Dear Colleagues
At the beginning of January, I asked if you would advise students about the new
'Have Your Say' and essay writing feature of the LearnHigher website
(Referencing Learning Area). To date, I have received over 140 replies (80%
undergraduates), so many thanks to those that circulated details to students.
Two students have already received book token prizes in a fortnightly random
draw.
The feedback received, plus other data from workshop activity with students in
Bradford and a London University, will feature in a research report to be
delivered at a referencing & writing symposium in June sponsored by the
LearnHigher & Write Now CETLs (details at www.learnhigher.ac.uk then see
'Latest News').
I welcome more replies from students, so would be grateful if the attached
information could be circulated to those student cohorts that you can access via
electronic mailings .
You may be interested to learn that the first wave of responses from students
has found around 1 in 4 making positive comments only on the role of
referencing in the development of their writing.
However, the issues that concern the majority of respondents are, as follows:
'Referencing: a very time-consuming process': (25% of all students; & 32% of all
negative comments). This raises issues about note-making (& absence of it) &
the use, or non-use, of referencing management software.
'Concerns about plagiarism': (15% of all students; 19% of all the negative
comments)
'Too many referencing styles': (14% of all students; 18% of all the neg.
comment)
'How and when to use own ideas': (12% of all students; 16% of all negative
comment); and 'irritation/worry at getting the detail of referencing right'
(12%/16%)
'Referencing particular sources': e.g. electronic; lectures; secondary sources
(11% of all students; 15% of neg. comment)
'Tutors give inconsistent advice/feedback': (8% of all students; 11% of neg.
comment).
However, I am keen to gather as many additional comments to test these initial
responses, so would be grateful if you would circulate electronically the note
attached if it is possible for you to do this at your institutions.
Regards
Colin Neville
University of Bradford,
Learner Development Unit/LearnHigher
------------------------------------------------------------
This mail sent through IMP: http://webmail.brad.ac.uk
To report misuse from this email address forward the message
and full headers to [log in to unmask]
------------------------------------------------------------
|