Who wants to reflect on their career? Christine Smith and Dr Phil Wright Welcome to this Biennial workshop, organised by the University of Bedfordshire Careers and Employment Service/Department of Education Studies. Introduce ourselves

How Turning Point works Open active participation and sharing expertise and experiences Q’s at any time Quick demonstration

Turning Point- the steps What we were hoping to achieve- Students to reflect better but many other findings as well Researchers- conducting research using what we have got What we did How it worked? PPT?

Demonstration 1

Today’s session Why we did what we did? A demonstration The outcomes as we see them How does this apply to you and how would you use it? Future Plans timing

How did we get started? Context Discuss action research Phil to talk about Research Methods- Christine talk about Action research- new picture

A simple process for carrying out action research Identify an issue/problem/paradox/difficulty Think of ways to develop practice/combat the issue Do it Evaluate actual research findings Modify future practice Norton, L. S. (2009) Action Research in Teaching and Learning- A practical guide to conducting pedagogical research in universities. London, Routledge

Sessions Self Volunteering Opportunities, including routes into teaching Interviews/CV writing/Action planning Networking game workshop CV workshops How we structured the sessions, including where we gathered turning pt and questionnaire data

Demonstration 2 You are a 19 year old undergraduate student! Pretend you are a student or try to remember what you were like at 19 (harder for some of us than others!).

Findings 1 - (See excel file) Students (and staff) were entertained. We collected interesting data on student perceptions of themselves and their experience. - (See excel file) Students (and staff) were entertained. Data allows better evaluation of impact Overall findings appear to indicate that students have been reflecting on their career; certainly their views changed in the course of the three surveys. Between the first and third surveys students: Felt more positively about their career path. Were more confident that they could achieve their career goals. Felt they knew the steps they needed to take to achieve their aim. The questions in the survey did not ask if the changes in teaching were helping students to reflect on their career path - we may return to this in a future action research cycle.

Findings 2 Between the first and third surveys students: Felt more positively about their career path. Were more confident that they could achieve their career goals. Felt they better knew the steps they needed to take to achieve their aim.

Findings 3 However: The questions in the survey did not ask if the changes in teaching were helping students to reflect on their career path - we may return to this in a future action research cycle.

How does this apply to you? ACTIVITY : Group 1 How could you use Turning Point with your students? Group 2 Possibilities for research across institutions? Break into groups Group 1 Turning Point Brainstorm with group how they could use it themselves – how could it make a difference to what you already do? Refer to some examples Group 2 Action research Facilitating inter university research collaboration community, communities of practice In pairs or small groups –which students and subjects? Get groups/pairs to feedback and write these on a whiteboard/flipchart

What is next for us? Future Unit Developments? Feed back into curriculum enhancement Internationalisation Work more closely with employers? Next cycle of action research?

Resources www.beds.ac.uk/careers Christine.smith@beds.ac.uk Action Research: Lin Norton Personal, Academic and Career Development in HE: Arti Kumar www.beds.ac.uk/careers Christine.smith@beds.ac.uk Phil.wright@beds.ac.uk Guardian article http://www.guardian.co.uk/higher-education-network/2011/jul/28/action-research-for-employability GMT article http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/dc63c97d#/dc63c97d/22