Monday, March 26, 2007
CETLs event at Warwick 19th March 2007
Provided an opportunity to meet up with colleagues from other CETLs, swap experiences, explore possible collaborations and generally network like mad. I went primarily to take part in the fledgling Evaluators' Network workshop and found that there was also a Researchers' Network being started (though I'm unsure why we need two separate networks when we, and certainly I have, a foot in both camps, frustratingly it's not possible to be in two places at once!).
The "marketplace" event when the CETLs, their networks and some subject centres had an opportunity to display posters about their activities was a lively session over an extended lunch break: tight space in a corridor where lunch was laid out also. It made for interesting conversations and an opportunity to see what people say they are up to: some wonderfully inviting literature. For examples take a look in engCETL's library area, KG Building.
Lunch was followed by a session with HEFCE and its evaluators dissecting what will be required for the July reports. The emphasis was again on the point that this is an evaluation of the programme not individual CETLs and people got bogged down in the how long and how much (the report size) debate again. There was also a request for right to reply, but it was decided that it was probably better to have a discussion around the finished evaluation document rather than prior to publication; Murray Saunders for the evaluation team and Alan Palmer for HEFCE said they would investigate how we might do this.
The Evaluators' Network workshop provided an opportunity to find out how colleagues were evaluating the use of the newer technology in an educational setting, with particular reference to the use of audio files to enhance student learning (Potcasting at the Royal Veterinarian College), and how students are involved in evaluation activities (two student interns from CEEBL joined small break out groups to discuss their roles). An audio file of the workshop is available at http://www.stran.ac.uk/cetl/CETL-Networking_Warwick.htm
The parallel Researchers' Network workshop discussed how current evaluation and research networks, such as the East Midlands Pedagogic Researchers' Network that I facilitate, support CETL staff involved in these roles across our regional CETLs and how individual CETLs are supporting staff undertaking pedagogic research. Participants also discussed issues encountered: the need to explain that the funding means we have to focus on pedagogic research, the importance of institutional support for pedagogic research, how we can grow research capacity by involving others and supporting the development of their research and writing skills while also conducting our own research with an eye to future RAEs. Following the Warwick event we are in discussion (myself and other Evaluation Network committee members) to run a combined Research and Evaluation Network supported by the HEA. ¶ 5:52 pm
The "marketplace" event when the CETLs, their networks and some subject centres had an opportunity to display posters about their activities was a lively session over an extended lunch break: tight space in a corridor where lunch was laid out also. It made for interesting conversations and an opportunity to see what people say they are up to: some wonderfully inviting literature. For examples take a look in engCETL's library area, KG Building.
Lunch was followed by a session with HEFCE and its evaluators dissecting what will be required for the July reports. The emphasis was again on the point that this is an evaluation of the programme not individual CETLs and people got bogged down in the how long and how much (the report size) debate again. There was also a request for right to reply, but it was decided that it was probably better to have a discussion around the finished evaluation document rather than prior to publication; Murray Saunders for the evaluation team and Alan Palmer for HEFCE said they would investigate how we might do this.
The Evaluators' Network workshop provided an opportunity to find out how colleagues were evaluating the use of the newer technology in an educational setting, with particular reference to the use of audio files to enhance student learning (Potcasting at the Royal Veterinarian College), and how students are involved in evaluation activities (two student interns from CEEBL joined small break out groups to discuss their roles). An audio file of the workshop is available at http://www.stran.ac.uk/cetl/CETL-Networking_Warwick.htm
The parallel Researchers' Network workshop discussed how current evaluation and research networks, such as the East Midlands Pedagogic Researchers' Network that I facilitate, support CETL staff involved in these roles across our regional CETLs and how individual CETLs are supporting staff undertaking pedagogic research. Participants also discussed issues encountered: the need to explain that the funding means we have to focus on pedagogic research, the importance of institutional support for pedagogic research, how we can grow research capacity by involving others and supporting the development of their research and writing skills while also conducting our own research with an eye to future RAEs. Following the Warwick event we are in discussion (myself and other Evaluation Network committee members) to run a combined Research and Evaluation Network supported by the HEA. ¶ 5:52 pm
