From concept to opportunity Student as Producer From concept to opportunity Dave Prichard – Head of Administrative Support Lincoln Academy of Learning and Teaching

Born from pedagogical practice Student as Producer remains the underpinning principle for teaching and learning at the University of Lincoln. Student as Producer is a development of the University of Lincoln’s policy of research-informed teaching to research-engaged teaching. Research-engaged teaching involves more research and research- like activities at the core of the undergraduate curriculum.

The paperwork…

Embedding principles within our curriculum The idea of ‘Student as Producer’ has developed significantly at the University of Lincoln and has been widely disseminated. It is designed into every degree programme and explored in each revalidation event. It is implemented in different ways in each area of study, so that while the idea exists University-wide, its expression is particular to the needs of each programme of study. The impact of this collaborative production of learning is hard to quantify, because it is ubiquitous within our institution. However, we consider that students who are reflective partners in learning and in the production of new knowledge will be well served by this engagement in their lives and careers beyond university. This approach to our whole curriculum, coupled with the more formal capstone projects that characterise the final year of study, ensures that subject and skill-related stretch is built into our degrees.

Discovery Students learn through their own research and inquiry rather than through traditional models of knowledge transmission. Collaboration Learning is more productive when it is collaborative rather than individual, so students work together to develop knowledge and understanding. Collaboration also occurs between students and staff, with students seen as partners in the production of knowledge and in the life of the University. Engagement Students become engaged in their discipline through discovery-mode learning, developing their identity as a member of a disciplinary community. Students are also engaged in every aspect of the life of the University. Production Students are producers of knowledge rather than consumers of education. The curriculum focuses on learning outputs as well as on the achievement of learning outcomes. Students are also engaged in every aspect of the life of the University.

College of Arts Students in Product Design work alongside programme staff and Visiting Lecturer Jason Bradbury to explore new ways of developing product designs for identified and emerging markets. Students then recruit (via a presentation pitch) collaborative undergraduate programme partners (Computing Science) to produce working prototypes and models which can be targeted to investors and possible 'kickstarter' projects as graduates. Completed designs and prototypes are exhibited at industry events. Standard Life PLC collaborates with students, who produce briefs for advertising campaigns which students develop and pitch through formal presentations to Standard Life staff who come to Lincoln for the event annually. In Journalism, students produce LSJ News (Lincoln Student Journalism), generating bulletins that appear on lsj-news.co.uk. Cygnet PR, an in-house PR company, undertakes live projects for organisations and companies such as Caistor Arts and Heritage Centre, Harley Davidson and the Lincolnshire Show. The Co_Lab student/staff design partnership has European reach and substantial EU grant success in generating cross-cultural design outputs across a range of Universities. History students produce online digital objects using the Xerte tool to teach others about the topics they have researched in class, while in Conservation students produce a final exhibition in their 3rd year, which they organise and manage themselves, with support from staff.

College of Science Central to the Chemistry programmes are a series of themed Industry Challenges co-delivered through industry partnerships with multi-national and SME organisations (e.g. RB, AstraZeneca, BASF, iFormulate- representing Analytical, Formulation, Pharmaceutical and Energy and Environmental sectors). After systematic project planning/management training, students devise and present technical proposals in response to the challenge and after consultation and feedback from a joint academic/industry panel, execute project plans and report within industry standard methods. Computing students have the opportunity to engage in AppFests, Hackathons and team coding projects as part of their programme of study. Examples of student work include the commercialisation of a mobile game ‘Boxit’ developed by students during an AppFest event and the production of an ‘Open Day App’ in partnership with the University Marketing Department. In the School of Life Science, students work at publishable level, and in some cases publish in peer reviewed journals with their supervisors. The theme of ‘Student as Producer’ is embedded within the National Centre for Food Manufacturing and is exemplified by the New Product and Process Development modules where students are given a high degree of free reign to develop food product concepts from initial recipe design through to process trials and full scale production runs.

Lincoln International Business School A student-led initiative supports academics as well as students with enhancing digital literacy through a series of jointly delivered workshops and seminars about incorporating media into teaching practice. “Let’s Talk Options”, is an information campaign led by 3rd year students which promotes the benefits of professional practice, internships and study abroad opportunities.

College of Social Science The School of Psychology Student Conference exemplifies the ‘Student as Producer’ philosophy. This two-day assessment event brings together our psychology students and academic staff; along with A-level students from local sixth forms and colleges, to celebrate our students as producers, promoters and purveyors of psychological knowledge. The School of Sport and Exercise Science annual dissertation conference, brings together students in all three years to present and discuss dissertation proposals. This event is a focal point of the academic year with first and second year students being involved in formative and summative assessments related to their engagement in the conference, with third year students presenting their work. The quality of student dissertation projects has been demonstrated by students presenting their research at the British Association for Sport and Exercise Science (BASES) Student Conference and National conferences such as the UK Strength and Conditioning (UKSCA) Conference, with students winning awards for the quality of their research.

Student Engagement Activities Students Consulting on Teaching (SCoTs) - Conducting consultations across a range of teaching environments: from seminars, lectures, through to the virtual learning environment – Blackboard. Student Recruiters Student Reviewers - Every new programme at the University is reviewed by a validation panel before being rolled out and taught. Each of these validation panels are made up of relevant staff and a student member. This is done to embed the student perspective at the heart of this quality assurance process. Staff Student Insight Scheme Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) - Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) is a student led academic support scheme where PASS leaders work in pairs to hold regular study groups. PASS leaders don’t teach new material, instead they help you to reflect on your timetabled sessions and provide a helping hand with your recommended reading.