Transcript Slide 1

Feedback for Future Learning
Being a Student at GCU
Introduction
Good feedback is essential for learning. We receive
feedback in lots of different ways – at University, from
colleagues or employers, from customers or clients, even
from friends and family. It’s important that you can use the
wide range of feedback available to its full advantage.
As a student, feedback can help you to see what you are
doing well in relation to your studies, and also help you to
identify how you could improve your performance in the
future.
Online learning units
These units explore the nature and purpose of feedback,
giving useful tips about how to get the most out of your
feedback whilst at University and beyond.
We will give you simple tools to help you view feedback
positively and use it to improve your future learning.
We will also look beyond University, exploring how
feedback can help you to succeed in the workplace –
whether on placement, in part-time work, or in your first
graduate job.
Aims and objectives
By completing this learning unit, you will develop a greater
understanding of:
The Student Experience Framework: our commitment
to you and what you can expect as a student at GCU
The University’s Strategy for Learning and how it can help
you make the most of your learning experience at GCU
The academic advising process and how it can help you to
develop your academic, personal and professional skills
The commitment you must make to your own learning to
succeed at University
Sources of support available at GCU
What is a student?
Making the transition to University can be
daunting, whether you’ve come from
school, college or the workplace.
New students have to get to grips with
what it means to be a student at GCU,
compared with your previous experiences
of education. While some things might be
the same or very similar, others might be
quite different.
Try reading through the SMILE unit: ‘What
is a student?’, which contains lots of useful
information to help you get started on your
learning journey.
GCU Student Experience Framework
GCU is committed to ensuring that every student gets the most out of your University
experience – from accessing our prospectus as a potential applicant, to your graduation
ceremony and beyond. The Student Experience Framework (SEF) sets out how we plan to meet
these expectations.
The student voice
Listening to what students are telling us about their time at GCU is the most important aspect of
the framework and your views are key to driving forward our future agenda.
Our vision
Our principal goal is that by 2017, 100% of GCU students will be willing to recommend the
University as offering a truly outstanding student experience. We aim to achieve this by
structuring the framework around seven clearly defined GCU Commitment themes, providing a
platform for us to build on our long standing reputation for delivering an excellent student
experience.
SEF: Our commitment to you (1 of 2)
Our Commitment
How?
We will help you make an informed decision when
you are considering GCU as your study destination.
By offering information and guidance to all potential
students, providing opportunities for you and your
family to visit the University and providing clear and
accessible advice on our admissions policy and
procedures.
We will help you bridge the gap between your
existing life experiences and your new University
experience.
By creating a welcoming environment that instils
belonging, delivering a full range of support services
and appointing an academic advisor to help with
study matters.
We will ensure you have opportunities to make
social connections and to benefit from the
experiences of others through peer support and
mentoring networks.
By providing a range of stimulating activities during
your induction, promoting a diverse range of clubs,
societies and co-curricular activities and encouraging
you to take part in mentoring and volunteering work.
We will support and stimulate you to stay engaged
with your studies and encourage you to make the
most of the co-curricular and extra-curricular
activities that are available to you.
By ensuring academic staff are experts in their field,
guaranteeing you are provided with clear and timely
feedback on your assessments, providing a range of
academic support services and promoting sports and
recreational activities to support your health and
wellbeing.
SEF: Our commitment to you (2 of 2)
Our Commitment
How?
We will promote and encourage a culture of
partnership working.
By acting upon what you tell us about your student
experience, informing you of the actions we take as a
result of your feedback and making it as easy as
possible for you to find the support you require.
We will share your ambitions and promote career
and employability development through your degree
of study and beyond.
By engaging with employers to ensure our
programmes are relevant to their needs and yours,
providing a dedicated Careers Service to help you
enhance your employment prospects and allowing all
alumni access to a range of additional services.
We will show respect and concern for all students
and staff.
By creating an inclusive GCU community where
diversity is celebrated and all members of the
community are treated with equal levels of respect.
The full version of the Student Experience Framework is available on the Student Experience, Governance
and Quality section of the GCU website: http://www.gcu.ac.uk/segaq/studentexperienceframework/
GCU Strategy for Learning
The GCU Strategy for Learning (SfL) at GCU is centred on a single goal: to develop graduates
who are – proficient in their discipline, enterprising, responsible and capable of fulfilling
leadership roles in different organisational and cultural contexts. It aims to deliver:
An outstanding student
experience in terms of
learning, student support
and wider opportunities for
personal, professional and
career development
Inspirational approaches
to learning, teaching and
assessment which embrace
innovation and the
imaginative use of learning
technologies.
