This was a different approach to student projects. This started as an
EBL project and then in 2007 the first projects as funded projects started with
seven projects and in 2012 17 projects have been supported.
These projects are focused on students experiencing the research
process by working with staff on projects. The projects are initiated by staff
who have to write brief proposal and have funds for 130 hours activity which
can then be for one student or divided amongst a group. Students then apply to
work on the projects and have to complete an application form and go through an
interview. Once selected students are paid through monthly time sheets which
the staff member has to sign. At the end of the project students write a
reflective account of the project and their development.
This has been quite successful and students have set up a student
researcher network. Students identified the challenges of this activity as
being the change in relationship between student and teacher, the timing of the
projects and student time management. The benefits of the projects though
outweighed this and included learning writing methods, research skills, communications
skills, time management, confidence, networking, making professional choices
and becoming independent and active learners.
Students would like to lead the projects and identify the issues that
need addressing so next year there will be student led projects.
No comments:
Post a Comment