2. @sparqs_scotland Introductory Level Course Rep Training name of trainer associate trainer | sparqs

3. @sparqs_scotland sparqs student participation in quality scotland. Aim: to improve student engagement in quality enhancement. 2896 reps trained in the academic year 2013-14. 92% found the training useful or very useful. Funded by the Scottish Funding Council since 2003.

4. @sparqs_scotland Learning outcomes for today Develop your understanding of the course rep role. Discuss the student learning experience and explore how you can use it to improve your course’s collective experience. Develop some of the skills you will use as course rep.

5. @sparqs_scotland Exercise 1 - Your course of study… In pairs, discuss the following questions: What course are you studying? What do you hope to get out of your chosen course of study? What do you like most about it? What would you like to change about it?

6. @sparqs_scotland Exercise 2 - Your rep role What do you think the purpose of the student rep is? What do you think some of the tasks will be? What skills do you think you will need and develop as a rep? How do you think being a rep will benefit you?

7. @sparqs_scotland Purpose of a rep To continuously improve the student learning experience in partnership with the institution and student association by helping create solutions to problems. To represent your fellow classmates’ views and opinions on all matters relating to learning and teaching. To provide both positive and negative feedback to staff. To act as a communication channel between staff and students.

8. @sparqs_scotland Rep tasks Introduce yourself to your class. Gather student opinion. Provide feedback to staff and students. Present student views at meetings. Attend meetings. Speak to people outside of meetings. Develop solutions to issues. Pass issues onto students association. Contribute to institutional activities.

9. @sparqs_scotland Rep skills Communication. Listening. Networking. Relationship building. Reflection. Presentation. Organisation. Report writing. Diplomacy. Negotiation. Research. Time management / prioritisation.

10. @sparqs_scotland Benefits of being a rep Learn new skills. Looks good on your CV. Networking opportunities. Background for future representational roles. Good experience for future employment. Can be validated on student transcripts. Make a difference.

11. @sparqs_scotland Why is representation important? Student views Dialogue with staff Improved learning experience YOU ARE THE EXPERT!

12. @sparqs_scotland The Student Learning Experience

13. @sparqs_scotland Short break

14. @sparqs_scotland The Course Rep Cycle Identify the issue Develop & implement the solution Feedback

15. @sparqs_scotland Exercise 3 – Gathering student opinion Think back to exercise one and look at the answers given about what you liked most about your course and what you would like to change. In your groups write down how you would find out from your fellow classmates about whether or not they agree/disagree with these opinions.

16. @sparqs_scotland Gathering student opinion Hands up before/after class. Emails. Face to face chats. Online spaces: – Facebook. – Twitter. – Virtual Learning Environments (VLE). Surveys. Post it notes in tutorials. Comment boxes.

17. @sparqs_scotland The A,B,C,D of Effective Feedback

18. @sparqs_scotland Exercise 4 - Developing solutions In your groups, pick something you want to change about your course and come up with a solution. You need to think about: – What resources the staff have access too. – How realistic your solution is. – How creative your solution is. – How you go about getting your solution implemented. – What your time scale is for the implementation.

19. @sparqs_scotland Exercise 5 - Attending student-staff meetings Think about what you would do: Before you to go to the meeting? During the meeting? After the meeting?

20. @sparqs_scotland Before a meeting Where and when is the meeting going to take place? Find out what your classmates think about their learning experience. Is there anything you want to put on the agenda? Get in touch with the Chair/Secretary. Read any of the papers that have been sent round, including the previous meetings minutes. Speak to other course reps.

21. @sparqs_scotland During a meeting Always be on time, if you are going to be late let the Chair/Secretary know before the meeting. Take a pen and paper for notes. Sit where the chair can see you and raise your hand to indicate you want to contribute. Remember the A, B, C and D of effective feedback. Ask questions if you do not understand anything. Support other course reps in the meeting.

22. @sparqs_scotland After a meeting Report back to your classmates. Check the minutes. Do anything you have been asked to do. Follow up any areas of concern. Did you achieve what you wanted to achieve? If not what are you going to do about it?

23. @sparqs_scotland Closing the loop Identify the issue Develop & implement the solution Feedback Don’t forget to FEEDBACK what you have achieved!!

24. @sparqs_scotland Closing the loop Stand up before/after class. Emails. Face to face chats. Surveys. Online spaces: – Facebook. – Twitter. – Virtual Learning Environments.

25. @sparqs_scotland Support available to you Your students’ association/institution. Additional training for course reps is available: – Intermediate course rep training. Online training resources are available via www.sparqs.ac.uk www.sparqs.ac.uk NUS Scotland, the national representative body, can support you. Visit www.nus.org.uk for more information.www.nus.org.uk

26. @sparqs_scotland Your future rep career Additional training courses are available for students engaged in quality enhancement include: – Intermediate Course Rep Training. Online training resources are available via www.sparqs.ac.uk www.sparqs.ac.uk If you’re interested in becoming a sparqs Associate Trainer, recruitment days will be held in March/April 2012. For further info about any of these opportunities, contact Stephanie Millar at stephanie.millar@sparqs.ac.uk or phone 0131 622 6599.stephanie.millar@sparqs.ac.uk

27. @sparqs_scotland NUS Scottish Executive Committee President:Gordon Maloney Vice-Pres (Education):Robert Foster Vice-Pres (Community):Kirsty Haigh Women’s Officer:Vonnie Sandlan Black Students Officer:Sanjay Lago Disabled Students Officer:tbc LGBT Officer:Lani Baird International Officer: Roza Salih Mature Students Officer:Neill Clark Priority Campaign:Julia Fitzgerald & Alan MacDonald Education Campaign:James Moohan & Rob Henthorn Community CampaignGary Paterson & Jeroen Van Herk Contact them by emailing: firstname.secondname@nus-scotland.org.uk

28. @sparqs_scotland Learning outcomes for today Reflecting on today’s training, have you.. Explored your understanding of your role as a course rep? Discussed the student learning experience and explored how you can use it to improve your course’s collective experience? Developed some of the skills you will use as course rep?

29. @sparqs_scotland Thank you for attending Introductory Level Course Rep Training! Please fill in your evaluation forms and hand them in. name of trainer (firstname.secondname@sparqs.ac.uk) associate trainer | sparqs