Learning & Teaching Conference 2012 E-learning for interdisciplinary enterprise education: Making Ideas Happen Monday 9 January

Welcome Elena Rodriguez-Falcon Director of Enterprise Education, University of Sheffield Board Member, EEUK Current ‘Making Ideas Happen’ module leader

Today’s session Making Ideas Happen: an overview An introduction to the ‘Making Ideas Happen’ Module An alternative model of delivery Could aspects of this model work for you? Social projects Online Learning Multi disciplinary Peer assessment

Making Ideas Happen: an overview Sara Pates Enterprise Business Manager, University of Sheffield

Making Ideas Happen (MIH) New 20-credit interdisciplinary, multi-level module in enterprise and innovation Available at Levels 2 and 3 in either Autumn or Spring Delivered predominantly online Interdisciplinary group projects Group work is peer assessed External/community engagement

MIH pilot: Spring students 10 academic departments 6 different faculties 4 students based in Thessaloniki, Greece

Social Projects Opportunity to develop social enterprise solutions to ‘real’ problems in Sheffield. Solutions must be constrained by real limitations. Engagement with the local community engenders a sense of civic responsibility. Feedback on business ideas from external organisations and businesspeople

Social Projects Shiregreen Neighbourhood Challenge —Community café, Community shop, Community newspaper Energy 2 B —Energy efficiency —New and renewable energy resources —Energy efficiency in transport Sheffield CC Good Neighbours —Bins & household waste, To Let signage, Urban gardens, Security

Why e-learning? Timetabling Opens up learning to potentially more diverse cohort of students Multiple geographical locations Online communication: a vital enterprise skill. Many organisations work with clients, colleagues and contacts all around the world - students will too! Learning materials – build up extensive body of teaching content that can be adapted and re-used

MOLE (My Online Learning Environment) Weekly learning module topics – an ‘alternative ‘to face-to-face lectures – selective release: each topic only made available to students following completion of previous learning module and a formative weekly quiz Weekly online journal – blog format (must be included in final portfolio) – time management: completed each week – feeds into final reflective report Discussion and chat areas Resources and external links

Face-to-face sessions Week 1: individual lecture Week 3: business idea development session Week 11: summary lecture and poster event On-going: supported group work

Why interdisciplinarity? Outside comfort zone Working in a mixed group requires strength and confidence in one’s own discipline – what can you bring to the table? Brings new perspectives to work done in student’s core subject discipline Meet new people and make new friends Transferrable skills In the ‘real world’, you never work only with those of the same background as you – good preparation for working life, whether employed or self-employed Different fields have different working cultures – a chance to learn from others

Assessment Individual portfolio (50% weighting): – Compilation of weekly blog journal – Reflective report – Summary skills statement Group business plan (30% weighting) Group poster presentation (20% weighting)

Peer assessment Group work is anonymously peer assessed based solely on an individual’s contribution relative to their group. Each group member scores each other group member between -3 and 3 with a net total score of 0 across the group

Peer assessment For example: Joe Bloggs scores his group as follows Jane Doe 2 John Smith 0 Sarah Brown 1 Robert Jones -3 So in a group where all members contribute equally, all members would score 0.

Peer assessment +3 = mark substantially higher (a whole degree class +2 = mark significantly higher (around a half a degree class) +1 = mark a few points higher 0 = mark equal to the overall group mark -1 = mark a few percentage points lower -2 = a mark significantly lower (around a half a degree class) -3 = a mark substantially lower (at least a whole degree class)

In groups: 1.What are the considerations you would need to make to run a social project and engage external people? 2.Would this be a right choice for you? 1.What are the barriers or enablers for you to deliver (support delivery of) ‘learning’ content online? 2.What is the value of online delivery? 1.How could you implement peer assessment in your practice or the practice you support? 2.Would this assessment be right for your discipline? 1.What are the barriers and enablers to develop interdisciplinary work in your practice? 2.Would this bring added value to you and your students

What now? University of Sheffield Enterprise are here to help all staff to embed enterprise learning in the curriculum though support with: Curriculum development and design Extensive network of external contacts Small pots of funding for new innovations in enterprise Invaluable case studies Linking you with relevant academics, modules and projects

Any questions?