monday 23 April, which will review progress over the last 18 months, with feedback from students who have been involved.
The event will feature a talk on the project and what it has achieved, case study sessions and a question and answer session with the project leads.
Staff and students from Adult Nursing, Child Nursing, Early Childhood Studies, Primary Education and Radiotherapy courses at Birmingham City University have been involved in the project’s research.
Data collected from the study so far indicates participants feel that they have a better understanding of how staff teach and how students learn in classroom settings from co-observing. This compares with previous research by Dr O’Leary which revealed that traditional assessment-based models of observation that seek to measure teaching performance can often be a deterrent to developing innovations in practice. In addition, most teaching observation models fail to provide meaningful opportunities to involve students.
Staff who have took part in the CSPACE project felt they had gained valuable insight into students’ attitudes and behaviours towards learning. Students also felt they had a better understanding of their own learning behaviours and the expectations of learning at HE level. Both groups felt they had become more aware of the connections between their experiences of teaching and learning.
The participants in the project have been able to develop new learning and teaching ideas and practices together that are built on what both groups have learned throughout the project. The results will be shared with delegates attending the event.
As well as practice sharing, this event is also an opportunity for everyone to be part of a growing network of like-minded professionals who are interested in sharing thoughts and ideas around improving learning and teaching.
The event is free to attend but places are limited. Register to attend on Eventbrite.
Further information about the research project can also be found on its dedicated website.