Exploring Links between Research and Teaching in Higher Education

Professor Simon Haslett Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor

@ProfSHaslett

Presented 11th June 2013 Higher Education Academy, York

Contents

1. Context and resources 2. Exploring research-teaching links 3. An institutional case study 4. An individual approach

www.heacademy.ac.uk/resources/detail/a_guide_to_the_research_evidence

2004

www.heacademy.ac.uk/assets/York/documents/ourwork/research/Institutional_strategies.pdf

2005

www.heacademy.ac.uk/assets/York/documents/LinkingTeachingAndResearch_April07.pdf

2007

www.heacademy.ac.uk/assets/York/documents/resources/publications/DevelopingUndergraduate_Final.pdf

2009

2010

http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/assets/York/documents/ourwork/nations/wales/WalesRandTNexusENGLISH_Jun10.pdf

The R-T Nexus Action Set

• Higher Education Academy Welsh Institutional Group set up the Research-Teaching (R-T) Nexus Action Set in February 2009 at Newport.

• Representatives from Welsh HEIs at biannual meetings.

• Gregynog Conference (Sept 2009)

• Swansea Meeting (March 2010)

• Publication of book (June 2010)

• Undergraduate Research Workshop, Carmarthen (Sept 2010)

• R-T Practice workshop, Aberystwyth (Feb 2011)

• 2nd Gregynog Conference (Sept 2011) Action Set Blog http://nexus-wales.blogspot.com/

Future shape of the HE sector in Wales?

Each "region [in Wales] should have research intensive (in which we will increasingly focus our QR funding in support of sustainable excellence and relevance to Welsh Assembly Government objectives) and strong community/widening access focused provision“ (HEFCW, Dec 2010). Does this vision imply that each region would comprise one research intensive and one access (teaching?) focused institution?

Exploring R-T Links

• Professional practice

– Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL)

– Pedagogic Research (PedR)

– Research-informed Teaching (RiT)

• Curriculum and student learning

– Research-Teaching Nexus (R-T Nexus)

– Research-Teaching Complex (R-T Complex)

– Undergraduate Research

Scholarship of Teaching and Learning

Scholarship is keeping up-to-date through, including, academic reading, attending workshops and conferences, training, and perhaps dissemination (writing, speaking, training, mentoring). • individually-focused scholarship for personal use; • internally-focused scholarship for local (e.g. departmental,

institutional) use; • externally-focused scholarship, such as defined by the

Research Assessment Exercise (RAE, 2005, p. 34) as “the creation, development and maintenance of the intellectual infrastructure of subjects and disciplines”; and

• research for external dissemination at conferences and in publications (i.e. pedagogic research).

Where does your SoTL sit?

(from Haslett, 2009, based on Ashwin and Trigwell, 2004; RAE, 2005)

SoTL and PedR

• Why do/would you do it? – Strategic e.g. research-informed teaching – Contractual e.g. teaching-led research – Personal professional updating/reflection and career – Disseminate examples of practice

• What do/would you research? – Generic issues e.g. student engagement – Case studies e.g. examples of teaching

• How do/would you do it? – Individually or collaboratively? – Funding for research and publication e.g. grants? – Output types e.g. books, articles, conferences? – Time and space to undertake research and writing?

Promoting SoTL and PedR

• Encourage staff to become active members of communities of practice.

• Participate in internal schemes e.g. L&T grants.

• Seek Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) (map against Professional Standards)

• Membership of the Society for Research into Higher Education (SRHE): Annual Conference at Newport 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and again in 2013?

• Membership of the International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (ISSoTL).

Research-informed Teaching “Systematic inquiry into the L & T process” (Jenkins et al., 2007)

Which approaches are you most involved in?

My view is slightly different.

