The IBAL Integrated Dissertation Learning Environment

1
The IBAL Integrated Dissertation Learning
Environment

• The IBAL Dissertation Learning Environment in
  context
• The challenges introduced by the FAL BS merger
• Dissertation support action cycles
• Developing and supporting independent learners
• Directly Managing students expectations
• Indirectly Supporting the providers of
  dissertation support

If you BUILD it, they will come ...
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The Presenting Team

• Anne Allerston (aallerst_at_bournemouth.ac.uk),
  Head of Undergraduate Programmes, IBAL
• Wendy Bardsley (wbardsley_at_bournemouth.ac.uk)
  Dissertation placement officer
• Milena Bobeva (mbobeva_at_bournemouth.ac.uk)
  Dissertations academic co-ordinator/unit leader,
  supervisor
• Jennie White (whitej_at_bouremouth.ac.uk)Dissertatio
  n supervisor, Year 2 4 tutor

Abbreviations BUILD Bournemouth University
Interactive Learning Domain. MPS Mid-placement
seminar RM Research Methods IBAL
Institute of Business and Law UG
Undergraduate VLE Virtual Learning Environment
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Stakeholders
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The IBAL Undergraduate Dissertations Pre Merger
Process
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The IBAL Undergraduate Dissertations Pre Merger
Process (ctd.)
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The IBAL Undergraduate Dissertations Pre- merger
Experiences
The units in Year 4 contribute 70 of final mark
for these degrees. A 40 credits Dissertation
contributes appr. 23 of the UG degree.
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The IBAL Undergraduate Dissertations Post
merger Issues
FAL BS Merger April 2004

• Different student experiences across the
  Institute
• Different timescales for supervision
• Different marking schemes and marking criteria
• Different dissertation co-ordination practices
• Different project handbooks
• Different levels of web support
• Unfair all round a solution was needed!

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Factors determining where to start from

• Student feedback
• Formal TLAS
• Informal forms on BUILD, e-mails, letters of
  complaint or commendation)
• Supervisors feedback
• External examiners
• Placement Development Advisors
• Good practice in dissertation support
• In-house skills

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Action Research

• The action cycles are defined by the academic
  year
• Formal feedback through TLAS and Unit Monitoring
  Reports

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The Action Cycles in the DLE Design
Merger
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The Stakeholders in the DLE
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Key Support Factors
Processes, guidelines, procedures

• Knowing how information technology could help in
  meeting these needs

• Understanding of student needs

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Dissertation Milestones Support
2006-2008
 
 
 
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How is the integrated DLE perceived by the
stakeholders

• Students
• Staff
• A-team members
• External Examiners
• (Anecdotal feedback _formal)

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Students and the DLE

• Online support/VLE
• BUILD, IBUGDissertation_at_bournemouth.ac.uk,
  Library resources, Personal email, electronic
  submissions
• Procedures
• Handbook, Marking/submissions/communication
  guidelines, Proposal
• People
• Supervisors
• Peers (MPS, PPS)
• A team
• Forums
• Library tutors
• PDAs
• Learning support
• Study skills ALN

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Student Feedback

• Overall I think the dissertation support has
  been excellent, but I think this is because I was
  allocated an excellent supervisor. Generally all
  of the dissertation forums have been
  informative.
• e-form
• Dissertation team support keep A team over the
  placement year, Milestone lectures discussing
  each topic, the session on MPS afternoon where
  students speak to a lecturer regarding their
  title
• Dissertation team support change Possibly more
  information at mid placement seminar on ways
  students can collect data from their companies,
  or how to start the dissertation as soon as
  possible
• The BUILD web site keep Information messages,
  such as milestone content
• Any other comments A well supported dissertation
  team. Thanks for all the help!
• .. the workshop lectures have been of great
  benefit. They have added to the work that my
  supervisor has done and are timed very well with
  my dissertation progress. Again, this support has
  been first class.

