Linking Teaching and Research

1. Linking Teaching and Research Mick Healey University of Gloucestershire & Alan Jenkins Oxford Brookes University

2. Linking Teaching and Research “ . . .The research universities have often failed, and continue to fail their undergraduate populations, thousands of students graduate without seeing the world - famous professors or tasting genuine research." (Boyer Commission 1998, 3) “We are all researchers now … Teaching and Research are becoming ever more intimately related … In a ‘knowledge society’ all students – certainly all graduates – have to be researchers. Not only are they engaged in the production of knowledge; they must also be educated to cope with the risks and uncertainties generated by the advance of science.” (Scott 2002,13)

3. Types of linkage between teaching and research • the content of courses is informed by staff research • students learn about research methods • teaching methods adopt a research-based approach, such as through problem based learning • they undertake their own research projects, whether individually or in teams · they participate in staff research projects as subjects, as in, for example, perception studies • they assist staff with their research projects • staff undertake pedagogic research which benefits the quality of their teaching

4. Task: Line Up People stand along a line on an issue where there is likely to be a polarity of views and then discuss where they stand The link between teaching and discipline based research should, at the level of the individual faculty member, be: Tightly coupled Loosely coupled ________________________________ Undergraduate research should be for All students Selected students

5. Task: Line Up In groups of four discuss: • Why are there differences in views about the teaching-research link? • What have you learnt from participating in the line-up task? After 5 minutes I shall ask a spokesperson for the group to report ONE answer to each question

6. The Scholarly Evidence In pairs ONE person should read sections 3, 4 and 5 and the OTHER person should read sections 6 and 7. You should then summarise the KEY points to each other. 8 mins

7. Three Case Studies Skim read Section 11 In pairs focus on the UCL case study – A research based department. What do you consider: • Are the key ways this case study seeks to link teaching and research? • Is such an approach only appropriate /possible with elite research based institutions/ highly motivated students? Do the modifications made in the other two case studies address these issues? 8 mins

8. LTSN GEES Project Aim To identify, record and disseminate case studies of the way individuals, course teams and departments within geography, earth and environmental sciences enhance the learning of their students by developing the links with their research and to promote ways in which individuals and departments in our subject communities can maximise the benefits for students of these linkages.

9. Types of linkage between teaching and research • the content of courses is informed by staff research • students learn about research methods • teaching methods adopt a research-based approach, such as through problem based learning • they undertake their own research projects, whether individually or in teams · they participate in staff research projects as subjects, as in, for example, perception studies • they assist staff with their research projects • staff undertake pedagogic research which benefits the quality of their teaching

10. Types of linkage between teaching and research • Research in this context is interpreted widely to include discovery research, consultancy for clients, and action research aimed primarily at improving practice • There are also potential negative impacts from staff involvement in research, such as staff absences and lower priority being given to teaching • For the benefits to be maximised and the disadvantages to be minimised, the relationship needs to be managed

11. How to Win a Prize In pairs identify ways in which EITHER you OR your departments develop the linkages between teaching and research to benefit the learning of your students. (Some further examples can be found in Section 12) Be ready in 5 minutes to report back on ONE example which could be written up for the GEES Web site.