Students as Partners:

Developing and sustaining a partnership approach to

enhancing learning and teaching

University of HertfordshireKaren Clark, Claire Dickerson, Sally Graham,

Joy Jarvis, Amanda Roberts & Lewis Stockwell

Why an Enquiry Approach?

• To enquire into practice for the purposes of enhancement.

• To work with students to gain different perspectives and insights into practice.

• To contribute to an enquiry culture in educational practice.

• To develop capacity (people and resources) for practice enhancement.

Why Partnership?

• To engage in joint enquiry, which builds research capacity, communication skills and an understanding of learning and teaching.

• To develop leadership and employability skills through processes which enhance agency and personal and professional confidence.

• To build community through connecting individuals and groups and fostering a sense of social responsibility.

What did we do?

Key Elements

• Models• Materials and resources• Activities using materials and resources• Sharing Ideas• Building on ideas• Making connections

Faculty Student Researcher Group

2 students & 1 staff member per

SchoolOne Topic

School of Humanities

School of Law

School of Education

2009-10

Faculty Funding

Models

School of Education

Enquiry into Academic Writing

1 member of staff plus students

1 member of staff plus students

1 member of staff plus students

1 member of staff plus students

1 member of staff plus students

1 member of staff plus students

2010-11

Funding UH

Faculty Student Researcher

Coaching and Employability

Group

Learning and Teaching Project

Employability Module

Learning and Teaching Project

On-LineIndependent

TasksLearning and

Teaching Project

Introductory Subject Module

Learning and Teaching Project

Student-Students

Workshops

Learning and Teaching

ProjectFirst

Assessment

Learning and Teaching Project

On-line Lectures

2011-12

Funding HEA & UH

Resources

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HbbCNIr-z4

Resources for

Academic Writing

YouTube Video

‘Learn from Feedback’

Video

Activities

Sharing Ideas

Conferences

Concepts

Building on Ideas‘The Wall’ Good student/good learner

Making Connections

Exchange visits to NTU

HEA

Impact On Staff Mindsets

“It has confirmed more how flattening the structures and working with students rather than for students or to students - enables them to raise

their game, raise their skills, raise their knowledge…” (Tutor B - School of Education)

“This way of working needs to be part of the culture of a school... I think we may have misread apathy in students, when in reality they can’t find

something to connect with [at the University].” (Tutor A - Humanities)

Impact On Students’ Mindsets

“My engagement with my studies is far greater than I ever imagined it would be. The effort is far greater than what I put in before. To know I

could make a difference and I have made a difference”. (Student researcher A)

“Talking to staff made me realise how much work goes into giving feedback and also how passionate enthused and dedicated they

were. You take that for granted, the work that staff put in..” (Student researcher E)

Staff School Student Profile

Increase formative assessment

990 plus students receive student-student feedback

workshops

Increased employability skills

Reports – Resources – shared across Faculty

Linking feedback across modules

New feedback proformas Increased academic skills de Havilland campus

Writing feedback differently

New tutorial procedures Insight into own learning UH

Talking with students about feedback

Student involvement in curriculum planning

Positive effect on attainment

Externally

Changing views of students

Engagement in learning

Impact on Practice

Next Steps

Disciplinary BasedProjects

EvaluationProject

Developing & Sharing:• Processes•Findings•ImpactCreating Resources:•On the topic•On the process