Research-Teaching Nexus

4. Research-tutored

Engaging in research discussions

3. Research-based

Undertaking research and inquiry

1. Research-led

Learning about current research in the discipline

2. Research-

oriented

Developing research

and inquiry skills and techniques

STUDENTS ARE PARTICIPANTS

EMPHASIS ON

RESEARCH

CONTENT

EMPHASIS

ON

RESEARCH

PROCESSES

AND PROBLEMS

STUDENTS

FREQUENTLY ARE AN

AUDIENCE

Source: modified from M. Healey & A. Jenkins (2009) Developing students as researchers. In: S. K. Haslett & H. Rowlands (eds) Linking research and teaching in Higher Education. University of Wales, Newport, pp. 7-11.

How does your teaching map within the R-T Nexus?

From Haslett (2009) Newport CELT Journal, Vol. 2.

The Research-Teaching Complex

Undergraduate Research

Stuart Hampton-Reeves and I hatched the idea over breakfast in January 2010. Coordinated by a Steering Group. • 2011 University of Central Lancashire

(170 student delegates) • 2012 Warwick University (250 students) • 2013 University of Plymouth (15-16 April) • 2014 University of Nottingham (14-15

April) • 2015 University of Winchester

Institutional Case Study University of Wales, Newport, CELT

• Learning and Teaching Strategy 2007-2010

• “To establish a University-wide research cluster to lead development in pedagogy”.

• Main function to assist staff in: – Devising pedagogic research projects;

– Presenting papers at conferences; and

– Writing and disseminating published outcomes.

Newport NEXUS Conferences Annual Learning and Teaching Conference

http://celt.newport.ac.uk/nexus

June 2009 and 2010

Varied Conference Symposia

For example: • Undergraduate Research

• Research-informed Teaching

• Community Education

• ESDGC

• International Scholarship

• Linking Teaching and KT

• Professional Development

• Student Engagement

• Technology Enhanced Learning

• Hazard and Geoscience Research

Delegates used #nexus2010 when tweeting

Published its own journal:

• Teaching Practice

• Learning Insights

• Development and Innovation

• Pedagogic Research

• (Re)Views

• Framework Issues

CELT Writing Retreat

The Academic Writing Process

– Inventing and research

– Planning

– Drafting

– Revising

– Editing

– Submission

– Peer review process

– Revisions

– Proof stage and publication

CELT Research Programmes

• Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL);

• Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship (ESDGC);

• Flexible Learning in Employer and Community Scenarios (FLECS).

Coordinators PhD Students Research Communities

Pedagogic Research ‘Expeditions’

(ExPedR) Legs 1 and 2

• Leg 1 Australia 2009

• Leg 2 Canada 2010

• 10 ‘expedition’ members

• Attend HERDSA 2009

• Attend STLHE 2010

• Visit other HEIs

• Disseminate best practice

• Develop research links.

Using #expedr2010

Blog - http://expedr2010.blogspot.com

YouTube – NewportCELT Channel

Developing International Networks

PGCert Developing Professional Practice in HE

• 60 M-Level credits • HEA accredited • One year, part-time • Distance learning online

(from Feb 2010) • Covers not only teaching

but research • Assessment: teaching

portfolio and action research project

• Developed into an MA in HE.

An Individual Approach an example from my own curriculum practice

• Bath Spa University Geography Department, set up in 1968-69.

• 1994 started as Lecturer in Physical Geography.

• Inherited courses, but adapted them and developed new courses.

• Major contribution to biannual field course to Brittany, France.

Year 1 Field Skills

• Geographical Skills

• Training, equipment, numeracy, etc.

• Campus-based, in lab class timetabled slot.

• 90+ students

• Collect survey data

• Calculate and plot

• Submit answers via Blackboard VLE.

• Automated marking.

Year 1 Techniques

• Landform Analysis

• Geomorphological mapping exercise.

• Blended learning using topographic maps and Google Earth.

• Area is a staff research field site with some publications available.

• Students learn about staff research.

Year 1 Techniques

• Landform Analysis

• Sedimentology exercise using microscopy.

• Samples collected for staff research project.

• Students can refer to publications.

• Learn about staff research on ‘live’ samples.

