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”A paradigm shift in pedagogy for enhancing graduate employability”

Activity-Led Learning – an example

Ursula RutherfordResearch student

Faculty of Engineering and Computing, Coventry University

Outline

• The Integrated project• Real world context• Group work• Assessment• Competences• Module evaluation & development• Research methods

The Integrated Project

Who: Dept. Civil Engineering, Architecture & Building

220 students (groups of 8)

8 staff

What: capstone (10 ECTS)

real-world, authentic

substantial project

Purpose: integrate disciplines

apply knowledge

develop professional skills

deep learning

Integrated Project – real world context

The brief

The site

The consultants

The tender bid

Integrated Project – presenting a design

Integrated Project – group work

• Group formation - selection• International - virtual

Assessment

• Phase 1: prepare preliminary design proposals and a written submission of the contractor’s proposal

• Phase2: develop the preferred preliminary design and confirm the design proposal and submit parts of a full tender submission

• Groupwork v. Individual (50/50)• Peer assessment• Self assessment & Reflection

Competences – some examples

Self-efficacy & Reflection

• Questionnaire + Report• How & when

Real world experience

• Group work• Reliance on others group relying on you• Communication• Unclear goals• Multi-disciplinary• Room to make mistakes

• all very important features for supporting employability

Module evaluation 2011-2012

Overall pass rate – 99.6%

Student satisfaction - Improvement in stats• Staff teaching on this module are enthusiastic about what they

are teaching - 85% (+ 6%)• Staff teaching on this module are good at explaining things

clearly - 83% (+9%)• Feedback on any returned work has been useful to develop my

understanding of the module content- 70% (-5%)• Overall the quality of this module is satisfactory – 81% (+1%)

Student satisfaction

Development of the module

Changes support competency development & broadening of the spectrum of competences

2010: open-door policy

2011: consultants & surgeries

2012: forum for consultancy 2010: Assigned to groups

2011: Self-selected half teams

2010: Domestic groups

2011: International teams virtual meetings

Research methods

• Module satisfaction survey• Observational ethnography

• Interviews• Students• Staff• graduates

• Self-efficacy questionnaire (NEW)