Whose course is it anyway?- giving first year students a voice in curriculum design Amanda Corrigan School of Education

Me as a Learner compulsory 20 credits development of undergraduate competences supports transition to university for all students promotes personal development and PDP MaaL tutor acts as personal development adviser

Me as a Learner IT Skills Academic Literacy and Study Skills Personal Effectiveness Skills Personal Development Planning

Involving students in curriculum design Student representatives given greater responsibility – bringing ideas from their class and attending a student focus group Focus groups included 2 nd year students in the role of consultants Decisions made at the focus group about content and delivery of 3 tutorials plus an idea proposed for development in a lecture Student decisions shared with staff with guidelines about how content could be delivered Tutors used a responsive planning approach in tutorials Wider student body evaluated the process

Key themes chosen by students Time management/organisation* Communication and presentation skills Working as part of a team Peer assessment* Professionalism*

Did you use skills from this part of the module in school? 97 of 109 respondents (89% of those responding) had used skills covered in this part of the module during their school placement. 5 respondents (5% of those responding) did not make use of skills covered in this part of the module. 7 participants (6%) had not responded to this question.

How effective were your skills in the situations in which you used them? “ Did not seem daunting, I had done this in MaaL.” “ Very good teaching in MaaL helped this.” “ The skills I have are mainly from previous experience but MaaL taught me more about myself as a learner.” “ My skills were more effective due to the practice in the tutorial.”

Issues to consider How representative were the student reps? Did making decisions at the focus group give adequate time for reflection? Was the success of the project related to the nature of the discipline and the professional placement? How can students’ previous experience be considered more seriously?

Consider the following... Students cannot develop graduate attributes without first having a robust set of undergraduate competences that are refined and honed over the course of their degree programme.

References Campbell, F., Beasley, L., Eland, J. and Rumpus, A. (2007) Hearing the Student Voice – promoting and encouraging the effective use of the student voice to enhance professional development in learning, teaching and assessment. Edinburgh: Napier University. Campbell, F., L., Eland, J., Rumpus, A.and Shacklock, R.(2009) Hearing the Student Voice involving students in curriculum and delivery. Final report. Edinburgh: Napier University. Eland, J. (2010, April 20). Hearing the Student Voice. Powerpoint presentation, Higher Education Academy Seminar, London. Retrieved June 20, 2010 from Lines, D. (2005). The first-year learning experience. In The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, Responding to Student Needs: Student evaluation and feedback toolkit. Gloucester: The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education. Morrison, K.A. (2009). Making Teacher Education More Democratic: Incorporating Student Voice and Choice, Part Two. Educational Horizons. 87:2, Winter 2009.