Inspiring and Delivering
Outstanding Student Excellence
IJAS 2014
Toronto May 19 2014
Richard J Self, University of Derby
School Learning and Teaching Advisor
r.j.self@derby.ac.uk
http://computing.derby.ac.uk/wordpress/people-2/richard-j-self/
Richard J Self - University of Derby
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Summary
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Leading horses to water syndrome
Scheduled contact time too valuable to waste
Deliver very high levels of achievement
Great Satisfaction
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Agenda
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The Problem
A Solution
The Results
Reflection
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Context
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Traditional Approach (Teach)
Academic as Domain expert?
 Knowledge Transfer to Students?
 BMEI grade deficit
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Successful Approach (Facilitate Learning)
Academic as Skills expert
 Students learn by doing research
 No BMEI Deficit
 Publishable Work
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Leaky Buckets?
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“Education is not filling (leaky) buckets but
lighting fires (of enthusiasm)”
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Plutarch (amended)
Imagination is more important than knowledge.
Knowledge is limited; imagination is infinite
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Albert Einstein
I have no special talent. I am only passionately
curious.
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Richard J Self - University of Derby
Albert Einstein
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The Problem
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Low levels of achievement
BMEI deficit
Lack of enthusiasm
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A Solution
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Research based learning
Skills guidance
One-to-One guidance
Broad Assignment topic, negotiated topic
Clear, relevant, simple marking criteria
Formalised Final draft assignment review
Redraft and submit
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The Modules
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Both are final year, final semester Capstone
modules
Enterprise Systems
 Information Security and Assurance
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50 to 55 students, three BSc programmes
Very broad assignment topics
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Big Data for SMEs:- Questions of Opportunities,
Challenges, Benefits and Operations] and [Ethics,
Trust, Governance, Security, Audit and Provenance]
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Results
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Eliminates BMEI deficit
Improves grades by average of 15% to 18%
Module average grade of 73% - 78%
High numbers of cited sources
Almost eliminates failures
Provides publication and editing CV entries
Aids employability
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Some details of the
Results
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Grade Distribution
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Ethnicity Impact
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Quality of Research
Average
Median
average
median
25
22
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22
13
Final Draft Review Impact
ES
Average
Median
Min
Max
Std Dev
Formatting
Academic
Article
Improvement Improvement Improvement
34.5
13.7
18.0
25.0
10.0
14.5
-5.0
-5.0
0.0
100.0
75.0
80.0
26.0
16.4
15.9
ISA
Average
Median
Min
Max
Std Dev
Formatting
Academic
Article
Improvement Improvement Improvement
24.9
11.3
14.5
25.0
10.0
15.0
-10.0
-10.0
-6.0
90.0
32.5
34.0
23.4
8.4
9.2
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Publications
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Enterprise Systems
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Information Security and Assurance
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44 articles
38 Articles
To be published at
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http://commerce3.derby.ac.uk/ojs/index.php/itpsme
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Student Feedback - ES
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Student Feedback - ISA
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Reflection
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Do not waste time on “teaching” facts
Trust students to learn
 Ask questions, rarely give answers!
 Coach and mentor
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Develop skills
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Students can achieve amazing results
High expectations lead to great achievement
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Students can surprise themselves
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References (1)
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Plutarch, (100 AD) On Listening to Lectures (De
auditu), in Moralia (Vol 1, 3),
http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Plutarch/Moralia/De_audit
u*.html , Accessed 18 May 2014
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References (2)
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Alltree, J., Barefoot, H., Flynn, S., Haddleton, F., Weston, K. and Wright, M.
(2010) The University of Hertfordshire’s Higher Education Academy
(HEA) and Equality Challenge Unit’s (ECU’s) Black and Minority
Ethnic (BME) Summit project – Report April 2010, University of
Hertfordshire,
http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/resources/detail/Hertfordshireethnicitysummi
t , (accessed 10 Feb 2014)
Berry,J., Loke, J. (2011) Improving the degree attainment of Black and
minority ethnic students – Final Report, HEA,
http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/resources/detail/inclusion/Ethnicity/BMEPr
ogramme_FinalReport , (Accessed 10 Feb 2014)
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References (3)
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HEA (2011) Improving the degree attainment of Black and minority
ethnic students, 17-03-2011, UK Higher Education Academy,
http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/news/detail/2011/improving_BME_degree_at
tainment , (accessed 10 Feb 2014)
Self, R.J., (2013) Students Can do Research and Can Deliver Strong
Bibliographies!, International Journal of Arts and Sciences, Toronto,
Canada, May 2013, Volume 06, Number 04, pp 247–259, ISSN:1944-6934
Senior, N. (2013) Exploring the retention and attainment of black and
minority ethic (BME) students on Social Policy pathways in higher
education,
http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/resources/detail/disciplines/hsc/Social-Workand-Social-Policy/retention-and-attainment-senior , (accessed 10 Feb 2014)
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References (4)
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Stevenson, J. (2010) Enhancing BME student success through staffstudent collaboration, Summit Programme to Promote Student
Success: Improving the Degree Attainment of Black and Minority
Ethnic Students,
http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/resources/detail/inclusion/Leedsethnicitysum
mit , (Accessed 10 Feb 2014)
University of Northampton, (2009) The University of Northampton Improving the degree attainment of Black and minority ethnic
students,
http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/resources/detail/inclusion/northampton_ethn
icity_summit (accessed 10 Feb 2014)
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