Education Council Minutes
25th of Nov, 2016
Present:
Jamie
Katie
Karl
Ryan
Iv
Ellie
Ian
Zach
Drusilla
Apologies:
Anh
Absent:
Dinuka
In Attendance:
Sophie
Wesley Schulte
Note: Actions are highlighted in red
Agenda & Notes:
1. Welcomes & Apologies
Ryan explains why he had to step into the role of Education Council Chair Exec – decision made by FTOs and SUBU Democracy
2. Matters Arising from Previous Action Log
Actions
Ongoing stuff
Trailing units – keeping it in mind and looking into it. Should we? Ellie proposes a meeting with Andrew Main.
Iv and Ryan: Put it on the agenda
3. Officer Updates
Ian: Looking into some course specific issues and delegating that to senior reps and reps. Attended Vice Chancellor talk out and is looking into the lack of information for 4th year students when they come back. Help with Speak Week.
Zach: Thinking about the tech availability for media students – a miscommunication about what kit they would be able to use when they come to study in BU. He wants to improve kit availability and do some tech improvements. He has been talking to students to figure out what their views on this issue are.
Karl: Cross course collaboration within the Media faculty. Thinking about raising awareness for opportunities available to get involved with people’s courses.
Jamie: Attended FAB. Volunteered in Speak Week. Did PR and organization for the SciTech social he’s been working on.
Katie: Had a meeting with Peter Hill about Yik Yak and how it’s being used to bully members of staff. They organized a meeting with the psychology group about their views on it and got feedback on that. Students understand there is an issue with it. Ryan asks if someone has been actually bullied/targeted. Picture of a lecturer has been put up on social media without permission. Lecturers are getting upset by this. Katie will be meeting with Peter again to do an anonymous feedback form. Ellie suggests Katie to meet with Reece.
Katie wants to speak to second and third year students who have done an archaeology dig and their problems with accommodation.
Katie to meet with Reece
Drusilla: Met with Masters students and listened to their problem with not having enough time for a test.
Ellie: Was away during the week. Attended the Vice Chancellor Talk Out which went good. Planning Speak Week. Various meetings. Big Student Meeting on Friday. Was in the interview panel for the new Dean of the Media School
Ryan: He ran because he really wants to make a difference. Leave a legacy.
Iv: Attended the Vice Chancellor talk out. Been in various meetings including with Katie regarding the social media problem. Looking into staff and student collaboration on research.
4. Permanent Slot for Education Council Meetings
Everyone to fill out the Doodle Poll
5. Council Video
Created a subgroup of people to brainstorm ideas and move that forward. Zach, Katie, Karl, Jamie
6. Issue with marking bracket and capping
Katie: never seen the problem, people have had a 100%
Jamie: not a problem in computing
Ryan: feedback on assigments is important
Ellie: not an issue with using the bracket but instead maybe with students knowing how to get 100%; working on a benchmarking tool, will bring it to next meeting; raising awareness about talking to lecturers?
Ellie to bring a copy of the benchmarking tool she’s been working on with the uni
7. Harvard Referencing
Katie: online tests, better idea
Ryan: exam is more stressful
Wes explains what the Harvard Referencing test is. They grade their own papers
Karl: BAMMJ shorthand test, serves to scare people into being serious
Ryan: not expected to do full Harvard referencing in exams
Katie: do it as an online test with open book
Ian: how would you prefer it to be done?
Wes: open book
Iv: pass/fail thing?
Ellie: formative (pass/fail) and summative (percentage) assessment
Iv: figure out which courses its happening on and delegate that to Senior reps
Ellie: we need to figure out if it’s faculty wide
Everyone: is it happening in all faculties?
Everyone to look into whether this is a university wide problem
8. Staff and Student Research Collaboration
Iv, Katie and Ryan to work on that
9. AOB
Ryan placements issues
Recording video lectures: Ryan, Karl, Zach, Katie, Ian will be helping Ellie with that
Katie: Ed Council social? – taking a lead on organizing it, Laser tag?
Katie to organise an Ed council social