Progress Files and reflection…

…for postgraduate research students…

….Progress Files Progress files were introduced in October

2005 at Lancaster University. These are electronic portfolios that provide an opportunity for PG research students to reflect on, monitor and record their own development throughout the time of their postgraduate work.

PF are provided as an option for students, many of whom have become used to working this way as undergraduates or as PG taught students.

What do supervisors have to do?

Nothing at all

The system is being set up so that students can develop their own Progress File without involving supervisors in any extra work

Formal way of recording the activities you already undertake with your research students

So why do I need to know about it?

Supervisors may be generally interested to know what options are open to students and what the PF is about

and supervisors may wish to be aware of questions that students may ask as a result of using the PF

What is the PF?

Who is it for? What are its functions? What are its contents? Where is it?

What is the PF?

The PF system for Lancaster is called MyPlace

2 systems– Online community blog tool

• Available across campus to all staff and students• Celt website

– Dedicated tool for PGRs• MyPGR• LUPDP for PGRs

Who is it for?

At the moment, it is available for all new postgraduate research students (registering from Oct 2005 onwards)

For other current students, a paper version will be made available. This is being developed so that it can be downloaded and printed-off for those who wish to use it

Functions of the PF

It’s an online tool for postgraduate research students to help them to reflect on, monitor and to record their own development – a space for reflective thinking

It helps students to raise their awareness of transferable and research skills – those skills they need as well as those already well honed

It allows students to monitor their own personal and professional progress throughout their research degrees

It provides a means to record training, meetings and developmental activities

Content: what is in the PF?

Development Needs AnalysisAuditing skills

Skills Development Record Progress and activities

Supervisory Meetings RecordOnline record

PDP section Reflection

Home Page PGR News and Events, Useful Links

Where is MyPlace for PGRs?

Access is through the Lancaster University PGR student website

It is password protected

Access it from anywhere in the world

http://myplace.lancs.ac.uk/mypgr

CELT

http://www.lancs.ac.uk/celt/celtweb/research_students

Some more questions:

What questions might I be asked? Can I have access? Is it private? Do students

know about it?

What questions might I be asked? Earlier, we suggested that

questions may arise because of student use of MyPlace PGR Questions may arise particularly out of the ‘development needs analysis’ section

Development Needs Analysis

This is a formal way for students to review their skills and training needs – something many supervisors & departments already do

Students carry out an audit of their skills - grading themselves (1-4) and highlighting areas for development

This audit can be used as a basis for discussion with supervisors of activities for the forthcoming year

Development Needs Analysis Revisit the DNA each year – to plan

activities for the next year and to check progress for the preceding year

For students, such annual discussions are tied to the ‘Skills Development Record’.

In this section, students can record specific examples of each of the skills in the audit – e.g. approaches developed, plans agreed or courses attended

Supervisory Meetings Record

Formal system of recording meetings

Can be initiated by student or Supervisor

Content cannot be changed but comments can be added

What students can share with you

Development Needs Analysis Supervisory Meeting Record Skills Development Record PDP section

Can attach files to all

Is it private?

While supervisors can have access to the site to see what it is like, it is important to note that individual portfolios can only be read by the student concerned.

PFs are password-protected and private – they cannot be read by anyone other than the named student

Have access to your own MyPlace blog

Have access to your own version of MyPGR

Can create your own DNA if you wish

Do students know about it?

An email is sent to all new postgraduate research students, from Oct 2005 onwards

There is a guide for students within the PF on how to use it and who to contact with queries

Workshops on using the PF are run for students

Some FAQs…

Assessment of skills How can supervisors match their own

assessments with students’ views of their skills, given that the PF is personal to the student?

Students are asked to assess themselves in the DNA, then share it and discuss with their supervisor. Related to the DNA is the Skills Development Record which has the same skills and competencies mentioned in the DNA, but with further explanation and space to record examples of good practice and plans to enhance those skill areas. Therefore, after the initial DNA discussion with their supervisor, relevant examples and ideas can be added into the relevant sections within the Skills Development Record. This section can be updated all the way through the PhD.

Do students have to do this?

The system we have introduced here at Lancaster is optional, but we strongly encourage our PGR students to fill out their MyPGR as it provides a space for reflective thought on their skills (transferable and research subject specific) and the process of carrying out a research degree. This is also the pilot for the PF for PGRs and it is important that students and supervisors feedback to us on how the system can be improved for future use.

Should I make sure my students are using the PF?

We want students to use the system, and so you may wish to use MyPGR as the platform for discussions on training and skills’ development that you already carry out as one of your responsibilities as a supervisor. As stated in the previous slide, it’s a tool to aid reflective thought on the PhD process and being a PGR student.

Where does the idea come from?

The idea came from a range of external reports have that looked at the PGR experience and felt that the important process of reflective learning was missing from the PhD (Guidelines for Progress Files, QAA Code of Practice for Postgraduate Researchers). In line with these, a concurrent study carried out by UKGrad on behalf of the 8 Research Councils ‘What Do PhDs Do’ looked at destinations of graduates and found that PGRs were unable to effectively sell themselves and their skills and were neither entering the relevant sectors of the job market nor maximising their potential. Therefore all Institutions are required to provide the opportunity and a tool to help PGRs with reflective thinking and to raise awareness of their skills and potential to enter into all job sectors.

What is the basis for the list of skills?

The list of skills comes from the Joint Statement of Skills Training Requirements of Research Postgraduates (2001) agreed by all the research councils. You can look at the document on www.grad.ac.uk/jss. These skills cover seven key areas that postgraduates should have or develop during their research programme.

How can students find out what skills training exists? There are three levels of skills training courses: Departmental,

Faculty and University-run courses. Departmental: look at the departmental handbook, website and

Postgraduate noticeboard. And ask your PG administrator or PG Director.

Faculty: look at the Faculty handbook and website or contact your Faculty Research Training Officer.

University: training and skills development courses and events can be found through the PGR students website. This includes the Thesis in Progress workshops, the Associated Teacher Programme and demonstrating courses run by CELT; ISS and the Centre for Applied Statistics run courses for students and the ‘News & Events’ section of MyPlace for PGR’s contains information on both University courses as well as national events run by the UKGRAD programme.

Training is not only provided through courses, but also through experiences such as workshops, seminars and conferences. Joining professional Societies or related bodies will also open up a range of opportunities.

Who can I contact with questions about using MyPlace for PGRs?

Dr Louise InnesUniversity Research Training Programme Manager for Postgraduate Researchersl.innes2@lancaster.ac.uk

Mark BrysonLearning Technology Senior Support Officerm.bryson@lancaster.ac.uk