Scottish Higher Education Developers October 2018 | Page 16

STUDENTS AS COLLEAGUES IN THE REVIEW OF TEACHING PRACTICE

Rachel Murray , Edinburgh Napier University
Students as Colleagues ( SaC ) is an award winning initiative created by and run out of the Department of Learning and Teaching Enhancement at Edinburgh Napier University . SaC pairs volunteer lecturers with student volunteers , taken from different disciplines . The student trains in professional and academic skills such as collegiality , giving sensitive and useful feedback and conducting focus groups , then conducts evaluations of the lecturer ’ s teaching practice , including using observations of teaching , focus groups with their students and looking at teaching materials . The project was inspired by Fielding ’ s concept of ‘ radical collegiality ’; a form of collaboration that deliberately challenges traditional hierarchies of power ( Fielding 1999 ). Working together as both learners and colleagues , the lecturer receives an innovative form of valuable objective student feedback , and the student receives a unique experience that adds to their employability and
Word cloud capturing quotes from empowers their voice . participating 2017 / 18 students
“ It was interesting to get out of my comfort zone and immerse myself into a radically different environment .” ( Student participant )

STUDENTS as COLLEAGUES

“ I used my experience and some of my learning from it towards my own postgraduate studies , and as evidence towards my application for the Higher Education Academy ”. ( Staff participant )
Reference
Fielding , M ., 1999 . Radical Collegiality : Affirming Teaching as an Inclusive Professional Practice . The Australian Educational Researcher . 26 ( 2 ) pp . 1-34 . Available at http :// dx . doi . org / 10.1007 / BF03219692
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Celebrating 25 years of SHED