Improving Student Learning Through the Curriculum

Improving Student Learning Through the Curriculum

The 16th Improving Student Learning (ISL) international conference will be held on 1-3 September 2008
University of Durham, Durham, UK

We hope that the theme for this symposium – “through the curriculum” – will challenge contributors to consider the role of course design in improving student learning in the ‘taught’ curriculum as well as the effects of the wider, ‘hidden’ curriculum.

Keynotes: Maggi Savin-Baden, Coventry University, George D Kuh, Idiana University, USA, , Alan Jenkins, Oxford Brookes University and Mick Healey, University of Gloucestershire.

Contributors will be attending from Australia, Holland, Sweden, Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand, Finland, Canada and the UK.

More details about the conference can be found at: www.brookes.ac.uk/services/ocsld/isl/isl2008

Booking now open: www.brookes.ac.uk/services/ocsld/isl/isl2008/booking.html

Fiona Smith
Improving Student Learning Conference Administrator
Oxford Centre for Staff and Learning Development
Oxford Brookes University
Wheatley Campus
Wheatley
Oxford
OX33 1HX

Tel: 01865 485902
Fax: 01865 485937

Alternative Resources for Problem-based Learning

Alternative Resources for Problem-based Learning

Conference

Thursday 19th June 2008

University of Central Lancashire, Preston



This one-day conference will explore recent developments in web-based resources in order to enhance the provision of PBL for students and their facilitators.



Enquiries & Booking Details:

Liz Kelly

Faculty of Health BDU

University of Central Lancashire

Preston

PR1 2HE

Telephone 01772 893809

Fax 01772 892995

Email ejkelly@uclan.ac.uk

www.uclan.ac.uk/healthconf



This conference will be held at the University of Central Lancashire. It will be based around recent developments in relation to web-based resources to support problem-based learning. The successful Students Online in Nursing Integrated Curricula (SONIC) website (which has been extended) and the Virtual Community Website have come together to demonstrate new, and innovative, resources. These resources will influence students in the future by supporting them in what they learn and how they learn.



The websites address fundamental issues in learning and teaching, including:



v Learning is becoming more student-centred, but how can students' new independence be supported by richer, more interactive learning materials?

v How can we encourage students to appreciate and engage with care providers, other than traditional care givers?



The SONIC website addresses the first of these questions by using a variety of resources, such as animations and/or videos within scenarios to support a problem-based learning approach. The Virtual Voluntary Sector website addresses the second question by creating an online resource for students to identify and enhance their understanding of non-traditional care provision and how this will enrich their learning.



The conference programme consists of three keynote speakers and participants to the conference will also be able to view and discuss the resources and observe how these can support students.



By the end of the conference, the participant will have:



1) Been made aware of the successful outcomes of web-based projects.

2) Observed the use of the resources which have been developed.

3) Discussed how the resources may be used in a variety of curricula.

4) Determined the use of the resources in supporting national agendas such as Widening Participation and Personal Development Planning.

Netskills: Developing Problem Based e-Learning

<cite>Netskills: Developing Problem Based e-Learning</cite>: "

Developing Problem Based e-Learning From Passive to Dynamic e-Learning09:30 - 16:15 Wednesday 9 July 2008Main Building, Library,Institute of Education, University of London

Fed up with passive, page turning e-learning? Engage your learners in active, dynamic, enquiry based e-learning by developing realistic problem solving activities that encourage the application of analytical, creative and critical thinking skills.Topics: * Whats the problem? Analysisng problem based e-learning * Web quests, hot lists, treasure hunts and subject samplers defined * Action planning and Scenario building for problem based e-learning * Resource gathering to underpin learning * Tools for rapid development of online problem based e-learningWho is it for?This workshop is essential for anyone involved in the design, development, delivery or support of e-learning.Participants should be familiar with the use of a computer keyboard and mouse, Microsoft Windows based products and the use of a web browser such as Firefox or Internet Explorer. An awareness of the basic concepts of web-based delivery would be useful.Further details about this workshop are available.

"

Middlesex University Learning and Teaching Conference

- Middlesex University Learning and Teaching Conference -
We invite colleagues to join us for our 8th Annual Learning and Teaching
Conference on 1 July at our Hendon Campus, North London. The title of our
2008 conference is Reshaping Education. The keynote speakers will be Sandy
Gilkes, Head of the Centre for Academic Practice at the University of
Northampton and Professor Mike Neary, Director of the Centre for
Educational Research and Development and Dean of Teaching and Learning at
the University of Lincoln.
Sandy's session is titled 'Knowledge is not the only fruit: changing roles
and perceptions in HE.' Mike will talk on 'The student as producer - re-
inventing the student experience in HE'.
Full details of the conference and a booking form can be found at
http://olsu/mdx.ac.uk/reshaping/index.htm.
Colleagues reserving a place should contact Kasia Bate (k.bate@mdx.ac.uk)
in order to arrange payment. The charge for the day, to include
refreshments and lunch, is £35.
Michelle Haynes
Centre for Learning and Quality Enhancement
Middlesex University

Times and Spaces for Writing

Times and Spaces for Writing

There are still some places left for the twelfth Writing Development in Higher Education conference to be held at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow from 25 to 27 June, but bookings close on 23 May.

For information and registration forms go to the conference site at http://www.writenow.ac.uk/wdhe/index.html

Inquiry in a Networked World Conference

Inquiry in a Networked World Conference - Learning Through Inquiry Alliance (LTEA) Conference 2008: Inquiry in a
Networked
World University of Sheffield,25th - 27th June 2008.

Registration is open for LTEA 2008 and the programme of parallel sessions is
now
available.

The LTEA is a collaborative alliance of Centres for Excellence in Teaching
and
Learning with interests in inquiry and research-based learning. This year
its
annual conference is hosted by CILASS, the University of Sheffield's Centre
for
Inquiry-based Learning in the Arts and Social Sciences. Building on
successful events held previously at the University of Surrey (2007) and the
University of Manchester (2006) we aim to continue in 2008 to provide a
focus
for creative and critical exploration of inquiry-based learning, focusing on
developments in practice and theory, and on the role of the inquiry approach
to
learning and teaching in HE in the UK and beyond.

Conference highlights include:

* Forty-five parallel sessions, plus posters, exploring the design,
facilitation, experience and impact of inquiry-based learning across a wide
range of disciplines, with staff and student contributors from 20+
institutions
(LTEA member institutions and others).

* Keynote by Dr David Hodge, President of Miami University, Ohio. Dr Hodge´s
address will explore the concept of "the student as scholar" and present
institution-wide inquiry-based learning initiatives being taken forward
under
his leadership at Miami University.

* Playback Theatre York, facilitating an exciting event designed to
stimulate
creativity and reflection around key conference themes.

* 'Inquiry networking' activities including opening and closing plenary
sessions and informal, open conversation sessions hosted by invited
facilitators.

* Social events including optional Peak District discovery tour in the
afternoon of Friday 27th June, following the close of the formal conference.

Information about the conference, including the programme of parallel
sessions,
is available at: www.shef.ac.uk/ltea2008.html

The deadline for registration is FRIDAY 23rd MAY 2008.

We look forward to seeing you at the conference. If you have any queries,
please contact the conference email address, ltea2008@sheffield.ac.uk.

--
Professor Philippa Levy, CILASS (Centre for Inquiry-based Learning in the
Arts
and Social Sciences) and Department of Information Studies, University of
Sheffield. Contact: CILASS, University of Sheffield, Information Commons, 44
Leavygreave Road, Sheffield, S3 7RD. Tel. 0114 2225271.