Hearing the student voice – students as partners project

Sue BarnesSenior Lecturer in ComputingUndergraduate Student Liaison and Student Representation Co-ordinator

John GardenerSenior Lecturer in Business and MarketingAdmissions Co-ordinator

Worcester Business School

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Why was this research important?

Enhancing the student experience

Audit current practiceUncover good practiceStudents as partners

Our ApproachInformal feedback from staff and

students regarding perceptions of current practice

Students are active partners in their learning experience

Students care about the wider picture

Phase 1: ConsultationUnderstanding of partner

students’ experiences of communication◦University managed resources◦External resources

Receiving messagesCommunication with university

staffStaff perceptions of

communication with their students

Phase 2: InvolvementFollowing informal feedbackWe conducted:

◦E-survey (targeting all WBS students)◦Focus groups (staff and students)◦WBS Staff away-day

Students reported these were used

Staff reported these were used

Phase 3: Participation

Non-university managed resources for communication:

◦ Facebook◦ Text messages◦ Twitter◦ Blackberry messenger◦ Phone calls◦ Personal email◦ Online blog◦ Tumblr◦ Myspace◦ LinkedIn◦ Skype

Phase 3: ParticipationSOLEBlackboardNetmailILS resourcesPebble PadFace-to-faceG drive /sky

drive

University managed resources for communication:

Phase 4: Observations

Phase 4: Observations

Successes

Phase 5: DecisionsToo many channels of

communication = too much ‘noise’

Different approaches adopted = confusion

Students unsure what happens to their comments = reduced engagement

Suggestions

Student rep system (StARs)Central resource (SOLE /

BLACKBOARD)Induction (USB)

Phase 6: Partner studentsPart time students

◦Longer timeframe for messagesTargeted messages

◦So they are accessed by the right students

Non-university channels◦Confusing or necessary?

Ownership of messages◦Dated and ‘signed’

Phase 6: Our perceptions of students as researchers Active participationEngagementOwnershipInteraction with staff

We strive to ensure that students are given the best possible experience, but sometimes it becomes evident that we can’t see the wood for the trees.

We ask students to ‘commit to their studies’ but if we are asking them to keep in touch via several channels of communication, is it little wonder that there might be some loss of message.

We use electronic, visual, face-to-face and the written word. All have their place, but we wanted to explore their appropriateness and effectiveness.

Future readingCampbell, F, Beasley L, Eland J and Rumpus A (2007) Hearing the Student Voice, final report http://dera.ioe.ac.uk/13053/  Kay J, Dunne E and Hutchinson J (2010) Rethinking the values of higher education – students as change agentshttp://www.qaa.ac.uk/Publications/InformationAndGuidance/Documents/StudentsChangeAgents.pdf Kidd W and Czerniawski Editors (2011) The Student Voice Handbook: bridging the academic/ practitioner divide (Google eBook) Emerald Group Publishing Williams J and Cappuccini-Ansfield G (2007) Fitness for Purpose: National and Institutional Approaches to Publicising the Student VoiceQuality in Higher Education, vol 13; 2, July 2007, 159-172