PROJECT WITH FIRST YEAR SOCIOLOGY STUDENTS AT UNIVERSITY OF ROEHAMPTON ACTION LEARNING

WHAT IS ACTION LEARNING Technique employed to allow for reflection, and personal and professional development Workplace based Up to 6 people in a “set”, usually same responsibility levels and types of employment Democratic and flexible [few resources/facilities]

WHAT HAPPENS? Regular meetings, focus on ‘presenter’ who discusses a problem or challenge Open questions from standpoint of ignorance and confusion – no advice Presenter comes to own conclusions about action to address problem Reporting back

Emphasis is on action, and the action to be taken to improve a situation or activity Learning comes through questioning and reflecting on the impact of actions Do not dwell on why there is a problem, but what the problem is and what would make it better

OUR EXPERIENCE Change in the University structure from Schools to Departments and move to shared office space Four of us across different programmes in the department formed a set Teaching Fellowship Award – paid for facilitator Created a cohesive team, we addressed working difficulties collectively

ETHICS Ground rules Confidentiality Trust Maintenance of boundaries outside the set Focus on work based issues

PROJECT WITH FIRST YEAR SOCIOLOGY STUDENTS Self-selected students from one first year tutor group Diverse group who did not all know each other well Facilitated the student set together Met outside the classroom and provided refreshments

Met 4 times in total Changed the format so that students each had a chance to speak each time Students immediately good at open questions Topics selected to support development as independent learners

ACTION POINTS Set early deadlines Break down work into manageable chunks Decide on the topics you are going to revise for the exam Manage your DVD watching so that you reward yourself for working.

Aim higher – think about next year and increasing expectations in the standards of work you will be required to submit Check with friends who are doing the same work as you how far they have got so that you have a comparison with others to better judge where you are Reflect on mentality of first year and how this has affected your learning this year to try and motivate yourself.

Find nutritious snacks to eat while working Research online what is good for you Manage how you are eating – prepare food, do some work, then eat Think about ways of feeling comfortable so that you can concentrate.

FEEDBACK AT END OF PILOT Realizing problems and addressing them in a safe environment Feeling of control, capability and independence in realizing solutions to own problems Important for students to learn they are capable of tackling their own obstacles Easier to follow own solutions than other’s advice Everyone deals with things differently, and Action Learning helped us discover what solutions worked for us, by finding them ourselves Has helped me in other areas of my life as well

ROLLING OUT ACTION LEARNING ACROSS ALL FIRST YEARS Involuntary In the class room after compulsory module Up to 25 students in a room broken up into smaller groups Issues of noise and confidentiality

Topics chosen for students: I find it difficult to listen and take notes in class I am struggling to do the reading I cannot settle down to working I’m not sure what I should be doing I am worried about writing my essay/doing my exams I am too shy to speak in class Being at university is too different to my sixth form college

WHAT HAPPENED Well…. Evaluation mixed and surprising Group that seemed least engaged reported being most interested in carrying on Group that seemed most receptive reported least interest Needed more structure and support Didn’t like involuntary nature of sets Topics relevant and it was useful to listen to others