Introductory project meeting June 24th, 2008 Welcome to TASH! Introductory project meeting June 24th, 2008

What we'll be doing this afternoon 14.05-14.35: Where TASH came from, and the issues it addresses 14.35-15.15: Small group activity - what skills are most important for independent learners? 15.15-15.30: Coffee and cakes 15.30-15.50: How TASH will work 15.50-16.45: Small group activity - how will TASH be built and used by different constituencies in different subject areas? 16.45-17.00: Closing remarks - next steps

What issues does TASH address? A widely-perceived need for students to enhance their academic skills; range of student backgrounds; diverse student and institutional expectations; known availability of good resources; variable student engagement; striking a balance between generic and subject-specific skills; avoiding the deficit and hypodermic models.

Small group activity one In groups of four or so, produce a three-slide presentation addressing the following questions: For you, what are the three most important academic skills needed for independent learning?  Are these specific to certain levels / subject areas / approaches to learning, or are they generic? To what extent is the development of these skills already supported across the institution? How might this process be enhanced?

Share your ideas We can show them on the main screen here and now .... ... and/or please email them to us before leaving today (addresses on the next slide) We will study your responses carefully, add them all to the Generic Skills website to share them more widely, and blog a summary of what you said over the next week or so.

Coffee and cakes t.herrick@shef.ac.uk w.kitchen@shef.ac.uk

Small group activity two Break into groups that represent your faculty or subject area; and discuss: Your priorities - what would you like TASH to address? Your resources - what do you know of that would be of benefit to others? Your ideas about use - how do you think TASH could be used in your departments? Your concerns - what do you foresee as the challenges for the TASH project?

Next steps Building a community: would you like to continue to be involved? Sharing resources: what do you know about that you'd like to share? Moving forward: are you, or someone else you work with, interested in attending the July 17th meeting and developing tutor-facing guides? Staying in touch: http://www.shef.ac.uk/lets/projects/genericskills ... and, if you like that kind of thing, a blog near you very soon