Reflections on the year

Unit outcomes

In addition to the evaluation mechanisms discussed on the Evaluation page, an important source of information for evaluation and reflection is the unit mark sheet, and the profile of student achievement on the course. Virtually all students who engaged with the unit, and submitted coursework which met the assignment specification, passed the unit. There were one or two who misunderstood the requirements, particularly in relation to the user study. This arose only with those students whose attendance was poor and who failed to discuss their assignment work with me.

I am confident that students who completed the work successfully have achieved the learning outcomes, and particularly the attitude development, that I seek.

Workload

A major difficulty for me this year has been a workload issue. The course-work assignment as specified this year was evolved and developed in a context where the student cohort was much smaller, and the teaching model enabled small-group (12-18 students) seminar teaching. In the current model, the workload involved in marking (for approximately 160 students) has been difficult to manage in the time required.

This is a difficult issue, as I remain committed to the same assignment plan and objectives, and see no easy way to change the submission requirements without losing my main objectives.

Course review

One of the most useful and enjoyable aspects of this year has been the engagement in the Commons group, and comparing my course and approach with other similar courses. It has been interesting to see how much we have in common, and also to re-think and reassess what I do in the light of what others do. The process has involved a degree of challenge, internally more than externally, and the need to restate and justify - even to myself - clarifies what I like and want to keep doing, and what I might improve and change.