JOANNA MacDONNELL Lecturer FdA Broadcast Media University Centre Hastings (UCH)

TODAY’S SESSION Introduction Context of Research Documentary Screening Follow Up Research Belbin Tests Discussion

CONTEXT OF THE RESEARCH Beginning of Semester 2 - March/April 2008 Formed the Special Study element of the PGCert in TLHE (Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education)

THE RESEARCH Students invited to participate through questionnaire and consent forms. Filmed Interviews to enhance the students own documentary making techniques to give them additional group work activities to practice their technical skills - students assisted with cameras, lighting, sound and editing

THE DOCUMENTARY Directed and Produced by Joanna MacDonnell

FOLLOW UP RESEARCH Same cohort (now at level 2) This years Level 1 Cohort

LEVEL 2 RESULTS Cohort now 19 students 71% of students responded

OF THE 71% WHO RESPONDED 83% felt group work had improved since the documentary was made

IMPROVEMENT AREAS COMMUNICATION

IMPROVEMENT AREAS COMMUNICATION COMMITMENT

IMPROVEMENT AREAS COMMUNICATION COMMITMENT WORKLOAD DISTRIBUTION

IMPROVEMENT AREAS COMMUNICATION COMMITMENT WORKLOAD DISTRIBUTION GROUP ALLOCATION

IMPROVEMENT AREAS COMMUNICATION COMMITMENT WORKLOAD DISTRIBUTION GROUP ALLOCATION RESPECT

IMPROVEMENT AREAS COMMUNICATION COMMITMENT WORKLOAD DISTRIBUTION GROUP ALLOCATION RESPECT STRUCTURE TO TIMETABLE ( FOR COMPLETION OF WORK)

IMPROVEMENT AREAS COMMUNICATION COMMITMENT WORKLOAD DISTRIBUTION GROUP ALLOCATION RESPECT STRUCTURE TO TIMETABLE ( FOR COMPLETION OF WORK) ORGANISATION

IMPROVEMENT AREAS COMMUNICATION COMMITMENT WORKLOAD DISTRIBUTION GROUP ALLOCATION RESPECT STRUCTURE TO TIMETABLE ( FOR COMPLETION OF WORK) ORGANISATION FEEDBACK FROM TUTOR (IN GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL TUTORIALS)

COMMUNICATION 60% of the students who felt group work had improved highlighted COMMUNICATION as the primary area of improvement Use of Online Group Work Forums on Student Central

STUDENT CENTRAL GROUP WORK FORUMS Virtual meeting place

STUDENT CENTRAL GROUP WORK FORUMS Virtual meeting place Opportunity to post group documents, details of group meetings, minutes of meetings

STUDENT CENTRAL GROUP WORK FORUMS Virtual meeting place Opportunity to post group documents, details of group meetings, minutes of meetings Familiarity of using an online communication tool

STUDENT CENTRAL GROUP WORK FORUMS Virtual meeting place Opportunity to post group documents, details of group meetings, minutes of meetings Familiarity of using an online communication tool Aid and assist engagement with the group for students who are absent through illness & injury

STUDENT CENTRAL GROUP WORK FORUMS Virtual meeting place Opportunity to post group documents, details of group meetings, minutes of meetings Familiarity of using an online communication tool Aid and assist engagement with the group for students who are absent through illness & injury Allow tutors to monitor groups progress

STUDENT CENTRAL GROUP WORK FORUMS Virtual meeting place Opportunity to post group documents, details of group meetings, minutes of meetings Familiarity of using an online communication tool Aid and assist engagement with the group for students who are absent through illness & injury Allow tutors to monitor groups progress Identify students who are not contributing to the ideas or sharing the workload

EXAMPLE OF STUDENT CENTRAL FORUM Forum for LB208 Level 2 FdA Broadcast Media Students 2 production teams of 10 members Assignment task: to find and produce ‘as live’ an event as an Outside Broadcast TV transmission

EXAMPLE OF ONLINE FORUM Forum used for: Exchange of ideas Publication of production meeting minutes Publication of action points Meeting times and Venues Publication of important documents for review and feedback by all group members

SUGGESTED FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS The 17% (2 students) who felt there had been no improvement since the documentary was made suggested areas for further improvement: Purely Individual Marking Scheme More Individual and Group Tutorials

CURRENT LEVEL 1 STUDENTS 40 Students 60% responded

How should groups at the start of the first year be allocated?

Do you feel the marking scheme for LB102 Four Docs is fair?

Did you find the Belbin Tests and Group Work session a helpful introduction to group work at University Level?

Further Improvements Bonding exercises for groups Changing groups around after a settling in period.

GROUP WORK SESSION “ The learning path involves a series of 10 episodes, taking five students through the journey of a group work project. Each episode highlights a different aspect of working as part of a group and includes a number of video clips, audio clips as well as observation and discussion points.”

BELBIN TEAM ROLES TESTS “Belbin promotes and develops team role theory, enabling thousands of people to play to their strengths; communicate more effectively with others; and to work with greater self-knowledge and understanding.”

BACKGROUND REFERENCES Belbin, R. Meredith (2004) Management Teams Why They Succeed or Fail, Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann University of Technology Sidney, Institute for Interactive Media and Learning: Race, Phil (2000) 500 Tips on Group Learning, Kogan Page Ltd Belbin Associates