A flexible, inclusive,
accessible, personalised
and internationalised
curriculum
Learning and teaching
excellence underpinned by
research and scholarship,
linked to GCU’s Research
Strategy
Strategy for Learning: Enablers
The SfL is underpinned
by a set of enablers and
10 design principles,
which will be embedded
across all programmes at
undergraduate and
postgraduate level.
Staff
Effective
Partnership
working
Student feedback/
Digital Learning/
Technology
Support Systems
evidence base
The enablers are shown
on the right hand side
and the design principles
on the next slide.
University systems
The full version of the Strategy for Learning is available on GCU website:
http://www.gcu.ac.uk/gaq/strategyforlearning2013-2020/
Environment
Strategy for Learning: Design Principles
Engaged
learning
Responsible
Leadership and
Professionalism
Divergent
thinking
Entrepreneurship
Personalised
learning
GCU
SfL
Inclusive,
accessible
learning
Real world
Problem solving
Broader &
Deeper
Learning
Global learning
Flexible learning
What does this mean in practice?
Now that you’re familiar with the SEF and SfL, you might be asking yourself how they will
affect your everyday experiences of being a student at GCU.
New students are often focussed on their new learning environment and getting to grips
with things like:
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Academic timetables
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The range of teaching methods at GCU
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Your responsibilities as a student (becoming an independent learner, managing your
time…)
•
Assessments (coursework and exams)
•
New tools and technologies (GCULearn, Turnitin, Athens….)
•
Using academic feedback effectively
It can all feel a bit daunting at first, but there’s plenty of help and support to keep you on
track.
Being a student at GCU
Learning Development Centres
A wide range of help and support is
available to help you in making the
transition to GCU.
Academic Timetables
Teaching Methods
Coursework and Exams
We’ve picked out some of the key
things that new students have to get
grips with when they start University
- click on each link in turn for more
information about resources that can
help.
Becoming an Independent Learner
IT Systems
PPACT Academic Advising
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Being a student at GCU - LDCs
Learning Development Centres
Academic Timetables
Teaching Methods
Coursework and Exams
Becoming an Independent Learner
IT Systems
PPACT Academic Advising
Each School at GCU has a dedicated Learning
Development Centre (LDC) to support all
students, regardless of your grades, course or
level of study.
The teams provide advice and guidance on all
aspects of academic development, including
academic writing, study skills, ICT help and
more. This can be via workshops, small group
sessions, 1:1 appointments and tailored
teaching within modules. The LDCs provide a
professional and supportive environment to
help you develop the skills needed to
succeed at University.
We would strongly encourage you to
familiarise yourself with your LDC team, and
to read through any materials they provide
online or through GCULearn.
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Being a student at GCU – Academic Timetables
Learning Development Centres
Academic Timetables
Teaching Methods
Coursework and Exams
Becoming an Independent Learner
IT Systems
Getting to grips with an unfamiliar academic
calendar and timetables can take a bit of
time as you settle in to University. Your
classes might be spread out over the week
with gaps in your timetable for personal
study.
You’ll have to manage your own time and
workload, deciding when you need to work,
and when to give yourself some ‘free’ time.
Some useful links that may help are:
University Calendar (Trimester Dates)
Celcat Teaching Timetables
SMILE Unit – ‘Organising Your Time’
PPACT Academic Advising
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Being a student at GCU – Teaching Methods
Learning Development Centres
Academic Timetables
Teaching Methods
Coursework and Exams
Becoming an Independent Learner
IT Systems
PPACT Academic Advising
At University, you will come across a wide range of
teaching methods. It’s important that you attend as
many classes as possible and that you engage with
any non class-based activities, e.g. through
GCULearn or other online platforms. Teaching
methods you might encounter at GCU include:
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Lectures
Seminars or tutorials
Labs
Online or technology based learning, e.g.
through GCULearn, blogs, wikis, discussion
forums, social media
Skills-based or inter-disciplinary classes
Real world projects or work-based learning
Placements or clinical practice
Problem solving
International study or exchange
Group work or peer assessment
Self assessment and reflection
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Being a student at GCU – Coursework & Exams
Learning Development Centres
Academic Timetables
Undertaking your first assessments at University can
be daunting but there are lots of resources available
to help.
Teaching Methods
Try reading through the following Assessment
Guide* - it explores what assessment is, why
students are assessed and the types of assessments
you’re likely to encounter at University.
Coursework and Exams
The GCU Assessment Regulations are also available
online.
