Student success at college is not just achieving high grades The National Forum for Teaching and Learning defines student success as the process by which students fulfil their potential and flourish at college and in society. This is a broader activity than simply achieving high grades. Psychosocial competencies are core to the definition of student success: these are the ‘soft skills’ or ‘non-cognitive skills’ that enable students to cope well with learning challenges, engage deeply in learning, and develop their identities as learners and as active citizens. Transitions are a key issue within this priority area, with transitions such as the move from school to college presenting both challenges and opportunities for students.
About this initiative
This initiative has the aim of enhancing feedback and assessment experience for both staff and students at MTU. This initiative aims to build and expand on BALI (Building Assessment Literacy Initiative) a MTU SATLE 2019 initiative. We propose to pilot a 2 semester-long action-research programme to challenge the dominant teacher-transmission approach to assessment and feedback. By situating feedback/assessment in MTU’s wider Teaching, Learning, Assessment and Student Engagement (TLASE) context, the Semester 1 programme will encourage emerging T&L leaders to (i) identify a challenging feedback/assessment issue, (ii) explore potential solutions, (iii) develop an action plan to implement a chosen solution. Self-selecting teams formed around common thematic areas will allow for a collaborative approach to exploring theory and sharing ideas and practice, whilst providing accountability partners, support networks, and potential research collaborators. Weekly workshops will assist with transforming practice by exploring recent feedback and assessment literature, unpacking the action research process and designing the intervention. Throughout this process, staff/student partnerships will ensure both parties gain an empathetic view of the challenges associated with transforming practice and change leadership will be nurtured. In the second semester, plans will be enacted to trial interventions. Staff will evaluate with input from students and disseminate findings at an MTU-organised national symposium on Feedback and Assessment June 2022. Publishing findings will be encouraged. A cross-discipline, multi-campus approach enables peer support and provides opportunities to learn from diverse experiences.
Lead organisations
Affiliated organisations
Linked open educational resources
Initiative details
Funding programmes SATLE
Themes Student Success
Award year
2020Funding amount (€)
153000Contributors
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