ULTSEC INNOVATION FUND AWARD

DEVELOPING VIDEO RESOURCES THAT PROVIDE UNDERGRADUATE GEOGRAPHY DISSERTATION STUDENTS

WITH EXAMPLES OF CONDUCTING RESEARCH

Dr Simon Tate & Dr Alison Williams

Geography

Background Context: The Geography Dissertation Process in Stage 2

October: dissertation introduced through a whole-year, stage 2 dissertation preparation module (Geo2111).

February: the dissertation conference - stage 3 students present their dissertation projects to stage 2 students.

March: stage 2 students submit their Dissertation

Research Proposal.

May: stage 2 students allocated a dissertation mentor.

The ‘problem’

Too much of the dissertation preparation module and information was staff-led, about staff research projects.

Partly addressed by a stage 2 dissertation conference - but this is a single 1 hour long event, not recorded, and thus not available to students as they progress through their dissertation planning.

Conference presentations tend to oversimplify / smooth out the process of doing research.

The ‘solution’

Student advisory team established

Provide a peer learning tool to give stage 2 students an insight into the dissertation process – as it is experienced by students.

Offer an opportunity for stage 3 students to reflect on their dissertation project

The ‘solution’ Create a series of 10-minute videos of stage 3 students

Recorded May/June 2012 (ie after dissertation submission).

A variety of Human and Physical Geography projects.

No staff voices – peer learning.

Questions designed by student focus group.

Where are we now 10 videos available on Blackboard by January 2013

First cohort of stage 2 students starting to access the videos

Focus groups with students in May 2013 to assess usefulness of videos

Carry out more interviews in June 2013 to add

to videos that are available.

Opportunities

Easier to recruit students than we thought!

All videos produced with Windows Live Movie Maker

Hosting videos NU Visionhttps://nuvision.ncl.ac.uk/

New version of Blackboard for displaying videos easily

Problems

Steep learning curve with technology / filming / editing

Not an entirely student run process.

Logistics - finding a room to record in

- student availability

Managing insecurities and outtakes