North of Scotland SSLO Networking Day Simon Varwell Development Advisor Wednesday 25 June 2008

Overview This presentation Why have class reps? Observations from consultancy Suggested areas of future work Your presentations and discussion Final topic: what next?

Why have class reps? Single, coherent student voice Link between many things: → class → students’ association → teaching staff → administrative staff

Observations Consultancy pilot in north of Scotland Most colleges worked on class reps: → seen as vital building blocks → often little consensus on role → little assessment of impact 5 key questions from the year…

Observation 1 Single rep v academic/social divide → is it possible to be good at both? → academic: needs to be by class → social: demand-led → single rep is a simple solution → …but does simple mean effective?

Observation 2 Single representative committee, or separate for academic and social? → if you split your rep roles, they will need distinct forums to meet → double the time commitment → more of a focus in each?

Observation 3 How do you focus the SRC on academic issues? → staff involvement to present issues and provoke debate → use of the student journey: break the experience down into chunks…

student learning experience The Student Journey programme design accommodation for learning and teaching equipment and materials assessment learner progress and outcomes guidance and learner support quality assurance and improvement learning and teaching process It is easier to ask students for their views on the eight elements, than on their experience as a whole

Observation 4 The class rep role is a major personal development opportunity → students speak of improved skills → wide interest in accreditation → joint event in February 2008 → how can you advance this issue?

Observation 5 The class rep training should be embedded within colleges → sparqs’ training misses the local element: structures, dates, people → training will be best coming from staff/students in your college → a role for the consultancy

Our conclusions The following recommendations are: → things you may have already done → things you are thinking of doing → perhaps new ideas for your college → possible uses for consultancy

Recommendation 1 Agree class rep role → reps, teaching and other staff often have different jobs in mind → consensus on this will promote role and improve effectiveness → two potentially useful tools: → “year in the life” of a class rep → a clear “opportunity profile”…

Opportunity profile: not just a job description 1. Main purpose of role 2. Main activities 3. Duties and responsibilities 4. Experience & skills required 5. Time commitment 6. How to get the position 7. Who you work with 8. Support in the role 9. What you can get out of it 10. What can it lead to 11. Further information

Recommendation 2 Identify implications for teaching staff → do they know what class reps do? → provide support materials: → how to promote the role at induction → how to run a class rep election → how to make meetings “class rep friendly” → regulations: do they need updating? → staff development: use of in-service?

Recommendation 3 Consider embedding your class rep training 1. study and revise presentation, trainers’ notes, handbook, evaluation form 2. work with staff or student trainers to deliver training in college

Recommendation 3 Continue the accreditation debate: → what do you do? → what could you do that might work? → what role might quality staff, student services or teaching staff play? → citizenship and employability

Questions ?

SSLO meetings: what next? Consultancy in the northern institutions will continue. Should these meetings also continue? → Three meetings a year? → Video-conference? Face to face? → What issues might we explore?

North of Scotland SSLO Networking Day Simon Varwell Development Advisor Wednesday 25 June 2008