Student and Lecturer Comments on the Attainment Gap – Implications for practice Dr Arinola Adefila Dr Debra Cureton Mr Pliny Soocoormanee

Outline DiSA Research Overview/Methodology Findings: differing perspectives Academic success: focussing on removing barriers? Implications for practice Teaching and learning Blended learning Delivery of distance learning

Data Collection Advice/Support Engaging Lectures Fair And Consistent Interactive Systems Respect 1 st Generation Financial worries University envt Lack Confidence Personal Tutors Motivation Resources Morale Boosting Students Need To Ask Questions Read The Assignment Brief Respect For Lecturer and The Material Put In Effort Institutional Inconsistency Alternate Assessments Methods

STUDENT PERCEPTION ESSENTIAL RELATIONSHIPS between : - Staff and student - Student and staff - Students and University support services RESPECT between - lecturers and Students RECOGNITION of student effort -Previous skills/Life skills - With respect to their hard work -Difficult social circumstances USEFUL FEEDBACK + RESOURCES - Assessment

LECTURERS PERCEPTION RELATIONSHIPS - One way POOR STUDENT MOTIVATION - Students don’t work hard enough -They don’t ask for help -They don’t read assignment brief LOW STUDENT SELF CONFIDENCE Students are not willing to take risk – almost seems they are afraid to use their own ideas and thoughts WEAK SOCIAL/CULTURAL CAPITAL BASE Not enough reading knowledge of professional practice

KNOWLEDGE RESPECT UNIVERSITY SUPPORT SERVICES FINANCES RELATIONSHIPS FOLK PEDAGOGIES FAMILY /COMMUNITY ROLE MODELS

Dialogue Real World Analysis Are the students perceptions of their barriers to success justified? Can Lecturing as a professional practice eliminate these barriers? Responding to the challenges How do we support students better? Can we create opportunity for two way relationships? How can teachers show that they respect students whilst still retaining the power to assess their learning?

Will these interventions promote inclusive Change? Are they addressing equity and success for BME students in higher education? How can we embed good practice in our institutions? * Teaching and learning * Blended learning * Delivery of distance learning

Are we focussing on the wrong pieces? Should we be removing barriers OR Enabling students to negotiate the barriers?

Contact Details Dr Arinola Adefila – Project Manager Coventry University Mr Pliny Soocoormanee – Project Worker University of Wolverhampton Dr Debra Cureton – Project Manager University of Wolverhampton