Research-tutored

Engaging in research discussions

Research-based

Undertaking research and inquiry

Research-led

Learning about current research in the discipline

Research-oriented

Developing research and inquiry skills and techniques

STUDENTS ARE PARTICIPANTS

EMPHASIS ON

RESEARCH CONTENT

EMPHASIS ON

RESEARCH

PROCESSES

AND PROBLEMS

STUDENTS FREQUENTLY ARE AN AUDIENCE

NOT MUCH

YES SOME

SOME

Year 1 analysis

Year 2 Field Research • The Brittany field course began in late 1970’s or early

1980’s, with good links with University of Brest, including some collaborative research.

• 1998-2001: Funded staff to undertake and publish research to underpin teaching in Brittany.

• The field course evolved over time:

– Until 2001 was not an assessed course.

– 2001-2004: part of a Yr 2 Geographical Research Methods module – emphasis on field skills.

– After 2004: emphasis on preparation for Honours dissertation.

Coastal Geomorphology

• Survey of gravel shoreline transect at Ru Vein, Baie d’Audierne.

• Set up in 1997 with research in mind, but

• used for assessed student field techniques, but

• Later as an assessed student research exercise.

Developing Field Research Skills

Beach

Surveying

Gravel shoreline sedimentology

An analysis of wave-coast interaction in the Baie d’

Audierne

by Becky, Corinne, Holly, Lizzie and Tom

Photographs by H. Winlow

Average volume (cm3) of particles along transect of storm beach profile, Ru Vein.

“Steps”

Large rocks at start of “step”.

Larger rocks at back of profile.

Position changes 1997-2007

c. 25 m retreat of the toe of the beach;

c. 15 m retreat of the crest;

Sediment volume loss, due to washover and littoral drift.

(Haslett, 2008, Coastal Systems (2nd Ed). Routledge)

1996

2005

Research-tutored

Engaging in research discussions

Research-based

Undertaking research and inquiry

Research-led

Learning about current research in the discipline

Research-oriented

Developing research and inquiry skills and techniques

STUDENTS ARE PARTICIPANTS

EMPHASIS ON

RESEARCH CONTENT

EMPHASIS ON

RESEARCH

PROCESSES

AND PROBLEMS

STUDENTS FREQUENTLY ARE AN AUDIENCE

YES

YES SOME

SOME

Year 2 analysis

Year 3 Dissertations Honours-level is learning at the cutting edge of the discipline

• Individual projects

• Linked to staff research where appropriate

• Skills, methods, analysis, literature.

• Present results at Departmental Student Conference (also BCUR?).

• Sometimes publish, usually with staff.

Research-tutored

Engaging in research discussions

Research-based

Undertaking research and inquiry

Research-led

Learning about current research in the discipline

Research-oriented

Developing research and inquiry skills and techniques

STUDENTS ARE PARTICIPANTS

EMPHASIS ON

RESEARCH CONTENT

EMPHASIS ON

RESEARCH

PROCESSES

AND PROBLEMS

STUDENTS FREQUENTLY ARE AN AUDIENCE

YES

SOME YES

YES

Year 3 analysis

Research Content Continuum

• Year 1: students frequently are an audience of research, but are trained in research skills.

• Year 2: emphasis on research processes and problems with students as participants and audience (more skills training and methods).

• Year 3: students are participants, undertaking their own research projects.

Evaluating Curriculum

• Audit modules annually to ensure they are supported and informed by recent (within last three years) research and scholarship, both in terms of curriculum and teaching.

• As a course team, to obtain an overview, map all module provision using the R-T Nexus grid and place in the context of the research content continuum.

Thank you

For further information, please consult the references cited in the presentation, and: Join the HEA R-T Nexus Blog: http://nexus-wales.blogspot.ac.uk Look at and comment on (in the blog) the case studies in: Linking research and teaching in Wales (2010) edited by Simon K Haslett http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/assets/York/documents/ourwork/nations/wales/WalesRandTNexusENGLISH_Jun10.pdf Register for the British Conference for Undergraduate Research: http://www.bcur.org Strengthen Research-Teaching Links in your institutional strategies.