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Being a TAPS student intern at the University of Roehampton. Joy Vamvakari & Bridget Middlemas HEA York, November 2013. A little bit about our TAPS project. Our TAPS project is part of a wider institutional focus on assessment and feedback at Roehampton
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Being a TAPS student internat the University of Roehampton Joy Vamvakari & Bridget Middlemas HEA York, November 2013
A little bit about our TAPS project • Our TAPS project is part of a wider institutional focus on assessment and feedback at Roehampton • Over the last five years or so, we have been working on: • Thinking about non-traditional e-assessment formats such as e-portfolios, wikis or online symposia • Working with programme teams on a variety of assessment-related projects • Setting up CPD opportunities for academic and support staff • Designing equivalency guidelines for staff wishing to pilot new or unfamiliar assessment formats
Some of our assessment projects… • Changing the Learning Landscape at: http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/cll • TAPS at: http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/assets/documents/change/Transforming_assessment_pilot/webprofiles/TA_07_Roehampton_web.pdf • Reimagining Attainment for All: enabling the success of BME students at: http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/funding/detail/BME_strategic_Roehampton • We have also been involved in TESTA, at: http://www.testa.ac.uk/ • What’s it worth? Developing Equivalency Guidelines for the Assessment of Multi-format Coursework, at: http://www.jisctechdis.ac.uk/assets/Documents/HEAT/ROE302.doc
What have we done in our TAPS project ? • Student intern • Interviewed staff and students from a wide range of discipline areas • Gathered plenty of workable examples that can be shared across programmes teams • Developed our resources to support CPD programmes & staff induction
TAPS @ RoehamptonDepartments that I have approached/involved: Undergraduate Postgraduate Undergraduate Undergraduate Undergraduate Postgraduate Undergraduate Undergraduate
TAPS @ RoehamptonPeople I have talked to about TAPS: • Academic staff • Administrative staff • Quality Assurance staff • Employability staff • Undergraduate students • Postgraduate students • Student interns in other projects • Student ambassadors • Course reps • Student senate • Staff from other Universities • HEA staff • Specialists in Assessment and Feedback
Being the Roehampton TAPS student intern • I liaised with the LTEU staff in agreeing short and long term goals for the project • I used all available resources and my own initiative to fulfil these goals • I attended relevant conferences and events where I furthered my understanding of assessment
And… • I collected data in the form of audio/video and good practice examples, I interviewed staff and students, lead focus groups and research relevant academic material • I was expected to have a professional, independent, responsible and proactive approach to all work involved • I felt personally responsible for the project and its success, referring back to my TAPS work in all other on and off campus positions, increasing overall awareness of TAPS
Why have a student intern? A student intern: • brings in the student perspective/viewpoint • can offer insight into practical issues of student life • is able to spend time attending events and collecting data • can talk to students on a student level, taking into consideration current student concerns, issues and difficulties • can obtain different data from staff, as discussion takes place on a different level • can integrate personal views and experiences, enriching collected data
Why become a student intern? Future employability • develop new skills and build upon existing ones • experience collaborating and liaising with people from a range of backgrounds • talk about your internship in your CV and job interviews Transition to the world of work • use and maintain the academic skills you have developed in a practical setting • experience a supported transition from student to professional life • experience a UK work environment, settings and ethics Personal development / CPD • learn about yourself, your skills and where you can improve • develop your personal network • gain insight into the structure and function of the University and Higher Education as a whole • use own initiative in a rewarding and supporting context
Recommendations (from a student intern’s perspective) • Engaging students as student interns can enhance overall student engagement • Increased opportunity for student-staff dialogue through common events-discussions • Do not forget that the student body is highly diverse! Every student has different motivations, skills and concerns • Support increased ownership, treat students as developing academics/professionals and give responsibility: higher motivation will increase efforts
Recommendations • Make sure that your student intern is confident in approaching and working with staff and students across all programmes • Provide a welcoming and supportive working environment • Publicise your intern’s work as widely as possible, and at the highest levels
Thanks for listening! Joy Vamvakari & Bridget Middlemas