Reflections on Experienced Based Learning in a First Year Computing

Undergraduate Degree Course

MELANIE COLESSOFTWARE SYSTEMS RESEARCH CENTREBOURNEMOUTH

UNIVERSITYMCOLES@BMTH.AC.UK

SUZY ATFIELD-CUTTS SOFTWARE SYSTEMS RESEARCH CENTREBOURNEMOUTH

UNIVERSITYSATFIELDCUTTS@BMTH.A

C.UK

HEATHER MAYES SOFTWARE SYSTEMS RESEARCH CENTREBOURNEMOUTH

UNIVERSITY HMAYES@BMTH.AC.UK

SHERIDAN JEARYSOFTWARE SYSTEMS RESEARCH CENTREBOURNEMOUTH

UNIVERSITYSJEARY@BMTH.AC.UK

Experience Based Learning

• Real-world, team based experience– involvement of the whole person

– recognition and active use of all the student’s learning experiences

Oxendine et al 2007

– continued reflection upon their experiences to transform them into deeper learning

Simulated Business Week

• End of the first year• Integrate six discrete units

– Databases, Programming, Networks and Computers, Web and Media Development, Systems Analysis and Design, Business and Professional Issues

• Teams are randomly allocated– Across their seminar groups– Between 7 and 9 members– Team members negotiate their roles

• Database Developer, Programmer, System Integrator, Web Developer, Systems Analyst, Marketer or Project Manager

Simulated Business Week

• SB Week Handbook issued first day• Daily facilitated meetings

– Group sessions for each role– Team sessions– Discussing, planning, reflecting

• Requirements modified– Added or altered

• Exhibition on the last day– Software applications– Formal assessment– External visitors– Prize giving

Analysis of Student Feedback

• Hand written reflections on the week

• Areas for reflection– What did you gain from the week?– The good and bad of the week?– Any other comments?

• Template Analysis – Template Analysis is not a single method but a related group of

techniques for qualitative analysis of freestyle text (King 2004).

What did you gain from the week?

“All in all it has been a tough week but an enjoyable week. It has been good to work in a team environment again and getting to grips with tight deadlines and

sudden changes. The nature of the business week has also enabled me to

meet and to get to know a lot more students in my large class and this can only have a positive impact on future

studies.”

The Good Of The Week?

“The good things about this week has been how every one has come

together and pulled their own weight with the project. There have been no

bad things this week.”

“Once the system was finished the whole team felt a good sense of

achievement. At times it was stressful but this was overcome by

the team all pitching in.”

The Bad Of The Week?

“When the design of the database was changed on day two as it was unexpected. However I think it is a good simulation of the real world.”

“It was very long working days which made me very tired”

Teamwork - Good and Bad

• Good – whole team– “The team structure was good and I made many new friends”– “Being in an effective team – all team members completed tasks”– “Good team work, good fun and satisfying end result.”

• Bad – focus on individual– “weak member of team”– “(student name) ridiculously bad at his job which meant every one

else had to pick up the slack”– “Having a team mate who only turned up once and did nothing

productive when he was here.”– “Some minor conflicts with team member.”

Any other comments

“Keep it up next year! It really is a worthwhile experience.”

“Despite its stress, faults and being a cause of sleep deprivation SB Week has been a bit fun and has shown me just how much I have learnt at

Uni this year.”

“Really good week. Learnt a lot. – Look forward to next year.”

Conclusions

• Students were very positive about the experience– Supported our anecdotal evidence

• Team work– The most important factor– Both bad and good

• Students felt they learnt a lot– Many comments about the amount learnt

Students felt they learnt a lot

“ Learnt more this week than most of the year “

“Shown me just how much I have learnt at Uni this year.”

“I learned a lot more in SB week than the rest of the year. Week intensive

projects is definitely the way to go.”

“Networks is my weakest subject. ....no one else wanted to do the role. I have

found the role very helpful to my knowledge of networks.”

“This was a very challenging week for us and we have learnt a lot.”

“Overall the week was a good experience, so many skills that I learnt”

“Has made me aware of some elements that I need to work a bit more on”

Conclusions

• Students were very positive about the experience– Supported our anecdotal evidence

• Team work– The most important factor– Both bad and good

• Students felt they learnt a lot– Many comments about the amount learnt– Use SB for exam revision?

• Moving SB to before the exams this year

Future work

• Analyse several years of student feedback

• Establish relationship to curriculum

• Explore the relationship between the team and the group

• Explore students’ learning styles

• Gather feedback from placement companies

• Gather reflections from final year students

Any Questions

?