Please find below the next scheduled dates for the 5th Round of the Mini CoPs. The themes are currently being arranged/finalised and further information will be sent to the group over the coming weeks.

1. LTA&F – 24/02/10 at 10am
2. Prep and Induction – 25/02/10 at 10am
3. Peer Support and Mentoring – 25/02/10 at 2pm
4. Liaison with Schools and colleges – 01/03/10 at 2pm
5. M&C – 24/02/10 at 2pm
6. Student Empowerment – 22/02/10 at 10am

Ian Butchart from the Scottish Government gave an interesting talk on Curriculum for Excellence at the joint LTA&F and Liaison with Schools and Colleges Mini CoP meeting.  Ian’s presentation can be found on the following link: Curriculum for Excellence. 

Joanna Marshall provided an overview of Routes for All and further information can be found on the Routes for All link.

Please find below the next set of scheduled dates and themes for the Moving Forward Mini CoPs.  We do hope you will be able to attend.

A third round of Mini CoP meetings has now been completed (excluding Preparation and Induction).  Please see below for a brief overview of the meetings:

• Preparation and Induction 05/10/09 (3^rd Meeting)

Content:  Sonya Campbell gave an overview presentation on the New2GCU Induction 2009

Suggestions for next meetings:  What would you like to see in an Enhanced Summer School?

•  Learning, Teaching, Assessment and Feedback 21/10/09

Content:  Stephanie McKendry and Victoria Boyd gave a presentation on some current action research being undertaken on ‘Defining an Independent Learner.

Action Plan:  Attendees to ask Departments what they mean by the ‘independent learner’.  This can be fed into the MF Blackboard for discussion, also to note any innovative independent learning examples of practice.  Julie will set up discussion board on BB and circulate to the group.

•  Peer Support and Mentoring 26/10/09

Content:  Breda Moran, Gordon Watt, Laura Hill and Kirsty Boyd, gave a presentation of the PASS system – Peer Assisted Study Support

Suggestions/Actions:  None

•  Liaison with Schools and Colleges 28/10/09

Content:  Shahid Nawaz from CBS provided an overview of his experiences of Articulation in CBS.

Suggestions/Actions:  Module choices in FE could help articulation.  Modules could be offered at GCU and FE students could opt into them.  What do colleges need to do?  How do students find out about Articulation?  Maths could be promoted more in Summer School.  More research is required on the retention rates at directly entry level. 

•  Student Empowerment and Marketing and Communications (02/11/09)

Content: Group discussion around previous action points – What do students think is the most important information they receive from GCU?

• What are we doing which is really effective and worthwhile?
• Is it possible to target information?
• Evaluation of Communication tools
• Students influence on other students coming into University
• How can we encourage students to become more engaged with the University (class reps, etc)?

Suggestions/Action points:  Youthwire could be explored/utilised further within GCU as a means of communication.  Communication with all/appropriate staff remains problematic.  An alternative/better replacement to the GCU all email is required.  This also applies to communication with staff in relation to recruitment of class reps and so on.  There were not enough GCU Diaries to meet student demand this year.

Breda Moran presented an overview of PASS – Peer Assisted Study Support at today’s Peer Support and Mentoring Mini CoP meeting.  She was supported by Gordon Watt from Podiatry and two PASS Leaders, who gave an excellent insight into the world of PASS and the hard work which goes on behind the scenes.  Breda’s presentation can be found on our website or by selecting the following link.  PASS

Victoria Boyd and Stephanie McKendry from the School of Health gave an informative and enjoyable presentation on ‘Defining the Independent Learner’ at the recent Learning, Teaching, Assessment and Feedback mini CoP meeting.  This presentation is available on the project website or by selecting the above link .

Sonya Campbell gave a very informative presentation at the Preparation and Induction Mini Community of Practice meeting on 05/10/09.  The theme for Sonya’s talk was an overview of the recent New2GCU Event 2009, which was organised for all new students entering GCU this academic year.  Sonya’s presentation can be found on our website or by accessing the following link.

New2GCU Event 2009

Forthcoming Mini CoP Details and Themes:

1. Learning, Teaching, Assessment and Feedback – Researching student views on being an Independent Learner – Victoria Boyd and Stephanie McKendry, Wednesday 21st October 12.30-1.30pm
2. Preparation and Induction - Feedback from New2GCU Induction – Sonya Campbell and Enhanced Summer School Provision, Monday 5th October 12.30-1.30pm
3. Peer Support and Mentoring – Peer Assisted Study Support – PASS – Breda Moran, Monday 26th October 12.30-1.30pm
4. Liaison with Schools and Colleges – College Articulation – an Academic’s Experiences, Shahid Nawaz, Wednesday 28th October 12.30-1.30pm
5. Marketing and Communications and Student Empowerment – Taking forward previous action points, Monday 2nd November 12.30-1.30pm

If you would like to attend any of these meetings, please contact Julie.Brown@gcal.ac.uk

It has been necessary to amend some of the forthcoming Mini CoP details.  Student Empowerment and Marketing and Communications will once again join forces (due to overlapping themes).  This meeting will be held on Monday the 2nd November from 12.30-1.30pm.  Therefore the meeting on Wednesday the 4th November will now be cancelled.

Over the last few months MF have been working with colleague across the University, to develop some of the GCU internal examples of practice more fully into case studies. Some of these are now complete and can be accessed on the website, under the examples of practice tab. Many thanks must go to all the members of staff who worked patiently with Julie to develope the case studies. More detailed information and further case studies, will be posted in the near future. If you are having trouble accessing the documents, please contact any member of the team or Julie directly at Julie.Brown@gcal.ac.uk