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Thanks for raising these questions, John At the University of Leicester, LD is positioned within a broader service supporting the development of learning and teaching practice, course design etc. This is something we're very enthusiastic about and for which we lobbied for some time, too, on the basis that this is where we think LD belongs within the institution. I think this also puts us in a stronger position to foster community, too, in as much as the direct work we undertake with (often in active partnership with) students can now better inform and shape the work undertaken with academic colleagues, course designers, learning technologists etc. However, as you say, there are many other services also active in supporting both students and staff, including colleagues working to support students with disabilities. There are strong parallels with the priorities of LDers in that colleagues are keen to ensure that accessibility is viewed as a core basis for curriculum design and development rather than just a question of providing services for students (very important though the latter are and will remain). This 'shared agenda', as it were, also helps to build stronger links between respective services as we share perspectives, aspirations, challenges etc. All best, Steve ________________________________ From: learning development in higher education network [[log in to unmask]] on behalf of Marcia Ody [[log in to unmask]] Sent: 23 September 2014 17:40 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: LD and community? Hi John, Similar climate here in Manchester too with the sunshine and a buzz about campus. Your email provoked me to ask a question that I often ponder – how do we define who is working in Learning Development? For some institutions (like Manchester) we don’t really have a Learning Development Unit but rather colleagues who work in different directorates/departments/divisions who are carrying out ‘Learning Development’ work, dependent on how you define LD and perhaps some who don’t even self-define as working in LD! Not answered your question I know but something to discuss as well maybe? :) By way of part answering your question, one thing which I think really unites colleagues here at UOM at this time of year is our successful ‘Askme’ campaign which brings together Peer Support and staff (both academic and PSS) to provide a welcome and signposting for all new students. Best Wishes, Marcia Marcia Ody l Teaching and Learning Manager l Teaching and Learning Support Office l Directorate for the Student Experience l John Owens Building l The University of Manchester l Oxford Road l Manchester, M13 9PL l Tel +44 (0) 161 275 3254 l Fax +44 (0) 161 275 7354 l www.manchester.ac.uk<http://www.manchester.ac.uk/> PLEASE NOTE: I work part time and I am not normally in the office on a Thursday and Friday. From: learning development in higher education network [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of John Hilsdon Sent: 23 September 2014 09:34 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: LD and community? Dear all I hope you are getting into the swing of things for the new academic year. Yesterday was a gloriously sunny day here in Plymouth and the campus was buzzing with young folks starting out on their university journey. The excitement, animated conversations, laughter and music, along with the colourful posters promoting events and societies all make the university feel properly alive again after the summer break. Our support services – counselling, learning development and disability advice are busier than ever and our Peer Learning team have just finished training two hundred new leaders for the PALS scheme … All this noise, enthusiasm and optimism are great and we’re all raring to go – but it’s not all sunshine and smiles, of course. There is already evidence of significant financial worries on the part of many students; some with social anxieties; or personal troubles; and there was some very ugly violence on campus just a couple of weeks back involving a serious sexual assault. There are cultural tensions below the surface too over issues such what facilities are provided for whom … Thinking this over last night I was wondering how ‘connected’ learning developers in other universities feel to broader ‘support’ services, and how LD might play a part in what you might call ‘community development’. I’m keen to foster a ‘joined up’ culture here and am finding it quite inspirational to see our LDers and PALS staff working alongside our counsellors and disability advisors, with mutual learning happening! The vagaries of structuring/restructuring of university functions by our seniors across the sector mean that it can be arbitrary as to where LD is positioned. I know some colleagues are part of library services, others are in academic/educational development units (as we were until the last restructure); are some of you alongside accommodation or careers services? or embedded in a discipline grouping such as a Faculty, School or within a programme ...? I wonder how where you are placed affects the kind of LD work you do (or if it does) – are some structures more or less likely to foster an approach to LD that sees it as being part of an initiative to develop / facilitate the university as a community, or the communication between the communities of students, academics and others who work together? I know the ALDinHE Research Working group is going to be launching a project to look into some of issues around LD provision and positioning later in the year, so it will be interesting to see how these questions are raised and answered. I’d be interested to hear from anyone with thoughts about their positioning and how it relates to the wider academic and social functions of their university – or more generally about how LD and identity work with students in the academic and social spheres “works”, or how you think it might work better … Cheers for now John [Description: Description: Description: learning-FOR-EMAIL] ________________________________ [http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/images/email_footer.gif]<http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/worldclass> This email and any files with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the recipient to whom it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient then copying, distribution or other use of the information contained is strictly prohibited and you should not rely on it. If you have received this email in error please let the sender know immediately and delete it from your system(s). Internet emails are not necessarily secure. 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