Hi All

I'm just writing to register my interest in Verity's research and in
John's suggestion below, as I've been doing some independent work on it
here at NTU. In the interests of findng out what it means to be a
history student as opposed, for example, to a social theorist, I've been
going into lectures across the School. Aftwerwards, I ran a workshop on
coping in lectures and it struck me that the typical skills advice (eg
'just note down key points in the lecture') often doesn't speak to the
students as it doesn't fit with their stage in learning (as one student
put it ("how do I know what the key points are?  It all seems important
to me").  In fact I've found that, often, they don't/can't bother with
skills advice at all. Interestingly, I've quizzed a few lecturers on
their practices in lectures and the ones I've spoken to say that they
know the skills advice, but write down everything anyway. 

Verity, if you are thinking of opening this research up as John suggests
I'd, therefore, be interested in looking at lectures or reading (another
bugbear).  I'd also suggest that this research could be usefully
complemented by looking at lecturers' practices.  What do they do as
people who are part of the disciplinary cultures?

Lisa

-----Original Message-----
From: learning development in higher education network
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of John Hilsdon
Sent: 29 October 2006 14:35
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: What do students do research?


Hi Michelle and all

I was just about to write to the list asking for ideas for the 2007
LDHEN Symposium theme, when Michelle's message arrived. What an
excellent initiative - and maybe a great theme for us, too?

I am sure many of us feel that some rigorous, qualitative work around
the questions of "what students do" is essential and very timely. I am
not aware of any contemporary work that helps us know and understand
more fully the vital issues relating to changing student practices.
These issues are numerous, and increasingly important, as many of us
perceive it. A couple that my colleagues have recently been debating
are: how, and how much, students read academic texts, or use libraries,
or use electronic rather than paper sources ...  

This is a very exciting project and a great research initiative! Would
it be possible for all LD practitioners, subscribers to this list and
LearnHigher partners, potentially, to participate?

Not wishing to overcomplicate things, as I know LearnHigher work on this
is already underway - but could wide agreement be sought on approaches
and questions to put to individuals or groups in/under certain
conditions/circumstances? Not sure as I think out loud on this how it
could be achieved, but it would be excellent to see consultation among
the LD community about how to go about this - and some general agreement
and sharing of methods and instruments. Many of us could then take part
in inquiries which are comparable, with findings that can be brought
together to represent a large proportion of the sector and achieve a
high level of validity.

I know Sandra Sinfield of LDHEN is also involved in this research so I
wonder, Michelle and Sandra, could LDHEN subscribers who are not
involved as yet in the LearnHigher research, contribute in this way?
Should those who would like to take part make contact with you?

And, by the way, the LDHEN Symposium will be held this year at the
University of Bournemouth (kind courtesy of Chris Keenan) on Thursday
April 12th 2007. A call for papers will follow shortly. 



All the best

John



John Hilsdon
Co-ordinator, Learning Development 
University of Plymouth 
Drake Circus 
Plymouth 
PL4 8AA 

01752 232276 
[log in to unmask]
http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/learn

-----Original Message-----
From: learning development in higher education network
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Michelle Verity
Sent: 27 October 2006 17:27
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: What do students do research?

Hi All,

I manage the LearnHigher CETL, a centre for excellence concerned both
with developing and sharing resources to support Learning Development,
and researching the teaching and learning practices in a range of
learning areas.

This year LearnHigher is undertaking a piece of research (with the
working title of 'What do students do?') that investigates the study
practices of students.  As Learning Developers we know that there are a
whole host of services and resources available to students, but from my
literature search so far I can't seem to locate research that looks at
what students do with all this/ how and when they access it/ how they
make use of it to help them with the academic tasks they are faced with.
There is research on approaches to study and learning styles etc. but I
can't seem to find much on student practice.

Any references and suggestions on where to begin would be most welcomed.


But right now it's time to go home and I will look forward to your
suggestions on monday!

Many thanks for your help


Michelle


LearnHigher Manager
Centre for Excellence in Teaching & Learning
Liverpool Hope University
Hope Park
Liverpool 
L16 9JD

Tel:  0151 291 3848
Mob: 07917 781393


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