Student Lifewide Development Symposium. Developing and delivering an integrated through-life and life- wide curriculum Dr David Croot, University of Plymouth.

Summary Curricular, co-curricular and extra-curricular learning in pre-HE and HE. The Plymouth through life and life-wide learning model. Elements of the model: Children’s and Youth Universities; curriculum, co-curriculum and extra-curriculum in HE; scaffolding structures (personal tutoring and e- portfolios). documentation

The Plymouth model

Children’s and Youth Universities CU is national organisational structure locally delivered (franchise model). Focus on participation in quality-benchmarked extra-curricular learning activities (learning destinations) for 7-14 year olds. 75 local CU’s across UK since 2007/8. Expanding rapidly. Youth Universities (14-19) growing on foundation of CU’s in several areas.

Role of HE in pre-HE HEIs have opportunity to engage in CU movement by providing learning destinations or hosting/managing their local CU. Why? – Principle: Developing pedagogic synergy by integrated approach to lifewide learning. – Practical: Advantages to HE recruitment as well as raising aspirations locally. – Employability: Employers increasingly demand life-wide experience.

Within HE Curriculum with embedded lifewide/employability skills, including work- based learning. Co-curriculum (free electives) to give opportunities for much deeper engagement with employability-related skills (These can be very broadly interpreted). All include experiential learning and reflection Extra-curriculum : Plymouth Award (includes lifewide activities and reflection). Scaffolding: personal tutorials (life-wide); e- portfolio.

Common Scaffolding structures E-portfolios are commonly (though not yet universally used pre-HE).They are commonly used in HE. Personal tutoring is commonly used in pre-HE and HE, but the definition of the role of the personal tutor (breadth of support) needs refining to ensure equality of opportunity. Summative documents. From 2014 all exit documents (Applications for jobs, HE entrance and HE exit documents (HEAR)) will reflect lifewide learning.

Links Children’s University: Plymouth Award :

Questions?