LTSN Engineering What can we do for you

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LTSN EngineeringWhat can we do for you?

• Rob Eley,
• LTSN Engineering

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What is the LTSN?

• The Learning and Teaching Support Network
• Established January 2000 by Government
• 24 Subject Centres Generic Centre Exec.
• 8m/a over 5 years from HEFCs

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Origins

• Dearing Report
• Funding bodies LT strategies
• Previous initiatives e.g. CTI, TLTSN
• Recognition of importance of discipline
• (HEFCE, 1998) ..academics best appreciate,
  assimilate and implement a pedagogic approach
  when it is presented to them within their own
  discipline.

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24 Subject Centres
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Underlying principles

• Long-term programme on enhancement not QA
• Shaped owned by academics demand driven
• Built on shared interests networks, contacts
• Systematic - reaching individuals ? institutions
• Broker - sharing expertise resources

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LTSN Engineering

• Creating a national focus that is an accepted and
  essential point of contact
• Collating and disseminating good practice and
  innovation in learning and teaching
• Co-ordination and support for the embedding of
  quality learning and teaching in engineering HE.

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Approaches

• Web resources
• Workshops, seminars and conferences
• Advisory service to practitioners and departments
• Support for subject-based pedagogic research
• Reports, guides and briefings
• Assistance to external projects
• Information about events, journals, funding etc.

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Needs analysis
www.ltsneng.ac.uk
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FE survey
http//www.ltsneng.ac.uk/er/resources/index.asp
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Major issues

• Professional issues
  
• Status progression, RECRUITMENT RETENTION
• Teaching environment
• Relative status teaching research, TEACHING
  LOAD
• Teaching practice
• Assessment, STAFF UPDATING
• Quality of graduates
• Student Skills, FOUNDATION DEGREES
• Student capability
• Student motivation, RECRUITMENT OF STUDENTS

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Changing drivers

• Widening participation diverse student groups
• Student progression / retention
• Changing skills base of students
• Curricular implications of change in student
  numbers
• Employability issues
• e-delivery
• Changing demands from industry and professions
• Quality enhancement vs. outcome based learning

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What can we do?

• Locate high quality teaching materials
• Promote good practice
• Provide information and advice
• Introduce learning technology
• Identify funding sources
• Provide forum for networking and dialogue

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Web

• Key medium
• News, events
• Information
• Resources
• 60-100,000 hpm
• www.ltsneng.ac.uk

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Web-based resources

• LT tools and information
• News and events
• Funding opportunities
• Links to journals
• Image archives
• Links to education networks
• Software and book reviews
• External project resources

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LTSN-Eng. Resources

• Guides
• www.ltsneng.ac.uk/er/resources/
• Benchmark papers
• Disabilities report
• Assessment of Individuals in Teams
• LTSN MathsTEAM Project
• SearchLT Engineering
• www.searchlt.engineering.ac.uk
• Searchable database of online teaching materials

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Events

• Regional Events (8 per year)
• Student Motivation and Retention - Strathclyde
• Maths Support - Swansea
• Collaborative
• Assessment of Output
• Standards with EPC
• Distance Learning
• with the Open University

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Commissioned work

• Funding Opportunities call in January 2003
• Mini Projects
• Special Interest Groups
• Case Studies
• Key Skills in Engineering
• Reviews
• Book reviews
• Software reviews

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Sharing through Networks

• Engineering HE community
• 250 Departments at 100 HE Institutions
• LTSN Engineering Departmental Contacts
• 68 Departments at 85 HE Institutions
• 1200 on mailing list and 500 JISCmail list
• Engineering FE community
• 300 colleges offering engineering
• FE Contact Networks
• Do you want to become a FE Contact?

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Get Involved!

• Register
• Contribute expertise and experience
• Support events
• Use the centre
• Advise on needs and gaps
• Encourage others to do the same

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Thank you for listeningEmail your queries or
questions to enquiries_at_ltsn.ac.uk