Becoming an Independent Learner
IT Systems
PPACT Academic Advising
Other useful sources of support include:
 Learning Development Centres
 PLATO – an online tool that explains what
plagiarism is and how to avoid it
 SMILE – short online units exploring all aspects
of completing coursework
 Student coursework pages
 Student exam pages
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* Race, P. (2001) ‘Assessment: A Guide for Students’, LTSN Generic Centre
Being a student at GCU – Independent Learning
Learning Development Centres
Academic Timetables
Teaching Methods
All University students have to learn how to be an
independent learner. Put simply, this means taking
responsibility for your own learning, with support
and guidance from staff and peers. It includes:
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Coursework and Exams
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Becoming an Independent Learner
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IT Systems
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PPACT Academic Advising
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Checking your University email account and
GCULearn regularly
Attending all classes (on time and prepared to
participate)
Doing the required reading before classes, and
any suggested follow-up work afterwards
Participating in class discussions or group work
Checking your own understanding and asking
questions if you don’t understand something
Managing your own workload
Completing and submitting assessments on
time
Collecting your feedback promptly and
reflecting on how you can improve next time
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Being a student at GCU – IT Systems
Learning Development Centres
Academic Timetables
Teaching Methods
Coursework and Exams
Becoming an Independent Learner
Some of the IT systems, tools and
technologies used at GCU might be a bit
unfamiliar at first. You’ll be required to use
GCULearn regularly, and might be asked to
submit assessments through Turnitin.
You’re also likely to come across
MyCaledonian, Athens, SMILE and PLATO,
amongst other things.
To make this easier, the IT department has
developed a ‘Computer Stuff’ section of
the website to explain all the different
platforms, how they can help you, and
how you can access them.
IT Systems
PPACT Academic Advising
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Being a student at GCU – PPACT
Learning Development Centres
Academic Timetables
Teaching Methods
Coursework and Exams
Becoming an Independent Learner
IT Systems
PPACT Academic Advising
The PPACT academic advising process at GCU
has been designed to help you develop
personal, academic and professional skills. You’ll
be allocated a named academic advisor within
your first Trimester at University and it’s your
responsibility to engage with them and the
advising process. You should meet your
academic advisor (individually or as part of a
group) three times a year to discuss your
academic studies, any co-curricular activities
that might enhance your profile, and to reflect
on any issues that could impact on your overall
performance at University.
Ongoing discussion and dialogue with your
academic advisor, lecturers and Module Leaders
can really help you make the most of the
opportunities available to you as you progress
throughout your studies.
For more information about academic advising
in your programme, please contact your
Programme Leader or Level Tutor.
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Where does feedback fit in?
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As we’ve just seen, you invest a lot of time and energy learning how be successful
at University.
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You’re probably balancing study, work and home life, which can be tough.
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When you’ve got assessments to complete, it’s easy to focus on getting them done
before moving on to your next task. Feedback might not seem like a big priority,
especially if you're doing well.
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But without feedback, it’s very difficult to know how to improve – you’ll continue
to make the same mistakes and will find it harder to identify your strengths.
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Spending a little time reflecting on your feedback from each assessment can make
a massive difference to your student experience. Think of feedback as the final
‘piece’ of the academic puzzle!
What to do with feedback
As an independent learner, it’s important that you take responsibility for getting the most out of the
feedback that you receive. The remainder of the learning units in this series will focus on how you can
do that effectively. In the meantime, take some time to read through our short feedback guide and
quick checklist, below, to help you make the most of your academic feedback:
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Collect any feedback that’s available to you – this might be in paper form, electronic (through
GCULearn or by email) or by meeting your lecturer in person.
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Once you’ve received feedback, check that you understand it – if not, ask your lecturer for
clarification. Asking questions is a key part of being an independent learner.
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Take some time to reflect on the feedback – identify what you’ve done well and what you may need
to improve next time. Use the remaining units in this series to help with this.
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If you need any further help or support, don’t hesitate to contact your lecturer or the LDC team in
your School.
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Keep a note of any feedback that you receive and refer back to it when completing future tasks –
this can help you avoid making the same mistakes twice!
Sources of support at GCU
Visit the Feedback for Future Learning website
Contact your Programme Leader or Module Leader
Contact your Learning Development Centre
Access GCU Support Services
Access SMILE
Visit the Students’ Association
Contact a Student Mentor
Contact Us
If you’re still not sure of who to contact or if you’d like any further information or
support, please don’t hesitate to get in touch at the contact details below and
we’ll be happy to help.
Feedback for Future Learning
Britannia Building
70 Cowcaddens Road
Glasgow, G4 0BA
Web: www.gcu.ac.uk/futurelearning
Email: [email protected]
Thank You...
Well done – you’ve now completed this learning unit!
In the remaining learning units in this series, we will focus on how
you can reflect upon, and use, feedback positively at University and
beyond.
www.gcu.ac.uk/futurelearning