Using technology to support Class Representatives transition into, through, and out of their role Enhancement Themes conference, Thursday 9 June 2016 John McIntyre Conference Centre, Edinburgh Charline Foch, Rachel Pratt and Tanya Lubicz-Nawrocka EUSA Academic Representation

Using technology to support Class Representatives transition into, through, and out of their role Charline Foch, Rachel Pratt and Tanya Lubicz-Nawrocka EUSA Academic Representation

Setting the Scene Challenges we were facing: -Engaging and supporting Class Reps across the University’s Edinburgh- based campuses, and online distance learners -Understanding impact of those in the Class Rep role -Last year we trained a record number of 500 Class Reps in person, only a fraction of all Class Reps -Ever-increasing numbers of Class Reps…

Increasing Numbers of Class Reps 2,238 Class Reps (1,592 individuals who are often a Rep for more than one course or tutorial)

Online Class Rep Training -Hosted on Blackboard’s Learn VLE -Undergraduate- and Postgraduate-specific versions -Can be completed in own time and not in one sitting -Accessible and can be completed anywhere -Supports student transitions in to the role

Impact of Class Rep Online Training

Give it a go: Class Rep Online Training

What are Open Badges? -Flexible, free, digital accreditation -Full of information (metadata) -Open source – organisations and companies around the world use them!

What are EUSA’s Open Badges?

Benefits for Students:  Better understanding all aspects of the role  Reflecting on and documenting their work and successes, supporting their transition through the role  Sharing work and successes with other Reps and the students they represent (anonymised blog posts at n/your_schools/) n/your_schools/  Earning additional accreditation that could be displayed on LinkedIn, helping them transition out of the role and into employment Benefits of EUSA Open Badges Benefits for EUSA:  Fewer questions about the Class Rep role  Learning more about the local work of Reps in their School  Learning more about the impact of the Rep role on students’ personal and professional development  Sharing the work of Reps across the university  Providing a new form of recognition and reward for Reps

Quantitative Impact of EUSA Open Badges

‘The Class Rep experience has been an adventure, even through one semester. I have developed many new perspectives and with those perspectives have come new skills. The three skills I feel have been the most beneficial have been: encouraging participation, cross-cultural communication, and mediation.’ Qualitative Impact ‘I learned that giving optimism a chance is far better than aggressively trying to change an issue all by myself, moreover that this is not what leadership means.’ ‘I am able to listen more assiduously to criticisms and liaise more effectively with members of staff, putting new procedures in place. Whilst no longer being afraid to challenge the status quo, I can nonetheless recognise that sensitivity and diplomacy are essential tools in change management.’

 How can technology help you support the transitions of students into, through, or out of your institution?  What does successful student engagement with technology look like? Present your 60-second pitch back to the whole group Activity With a small group, develop a pitch to ‘sell’ the use of technology to engage students

Questions? Comments? Thank you!