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Staff and the DLE

• Online support/VLE
• BUILD, IBUGDissertation_at_bournemouth.ac.uk,
  Library resources, Personal email, I drive
  Collaborative
• Procedures
• Handbook, Marking guidelines, Student Proposal,
  MPS, Workshops, Supervisory Forms, Milestones
• People
• Supervisors
• A team
• Milestone Forums
• Library tutors
• PDAs
• Learning support
• Study skills ALN

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Feedback from Staff Supervisors (1 of 2)

• I only started last year I cannot comment in
  great depth - but I would say that the
  dissertation forums are fantastic and valued by
  students, and I like the supervisors' meetings
  where we can share experiences.
• Personally I have found that there is a more
  formal and supportive framework that supervisors
  and students are working within. I welcome the
  way there is a degree of flexibility to allow for
  individual approach and style and I find with you
  overlooking the process there is increased
  consistency in the support that students
  receive. Dissertation fora have been invaluable
  to students thinking development and
  understanding of the process and expectations.
  These help inform individual discussions with the
  supervisor as well - sometimes wake up calls for
  students! Supervisory workshops are also much
  welcomed to help at least share concerns even if
  answers on how to handle these are not immediate!
  But we tend to come up with ideas and suggestions
  to help address these consistently.

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Feedback from Staff Supervisors (2 of 2)

• I think the revised and very thorough handbook
  for BAIBC is a great resource for students - if
  only they would read it! - and a vast
  improvement on the previous one.
• There is no doubt dissertation support has
  increased tremendously . with the creation of
  the A team, and with special lectures devoted to
  key areas of undertaking research.Taking this
  work out to our partnership in Yeovil for
  training was also a major step in the right
  direction.Staff training is the key area to
  bring everybody on board and to ensure
  consistency what has happened to date has been a
  positive improvement - not that it always shows
  in the final work from individual students, but
  at least the opportunities for additional support
  exist in a meaningful way.
• The current UG dissertation support system is
  extremely comprehensive. What I have particularly
  appreciated are as follows1. the opportunity
  for students to really understand the research
  process by a whole series of workshops2. the
  improved documentation, particularly the detail
  in respect of the marking criteria3 the
  transparency in respect of all documentation. For
  examples students can clearly see what the
  generic marking criteria are and exactly why
  these criteria exist4. Support for Placement
  students in no longer just at the MPS, but from
  Jan to October

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Feedback from Staff Programme Leaders

• the new system is more student-led than
  supervisor-led, which I see as a very positive
  thing. Students are empowered and provided with
  the tools they need. It is then up them to
  manage the process (or not). Admittedly, the
  weaker students have found this transition
  harder, but arguably that's what University and
  the final year are all about.I also believe that
  since the introduction of the A-Team, the playing
  field has been made more level. No student is
  unfairly advantaged or disadvantaged in terms of
  supervision through the period of Feb-Oct.
  Everyone has equal access to support and
  guidance, which was certainly not the case in the
  past.

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Feedback from Staff Placement Development
Advisors

• The A-team system seems to be working very well
  and I suspect it is economically more efficient
  than the previous process. All students get the
  same quality of service and this seems perfectly
  adequate for their needs while they're developing
  their ideas.

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The A-team and the DLE

• Online support/VLE
• BUILD, IBUGDissertation_at_bournemouth.ac.uk,
  Library resources, Personal email, I drive
  Collaborative
• Procedures
• Handbook, Role specification, Procedures and
  Guides for using resources, Student Proposal,
  MPS, Workshops, Milestones
• People
• Supervisors
• Milestone Forums
• Library tutors
• PDAs
• Learning support
• Study skills ALN

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Dissertation co-ordinators and the DLE

• Online support/VLE
• BUILD, IBUGDissertation_at_bournemouth.ac.uk,
  Library resources, Personal email, I
  Collaborative, I Private
• Procedures
• Handbook, A team Role specs., Procedures and
  Guides for using resources, Student Proposal,
  MPS, Workshops, Milestones
• People
• Supervisors
• Students
• Milestone Forums
• Library tutors
• PDAs
• Learning support
• Study skills ALN

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External stakeholders and the DLE

• Online support/VLE
• Personal email, group emails
• Procedures
• Confidentiality non-disclosure agreements,
  learning support, ccd on process
• People
• Supervisors
• Milestone Forums
• Library tutors
• PDAs
• Learning support
• Study skills ALN

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The IBAL Programme Review and the Dissertation
Support System
May 2006

• The Dissertation unit of 40 credits is replaced
  by a 20 credits Research Study unit
• The Dissertation support system remains unchanged
  for the Top Up programmes

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Your Views?
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The A-Team
ibugdissertation_at_bournemouth.ac.uk
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The Dissertation Pages on BUILD
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The FAQ Conference the Research Help Centre
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The FAQ Summary File - Introduction
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The FAQ Summary File - Answers
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The IBUGDissertation e-mail box