JOANNA MacDONNELL

LecturerFdA Broadcast Media

University Centre Hastings (UCH)

TODAY’S SESSIONIntroductionContext of ResearchDocumentary ScreeningFollow Up ResearchBelbin TestsDiscussion

CONTEXT OF THE RESEARCH

Beginning of Semester 2 - March/April 2008

Formed the Special Study element of the PGCert in TLHE (Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education)

THE RESEARCHStudents invited to participate through

questionnaire and consent forms.

Filmed Interviewsto enhance the students own documentary making techniques

to give them additional group work activities

to practice their technical skills - students assisted with cameras, lighting, sound and editing

THE DOCUMENTARY

Directed and Produced by Joanna MacDonnell

FOLLOW UP RESEARCH

Same cohort (now at level 2)

This years Level 1 Cohort

LEVEL 2 RESULTS

Cohort now 19 students

71% of students responded

OF THE 71% WHO RESPONDED

83% felt group work had improved since the documentary was made

IMPROVEMENT AREASCOMMUNICATION

IMPROVEMENT AREASCOMMUNICATIONCOMMITMENT

IMPROVEMENT AREASCOMMUNICATIONCOMMITMENTWORKLOAD DISTRIBUTION

IMPROVEMENT AREASCOMMUNICATIONCOMMITMENTWORKLOAD DISTRIBUTIONGROUP ALLOCATION

IMPROVEMENT AREASCOMMUNICATIONCOMMITMENTWORKLOAD DISTRIBUTIONGROUP ALLOCATIONRESPECT

IMPROVEMENT AREASCOMMUNICATIONCOMMITMENTWORKLOAD DISTRIBUTIONGROUP ALLOCATIONRESPECTSTRUCTURE TO TIMETABLE (FOR COMPLETION

OF WORK)

IMPROVEMENT AREASCOMMUNICATIONCOMMITMENTWORKLOAD DISTRIBUTIONGROUP ALLOCATIONRESPECTSTRUCTURE TO TIMETABLE (FOR COMPLETION

OF WORK)

ORGANISATION

IMPROVEMENT AREASCOMMUNICATIONCOMMITMENTWORKLOAD DISTRIBUTIONGROUP ALLOCATIONRESPECTSTRUCTURE TO TIMETABLE (FOR COMPLETION

OF WORK)

ORGANISATIONFEEDBACK FROM TUTOR (IN GROUP AND

INDIVIDUAL TUTORIALS)

COMMUNICATION60% of the students who felt group work had improved highlighted COMMUNICATION as the primary area of improvement

Use of Online Group Work Forums on Student Central

STUDENT CENTRAL GROUP WORK FORUMSVirtual meeting place

STUDENT CENTRAL GROUP WORK FORUMSVirtual meeting placeOpportunity to post group

documents, details of group meetings, minutes of meetings

STUDENT CENTRAL GROUP WORK FORUMSVirtual meeting placeOpportunity to post group

documents, details of group meetings, minutes of meetings

Familiarity of using an online communication tool

STUDENT CENTRAL GROUP WORK FORUMSVirtual meeting placeOpportunity to post group

documents, details of group meetings, minutes of meetings

Familiarity of using an online communication tool

Aid and assist engagement with the group for students who are absent through illness & injury

STUDENT CENTRAL GROUP WORK FORUMSVirtual meeting placeOpportunity to post group documents,

details of group meetings, minutes of meetings

Familiarity of using an online communication tool

Aid and assist engagement with the group for students who are absent through illness & injury

Allow tutors to monitor groups progress

STUDENT CENTRAL GROUP WORK FORUMSVirtual meeting placeOpportunity to post group documents, details

of group meetings, minutes of meetingsFamiliarity of using an online communication

toolAid and assist engagement with the group

for students who are absent through illness & injury

Allow tutors to monitor groups progressIdentify students who are not contributing to

the ideas or sharing the workload

EXAMPLE OF STUDENT CENTRAL FORUMForum for LB208

Level 2 FdA Broadcast Media Students

2 production teams of 10 members

Assignment task: to find and produce ‘as live’ an event as an Outside Broadcast TV transmission

EXAMPLE OF ONLINE FORUMForum used for:

Exchange of ideasPublication of production

meeting minutes Publication of action pointsMeeting times and VenuesPublication of important

documents for review and feedback by all group members

SUGGESTED FURTHER IMPROVEMENTSThe 17% (2 students) who felt there

had been no improvement since the documentary was made suggested areas for further improvement:

Purely Individual Marking Scheme

More Individual and Group Tutorials

CURRENT LEVEL 1 STUDENTS

40 Students

60% responded

How should groups at the start of the first year be allocated?

Lecturer Random Self PreferenceBy ability Fairly0

10

20

30

40

50

6054%

8%

21%

4% 4%8%

Do you feel the marking scheme for LB102 Four Docs is fair?

Yes No Abstained0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

9079%

17%

4%

Did you find the Belbin Tests and Group Work session a helpful introduction to group work at University Level?

Yes No0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100 92%

8%

Further Improvements

Bonding exercises for groups

Changing groups around after a settling in period.

GROUP WORK SESSION

“The learning path involves a series of 10 episodes, taking five students through the journey of a group work project. Each episode highlights a different aspect of working as part of a group and includes a number of video clips, audio clips as well as observation and discussion points.”

http://www.learnhighergroupwork.com/

BELBIN TEAM ROLES TESTS“Belbin promotes and develops team role theory, enabling thousands of people to play to their strengths; communicate more effectively with others; and to work with greater self-knowledge and understanding.”

http://www.belbin.com/

BACKGROUND REFERENCESBelbin, R. Meredith (2004) Management Teams Why

They Succeed or Fail, Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann

University of Technology Sidney, Institute for Interactive Media and Learning: http://www.iml.uts.edu.au/learnteach/groupwork/

Race, Phil (2000) 500 Tips on Group Learning, Kogan Page Ltd

Belbin Associates http://www.belbin.com/