Optimising student achievement in
Collaborative Partnerships,
Collaborative Conference - June 2015
Richard J Self
University of Derby
r.j.self@derby.ac.uk
http://tinyurl.com/ppyg6t8
http://computing.derby.ac.uk/wordpress/people-2/richard-jself/
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Objective

To demonstrate how to ensure that student
experience is similar in collaborative
partnerships to that experienced in the UK
setting
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The Challenge

Transferring innovative Learning , Teaching and
Assessment strategies to collaborative partners
can present significant challenges
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Context

Traditional Approach (Teach)




Academic as Domain expert
Transfer Knowledge to Students
→BMEI grade deficit (in UK)
Successful Approach (Facilitate Learning)




Academic as Skills expert
Students learn by doing research
No BMEI Deficit
Publishable Work
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Leaky Buckets?

“Education is not filling (leaky) buckets but
lighting fires (of enthusiasm)”


Plutarch (amended)
Imagination is more important than knowledge.
Knowledge is limited; imagination is infinite


Albert Einstein
I have no special talent. I am only passionately
curious.

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Albert Einstein
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Summary




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



Approach
Results
Reflection
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The Problem



Research based learning in Derby
Very high achievement levels in Derby
Transfer to Collaborative Partners with equal
success?
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The Derby LTA Approach

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




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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
Publish e-book of best articles
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The Module

Final year, final semester Capstone module




Enterprise Systems
9 students in Derby
10 Students in BAC
Very broad assignment topics

Big Data for SMEs:- Questions of Opportunities,
Challenges, Benefits and Operations
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Collaboration


Early transfer of all teaching materials
Video all seminars → YouTube Channel


https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWBDEvP8sOv91LxLZ_2pQA/playlists
http://tinyurl.com/preklh2
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Department of Computing
Channel
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Enterprise Systems
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Clear Marking Criteria
Presentation
(20%)
Perfect adherence to the
IEE template is worth
100%
Argument
Criteria
(40%)
Weighting
Your personal
Assessment out of 100%
for each column
1st (95%)
Your mark will be reduced st
1 (85%)
for each type of error from
the following list by the
specified amount
Errors on each line of the 1st (75%)
Title and Affiliation
section – 5% each
(maximum 30%
2:1(65%)
deduction)
etc……….
Topic
(40%)
Exceptionally lucid
argument, with logical and
novel conclusions, thorough
critical evaluation
Novel topic that has been
clearly articulated and also
grounded in the existing
literature. Publishable in an
international workshop
Lucid argument, with logical Novel topic that has been
and novel conclusions,
clearly articulated and also
thorough critical evaluation grounded in the existing
literature. Publishable in a
national workshop
A coherent argument with
Very clear focus to the article,
logical conclusions drawn
in an emerging topic area
and justified by thorough,
that contributes to the
critical evaluation
research literature
A coherent argument with
Good focus to the article, in
logical conclusions drawn
an emerging topic area that
and justified
contributes to the research
literature
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Results

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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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Computing and Maths Student
Publishing
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The Results
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Module Grade Distribution
Average 79.5%
Average 74.9%
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Quality of Research
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Final Draft Review Impact on
Article Marks
Average
Presentatio
Article
Academic
n
Argument Topic
Mark
mark
20%
40%
40%
70%
98.8
73.8
76.3
79.8
75.0
Average
Article
Academic
Presentation Argument Topic
Mark
mark
20%
40%
40%
70%
71.1
72.2
72.2
65.2
65.0
Derby
BAC
Average
Formatting Academic
Article
Improvement Improvement Improvement
15.6
7.5
9.1
Average
Academic
Formatting
Improvem Article
Improvement ent
Improvement
9.0
6.3
7.3
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Challenges for Autumn 2015

Final Year Module


Sustainable Information and Corporate Governance
Elimination of mark deficit for
Presentation and formatting
 Improve topic and argument marks

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Student Feedback – ES
Derby 2014
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Student Feedback – ISA Derby
2014
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Reflection

Do not waste time on “teaching” facts
Trust students to research and learn
 Ask questions, rarely give answers!
 Coach and mentor


Develop skills

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Students can achieve amazing results
High expectations lead to great achievement

Students can surprise themselves
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References (1)

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)


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)



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)


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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