being a taps student intern at the university of roehampton joy vamvakari & bridget middlemas...
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Being a TAPS student internat the University of
Roehampton
Joy Vamvakari & Bridget Middlemas
HEA York, November 2013
A little bit about our TAPS project• Our TAPS project is part of a wider institutional
focus on assessment and feedback at Roehampton• Over the last five years or so, we have been
working on:– Thinking about non-traditional e-assessment formats
such as e-portfolios, wikis or online symposia– Working with programme teams on a variety of
assessment-related projects– Setting up CPD opportunities for academic and support
staff– Designing equivalency guidelines for staff wishing to
pilot new or unfamiliar assessment formats
Some of our assessment projects… • Changing the Learning Landscape at: http://
www.heacademy.ac.uk/cll
• TAPS at: http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/assets/documents/change/Transforming_assessment_pilot/webprofiles/TA_07_Roehampton_web.pdf
• Reimagining Attainment for All: enabling the success of BME students at: http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/funding/detail/BME_strategic_Roehampton
• We have also been involved in TESTA, at: http://www.testa.ac.uk/
• What’s it worth? Developing Equivalency Guidelines for the Assessment of Multi-format Coursework, at: http://www.jisctechdis.ac.uk/assets/Documents/HEAT/ROE302.doc
What have we done in our TAPS project ?• Student intern• Interviewed staff and
students from a wide range of discipline areas
• Gathered plenty of workable examples that can be shared across programmes teams
• Developed our resources to support CPD programmes & staff induction
TAPS @ RoehamptonDepartments that I have approached/involved:
Undergraduate
Undergraduate
Undergraduate
Undergraduate
UndergraduateUndergraduate
Postgraduate
Postgraduate
TAPS
Staff
Students
Externals
TAPS @ RoehamptonPeople I have talked to about TAPS:
• Undergraduate students• Postgraduate students• Student interns in other
projects• Student ambassadors• Course reps• Student senate
• Staff from other Universities
• HEA staff• Specialists in Assessment
and Feedback
• Academic staff• Administrative staff• Quality Assurance staff• Employability staff
Being the Roehampton TAPS student intern
• I liaised with the LTEU staff in agreeing short and long term goals for the project
• I used all available resources and my own initiative to fulfil these goals
• I attended relevant conferences and events where I furthered my understanding of assessment
And…
• I collected data in the form of audio/video and good practice examples, I interviewed staff and students, lead focus groups and research relevant academic material
• I was expected to have a professional, independent, responsible and proactive approach to all work involved
• I felt personally responsible for the project and its success, referring back to my TAPS work in all other on and off campus positions, increasing overall awareness of TAPS
Why have a student intern?
A student intern:
• brings in the student perspective/viewpoint• can offer insight into practical issues of student life• is able to spend time attending events and collecting data• can talk to students on a student level, taking into
consideration current student concerns, issues and difficulties• can obtain different data from staff, as discussion takes place
on a different level• can integrate personal views and experiences, enriching
collected data
Why become a student intern?Future employability
– develop new skills and build upon existing ones– experience collaborating and liaising with people from a range of backgrounds– talk about your internship in your CV and job interviews
Transition to the world of work• use and maintain the academic skills you have developed in a practical
setting• experience a supported transition from student to professional life• experience a UK work environment, settings and ethics
Personal development / CPD– learn about yourself, your skills and where you can improve– develop your personal network– gain insight into the structure and function of the University and Higher
Education as a whole– use own initiative in a rewarding and supporting context
Recommendations (from a student intern’s perspective)
• Engaging students as student interns can enhance overall student engagement
• Increased opportunity for student-staff dialogue through common events-discussions
• Do not forget that the student body is highly diverse! Every student has different motivations, skills and concerns
• Support increased ownership, treat students as developing academics/professionals and give responsibility: higher motivation will increase efforts
Recommendations
• Make sure that your student intern is confident in approaching and working with staff and students across all programmes
• Provide a welcoming and supportive working environment
• Publicise your intern’s work as widely as possible, and at the highest levels
Thanks for listening!
Joy Vamvakari & Bridget Middlemas