Professor Christine Hockings Institute for Learning Enhancement University of Wolverhampton

1. HEA / UWBS subject conference Group Working June 20th 2012 Active group work – making it inclusive Professor Christine Hockings Institute for Learning Enhancement University of Wolverhampton

2. Academic engagement in groups Approaches to learning Teachers’ approaches to & craft in L&T Social & cultural background Prior knowledge Ways of knowing Life & work experiences Teachers’ conceptions of students Teachers’ knowledge & experience Educational background Aspirations & interests Conjecturing & critiquing Synthesising information Questioning & challenging ideas Reflecting & evaluating They are actively exploring their own and others’ knowledge, experience and backgrounds in a search for deep understanding, meaning and knowing A key challenge is how to engage all individuals within a large and diverse group…

3. Benefits of ‘mixing’ student groups • maximises learning from different people, cultures, etc • develops interpersonal and team working skills • fosters peer support networks outside class • helps to establish relational equity between individuals

4. Challenges for teachers & students • Watch these video clips. • What challenges do the students and teachers face when coordinating and working within mixed groups? • What strategies could you adopt for addressing these challenges? What resources & support would you need? (20 mins) A B C

5. Engaging ALL students in mixed groups • Create safe, inclusive spaces • Get to know students as individuals • Establish ground rules for collaborative learning • Harness students’ experience and knowledge • Start with what students know, then apply theory (biographical turn) • Connect with students’ lives and future aspirations • Facilitate uncertainty, confusion & difference • Encourage public articulation of thinking & problem solving • Teach reflexively and with sensitivity to differences • Mindful of impact of own beliefs and identity on student learning • Coordinate interaction, mixing different students (with a purpose) • Anticipate, prepare & respond flexibly to different and emerging requirements and interests

6. Becoming an engaging and inclusive teacher in HE • 3 units • Content, activities, forum, assessment, links to other resources, etc. • LTI video collection - Over 130 video clips in a range of subjects. All subtitled. • Module developed in Xerte for accessibility • Available via OU Labspace or via UoW website. • Down load and repurposing guide with video tutorial • Currently embedded in UoW Learning to Teach Inclusively Module www.wlv.ac.uk/LTImodule

7. References and links Hockings, C., Brett, P & Terentjevs, M (2012) Making a difference – Inclusive learning and teaching in higher education through open education resources. Journal of Distance Education. Hockings, C (2011) Hearing voices, creating spaces: the craft of the ‘artisan’ teacher’ in a mass higher education system. Critical Studies in Higher Education 52 (2) 191-205 Hockings, C. (2010). Inclusive learning and teaching in higher education: a synthesis of research. York HEA. Hockings, C., Cooke, S., & Bowl, M. (2010). Learning and teaching in two universities within the context of increasing student diversity: complexity, contradictions and challenges. In M. David (Ed.), Improving learning by widening participation. London: Routledge. Perry, W. & Hockings, C. (forthcoming) Using LTI OER to support local academic development initiatives. Available from www.wlv.ac.uk/LTIEmbedding OER module Learning to Teach Inclusively www.wlv.ac.uk/LTImodule OER Learning to Teaching Inclusively Project website www.wlv.ac.uk/teachinclusively