On September 2nd last year, I published a blog article of resolutions for the academic year, so now is probably a good time to review progress against each of them:
1. Make student attainment a focus for Academic Development Unit activity
This was certainly a focus of discussion for the Heads of School/Associate Deans group and proposals for improvements were progressed wtih Deans and others. Just as importantly, studnt attainment became part of the Academic Strategy.
2. Make sure every group of staff knows how they can contribute to improving league table performance
Plenty of work published on this, either as analysis of league table results, in blog articles and in talks across the university. Not sure how well embedded this is yet. We state that league table position is a Key Performance Indicator, but we could do more on consistent messaging and activity to support this.
3. Give talks in all faculties and schools throughout the year
Very grateful to the schools and faculties that have invited me to talk to staff about league tables, student attainment, BME student performance, NSS and technology enhanced learning. The most engaged areas from my perspective are PSE, and the faculties of BEL and ACT.
4. Run an event on campus to address the issue of BME student performance
BME student attainment was eh subject of a keynote address and workshops at the summer StaffFest Learning and Teaching Conference. Great to have a larger number of attendees than ever before, but still this an area for improvement – looking at the attendance, for one School, only one member of staff was present. If we are a teaching led institution, then I cannot understand how this kind of event is not relevant to everyone?
5. Develop undergraduate and postgraduate award portfolio performance tools
The undergraduate tool was successfully developed. This year (data permitting) it will be available earlier to faculties for use, with more emphasis on performance, rather than recruitment.
An intial postgraduate analysis has already been supplied to faculties.
6. Learn how to use Blackboard, particularly analytics
I’ve made some progress on this, mainly in terms of setting up the governance processes but there’s a lot more to be done, now that management fo BB comes within my remit (it didn’t last September).
7. Review personal tutoring and other L&T enhancement processes
As part of the restructure in ADU, I handed the project on personal tutoring over, and received e-learning in return. A good deal. This academic year, some early adopters will be using the revised personal tutoring policy. Other enhancement projects, around student attainment and module performance are now working their way though exec, so watch this space.
8. Give keynote speech on MOOCs
I presented on this at an HEA event at University of Hertfordshire. More broadly, I presented (together with Dave Parkes) on digital futures, digital literacy and the NMC Horizon report to one of the facuties.
9.Stop writing blog articles about MOOCs – they were so 2012.
There were fewer articles about MOOCs this year.
10. Do not publish blog articles that might offend…….chiz
Academics need to be able to challenge the status quo. What I write in this blog is not to offend but occasionally to challenge and open up debate.
At a time of change in the HE sector and for our university I see this as critically important. When an academic can be suspended from their university,with “part of the evidence against him is that he sighed, projected negative body language and asked “ironic” questions while interviewing candidates for a position at the department”; when a firm of lawyers blog about the need for a university to be able to deal with high performing employees who, although academically brilliant, have the potential to damage their employer’s brand and when the THE publishes a major piece by Fred Inglis on the obligation of academics to speak truth to power, then I hope that in a small way that this blog, and the reflections on and the challenges arising from my work are my contribution to the development of the academy.
As for next year’s resolutions – well the ADU are rewriting teh academic strategy implementation plan, and my work will come out of that. The only other two resolutions so far are things that I will not be engaging with 2014-15. Those who know me, know what they are, and why.