Current Developments in Engineering Education: A View from LTSN Engineering

1. Current Developments in Engineering Education:A View from LTSN Engineering John Dickens and Sarah Williamson LTSN Engineering EPC Congress, University of Surrey, 15 April 2003

2. Overview • National Context • Examples of LTSN activity • What next ? EPC Congress, University of Surrey, 15 April 2003

3. The Learning and Teaching Support Network Established January 2000 24 subject centres + Generic Centre ~£8M/annum over an initial 5 year period What is the LTSN? • Networking • Promotion and sharing of good practices L&T • Knowledge brokerage EPC Congress, University of Surrey, 15 April 2003

4. Student Diversity • Changes in school curriculum • Maths Skills • Falling applications mean we recruit from a more diverse pool • Widening Participation • Implications of SENDA EPC Congress, University of Surrey, 15 April 2003

5. Recruitment Home Acceptances EPC Congress, University of Surrey, 15 April 2003

6. Changing Structure in HEIs • LTSN Engineering contacts database – changes 2000 – 2002 • ~ 275 departments 2000 • ~ 250 departments 2002 • Downsizing of departments • Departments merging to become Schools, etc • Pulling out of engineering in particular disciplines and, in some cases, completely EPC Congress, University of Surrey, 15 April 2003

7. Funding for L&T Projects • Teaching and Learning Technology Programme (TLTP) • Fund for the Development of Teaching and Learning (FDTL) • HE Innovations Fund • Teaching Quality Enhancement Fund (TQEF) What impact has this had on the student learning experience? EPC Congress, University of Surrey, 15 April 2003

8. Current Activity • Widening Participation • Disability • Flexible Delivery • Curriculum Development • Assessment • Problem-based Learning • Project-based Learning • Learning Technologies • Student Retention and Motivation • Personal Development Planning (PDP) • Maths EPC Congress, University of Surrey, 15 April 2003

9. Widening Participation 50 % of 18-30 year olds into HE by 2010 • Foundation Degrees • Encouraging women into engineering: Balance project – www.balance.ac.uk EPC Congress, University of Surrey, 15 April 2003

10. Disability SENDA legislation now in effect • LTSN Engineering Disability Guide • Disability projects • Assessment • Engineering Sign Language Glossary • Web Based Audit Tool EPC Congress, University of Surrey, 15 April 2003

11. Flexible Delivery Increasing student diversity • Student-centred Learning: SLICE project – www.plymouth.ac.uk/SLICE • Open and Distance Learning EPC Congress, University of Surrey, 15 April 2003

12. Curriculum Development Learning outcomes and abilities of graduates • LTSN Engineering Guide to using the benchmark statements • EPC Output Standards • QAA Benchmark Statements due for revision EPC Congress, University of Surrey, 15 April 2003

13. Assessment Key issue • Increased use of CAA • e3an project – www.e3an.ac.uk • Emphasis on formative feedback • Changes to SARTOR – input  output standards • Assessment of Output Standards EPC Congress, University of Surrey, 15 April 2003

14. Project-based Learning Core component of engineering programmes • PBLE and Project Squared www.pble.ac.uk and www.projectsquared.org • LTSN Engineering Guide to ‘Assessment of Individuals in Teams’ EPC Congress, University of Surrey, 15 April 2003

15. Learning Technologies Meeting the changing expectations of students • Access to learning and teaching resources SearchLT engineering – www.searchlt.engineering.ac.uk • Evaluation of computer based material: EASEIT-Eng – www.easeit-eng.ac.uk EPC Congress, University of Surrey, 15 April 2003

16. Student Retention Fines for not meeting retention rates • Government priority area • Motivating students through interactive lectures, etc • PROGRESS and SPAT projects www.hull.ac.uk/engprogressandwww.spat.ac.uk • LTSN Eng Guide to ‘Retention’ in development EPC Congress, University of Surrey, 15 April 2003

17. Personal Development Planning To be available to all students by 2005 Recording achievement and reflective learners • Rapid – http://rapid.lboro.ac.uk • LTSN Engineering PDP resource in development EPC Congress, University of Surrey, 15 April 2003

18. Maths Continues to be a major issue • LTSN MathsTEAM project • Diagnostic Testing, Student Support, Teaching Maths in Context www.ltsn.ac.uk/mathsteam • mathcentre – the UK Maths Learning Support Centre www.mathcentre.ac.uk EPC Congress, University of Surrey, 15 April 2003

19. The White Paper • Widening Participation (50%) reaffirmed with more funding, more emphasis on retention (fines?), but NOT new money? • Declared intention to reward excellent teaching. Centres of Teaching Excellence, 70 centres @ £500k p.a. for 5 yrs + £2M capital. NEW Money • National Teaching Academy (LTSN + ILT(HE) + HESDA) • Teaching qualification by 2006 for new staff EPC Congress, University of Surrey, 15 April 2003

20. Centres of Teaching Excellence • No criteria for award or expected outcomes have been defined • Subject-based? • Themed-based? • What do they deliver and when? • What happens when the money stops? EPC Congress, University of Surrey, 15 April 2003

21. Impact • Raising awareness of issues • Resources • Networks • Influencing policy and practice • Reactive • Proactive EPC Congress, University of Surrey, 15 April 2003