student feedback and leadership - Office for Learning and Teaching

Student Feedback & LeadershipUtilising the Math1275 results for the Bundoora campus students and theirperformance on the first topic test, it was observed that there was a highcorrelation between their two results. This information was used to predict thestudent’s final performance in the course and identify those students at risk offailing. Interventions were offered to these students and successfully appliedwhere taken up by the student.Outline the stages of action taken and how it was reflected in the actionresearch cycle process ( Plan, Act, Observe, Reflect)Members implemented the improvements to teaching practices that workedwell and managed to improve the average good teaching score in firstsemester of 2007 by 10%. In summary we restructured our courses to bemore student centred by incorporating their written comments into the deliveryof our courses. Because some of the changes were based on their comments,we need to reassess their comments in 2008 and see if the changes werereceived well by the new group.How have students been involved in the project?At the start of the new semester in 2008, students were informed about thechanges and the fact that these changes had occurred based on the previousstudents cohort feedback. The aim was to show them that their constructivecomments are taken into account in order to improve the teaching practiceat RMIT. Two students from service courses who had done two of the courses(in the analysis) were invited to talk to their classmates and then present theirview in the first Plenary session in 2008. Their view was received very warmlyby other participants who were mainly Heads of Schools and CourseCo-ordinators at RMIT.10.5 OutcomesWhat outcomes did the project achieve? Expected and unexpected?––Students do not recognize their responsibilities in the learning process.––Students want very well organized lecture notes and continuousassessment (probably on a weekly basis) and feedback (preferablyindividual) throughout the term.––Each lecture should begin with a review of the material covered in theprevious lecture and an indication of what will be covered next.– – Students prefer to have multiple attempts at online tests rather thanpractice with online quizzes and then have only one attempt at the tests(gives them confidence when they do the test and provides a moreeffective learning environment).Page 140