1. Programme Level Change to Enhance Student Satisfaction Assessment & Feedback Media & Communication Sian Rees, Programme Director

2. Background

3. Issues 1. Fragmented team 2. Low staff morale (past threat of redundancies) 3. Poor NSS results 4. Loss of key staff 5. Poor course organisation 6. Students had moved departments every August

4. August 2013 NSS Results 73% overall satisfaction 64% assessment & feedback 62% academic support 53% organisation and management Students not aware of what was going on Too many last minute changes Modules not tailored to degree

5. Cause for Concern The subject had to attend a ‘Cause for Concern’ meeting and respond to the NSS results Produced an action plan Now produce this annually as part of the Annual Programme Review to keep the focus Was helpful: brought a level of seriousness, focus and responsibility This was OUR problem

6. Subject Area Re-organisation Brought all English-medium staff into one department; moved students into that department Created Media & Communication Board of Studies Set up post of Media & Communication Programme Director Replaced two members of staff who had left (later successfully argued for these posts to be permanent) Higher entry grade requirement Successful way of organising the subject across different departments

7. Team-Building Regular cross-departmental team meetings in addition to three Boards of Study (bi-monthly, one hour, Wednesdays) Pre-planned agenda which focuses on teaching issues Encourage discussion about best practice, worries, student issues, feedback and assessment Module planning brought forward (agreed by Jan 14) No hiding!

8. Positive Mind-Set Change Share work load information Encourage solution-finding attitude to teaching issues Actively support university initiatives Try to find solutions to marking pressures and other pressures (eg GAMs) Open discussion

9. Standardisation Module Handbooks the same for all Media & Communication modules Exams officer looks over module handbooks to ensure consistency All information also goes on Blackboard Marking criteria is essential Clear assessment descriptions Standardised information across a portfolio of very different types of assessment

10. Assessment Information MSP100R ASSESSMENT 1 CAMPAIGN DOCUMENT: 2000 WORDS (60%) DEADLINE: Wednesday 25 th March 2015, 4pm Turnitin Only, no hard copy required Marked assignments will be available via Turnitin 20 April 2015. You need to produce a three month campaign for a new music festival.

11. Marking Criteria Clear analysis of PR issues for the campaign Evidence of significant research Use of theory to support recommendations Clear, relevant objectives Appropriate list of stakeholders with analysis Appropriate categorisation of publics Well laid out in business like styleWell written in appropriate style Appropriate tactical recommendations Creative, newsworthy approach Includes strong media relations section Understanding of new digital techniques Well written press release with a strong news angle Creative news image idea with a newsworthy angle

12. Commitment: 3 Week Marking Challenging for a small team with large modules Where this wasn’t working - re-structured the teaching team to provide extra support for large modules Do not have budget for a lot of PhD tutoring - embedded in staff workloads Prioritised Year 3 marking

13. Pioneered Grademark Three members of staff took part in the Grademark trial Made use of Grademark a probation target for new staff Set use of Grademark as a target for all staff a year before College deadline Very positive response from students Used for very different assessments Pioneered its use for MA and UG dissertations

14. Shared Best Practice Module Handbook standardisation Included assessment in induction process for new (and temporary) staff Shared specific best practice highlighted by external examiner

15. Holistic Feedback At our internal and external exam boards we introduced a ‘traffic light system’ Identified failing and succeeding students Send individualised emails offering support / encouragement in February and July Personal tutors also follow up Very positive response from students

16. Communications & Care Student help desk @SUMediaComm Regular email from Programme Director List of staff and office hours Notice board area Email response (discuss with staff) Induction: explaining staff changes, course structure, degree grading scheme

17. NSS Campaign Made an active effort to encourage more students to respond Programme Director presented in third year lectures Actively asked students in a computer lab to fill in survey Twitter, emails Meetings with student reps

18. 2013/14 NSS Action Plan Marking criteria Early module planning Teaching posts permanent Help-desk Twitter feed E-mail bulletin Staff contact details Notice board area Workload distribution Mentoring Programme Director Team meetings Board of Studies (x 3) Curriculum review Promoted media society Embraced Grademark Shared best practice Media personal tutors Made peer review happen Produce annual NSS plan

19. August 2014 NSS results 88% overall satisfaction (+15%) 88% teaching (+13%) 88% assessment & feedback (+24%) 60% organisation & management (+7%) Still challenges: careers, time-table changes, earlier confirmation of deadlines, lack of contact time