CLT Enquiry Groups

We run a number of enquiry groups, which provide an informal forum for all staff interested in discussing and /or researching aspects of the University's Learning and Teaching Strategy. Focusing on both cross-university and discipline-specific issues, we aim to identify and develop innovative good practice and build communities of practice among colleagues. Anyone interested can join at any time. You may become involved in taking a project forward, or decide just to contribute to the discussion. Each group meets two or three times a year, and there is an associated online discussion forum in between meetings. Current themes are outlined below. There is also a new Special Interest Group: The development of enquiry-based HE curricula (please contact Adrian Chown for further details)

Group 1: Researching and supporting the learning of first year students

The first year, in fact the first few weeks at university have been seen as crucial in establishing good learning habits and the social and cultural involvement which enables students to engage with university life and persevere in their studies. This group aims to look at ways in which we can support the learning of first year students. It builds on experience of working with students newly arrived at university and draws on some of the international first year experience research to date. It also considers examples such as the use of  Reflections on learning inventory (RoLI, Meyer and Boulton Lewis 1997, 2006) to help students and staff engage in discussions about student learning approaches and needs.

Group 2: Working with International Students

Supporting student diversity, international students, disability, cognitive differences

We teach, and support the learning of a wide variety of students. Some have different learning abilities and cultural backgrounds. Some have physical and cognitive issues or disabilities. We explore the challenges and possibilities offered by this diversity, share local good practice and consider ways in which small research projects might each focus on an element of diversity and its learning and teaching support, in order to enhance the student learning experience.

Group 3: Postgraduate student learning and supervisory practices

Postgraduate students are currently the greatest growth area for higher education. Consequently HEFCE, QAA and HEA are focusing on matters such as: completion, the maintenance of sound research and skills development programmes, and developing and sharing good practice in supervision. This research and enquiry group shares good practice, is involved in undertaking research into the enhancement of postgraduate student learning and improving supervisory practices to enable students to develop and achieve at different stages in their postgraduate study. A variety of topics includes: encouraging conceptual levels of work in postgraduate research; writing the dissertation or thesis; learning approaches, supervisory styles, dealing with cultural, learning and disciplinary differences in postgraduate learning, sustainable development and the research community and linking postgraduate learning with community, industry and society.

Group 4: Sustainable development: taking it forward in learning, teaching, assessment and curriculum development

Brighton University is committed to sustainable development, but what does that mean in terms of: course content, behaviour, curriculum, learning, teaching and assessment? We hope to explore some of the practical interpretations of sustainable development in our courses, and in our learning teaching and assessment activities. Previous outcomes of this group include the CLT research project: COASTAL (Curriculum, Outcomes, And Sustainable Teaching, Assessment, Learning): Sustainable Development in HE.

Group 5: Student Engagement - Enquiry Group 5

The first session will look at what we are learning from the NSS about student engagement, experience, learning and achievement and how we might together deal with issues it highlights.