Yesterday afternoon, I had the pleasure of listening to seven groups of DSCs present project findings to a packed lecture hall that included the Warden and Pro-Warden (Students and Learning Development).
The role of the DSC is to provide academic representation to their departments, whilst also feeding back on College-wide issues and positive and negative aspects of the learning experience of students.
The cross-department groups and projects (with data drawn from surveys and interviews with the student body) were as follows:
- Postgraduate Group 1: Organisation
- Postgraduate Group 2: Communication
- Postgraduate Group 3: Departmental Community
- Undergraduate Group 1: Assessment and Feedback
- Undergraduate Group 2: Access to Learning
- Undergraduate Group 3: Academic Support
- Undergraduate Group 4: Student Representation and the Student Voice
Overall, the presentations were of a very high quality (a point made by the Warden). Each group presented its findings in a concise and authoritative manner, and I got the feeling that Goldsmiths College is doing ok in the eyes of the student body (although clearly there are some areas that could be improved).
As a relatively new member of staff, I found the presentations invaluable, as it was a clear articulation of the student voice at Goldsmiths, something we might not hear enough of in our offices in Warmington Tower. This is why we will soon be launching the Annual Learning Technology Survey through GLEU Studio.
Much of the data centred on student views of our VLE, and it was very informative. What was most reassuring was that the students’ concerns were largely centred around the problems we’ve highlighted in the Unit, and the reason why the GLEU Studio strategy was developed and launched.
These concerns focused on baseline criteria such as poorly constructed and rarely updated course areas, as well as poor use of the social interaction and peer collaboration tools in learn.gold. Both these areas are catered for in the staff training offered to staff by our unit
The Warden made the excellent point that change happens in an institution when the correct questions are being asked by the right people.
Our articulate, engaged, fee-paying student body is asking why certain College provisions still need improving, and the onus is on all of us to respond.
No comments:
Post a Comment