Being a TAPS student internat the University of

Roehampton

Joy Vamvakari & Bridget Middlemas

HEA York, November 2013

A little bit about our TAPS project• Our TAPS project is part of a wider institutional

focus on assessment and feedback at Roehampton• Over the last five years or so, we have been

working on:– Thinking about non-traditional e-assessment formats

such as e-portfolios, wikis or online symposia– Working with programme teams on a variety of

assessment-related projects– Setting up CPD opportunities for academic and support

staff– Designing equivalency guidelines for staff wishing to

pilot new or unfamiliar assessment formats

Some of our assessment projects… • Changing the Learning Landscape at: http://

www.heacademy.ac.uk/cll

• TAPS at: http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/assets/documents/change/Transforming_assessment_pilot/webprofiles/TA_07_Roehampton_web.pdf

• Reimagining Attainment for All: enabling the success of BME students at: http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/funding/detail/BME_strategic_Roehampton

• We have also been involved in TESTA, at: http://www.testa.ac.uk/

• What’s it worth? Developing Equivalency Guidelines for the Assessment of Multi-format Coursework, at: http://www.jisctechdis.ac.uk/assets/Documents/HEAT/ROE302.doc

What have we done in our TAPS project ?• Student intern• Interviewed staff and

students from a wide range of discipline areas

• Gathered plenty of workable examples that can be shared across programmes teams

• Developed our resources to support CPD programmes & staff induction

TAPS @ RoehamptonDepartments that I have approached/involved:

Undergraduate

Undergraduate

Undergraduate

Undergraduate

UndergraduateUndergraduate

Postgraduate

Postgraduate

TAPS

Staff

Students

Externals

TAPS @ RoehamptonPeople I have talked to about TAPS:

• Undergraduate students• Postgraduate students• Student interns in other

projects• Student ambassadors• Course reps• Student senate

• Staff from other Universities

• HEA staff• Specialists in Assessment

and Feedback

• Academic staff• Administrative staff• Quality Assurance staff• Employability staff

Being the Roehampton TAPS student intern

• I liaised with the LTEU staff in agreeing short and long term goals for the project

• I used all available resources and my own initiative to fulfil these goals

• I attended relevant conferences and events where I furthered my understanding of assessment

And…

• I collected data in the form of audio/video and good practice examples, I interviewed staff and students, lead focus groups and research relevant academic material

• I was expected to have a professional, independent, responsible and proactive approach to all work involved

• I felt personally responsible for the project and its success, referring back to my TAPS work in all other on and off campus positions, increasing overall awareness of TAPS

Why have a student intern?

A student intern:

• brings in the student perspective/viewpoint• can offer insight into practical issues of student life• is able to spend time attending events and collecting data• can talk to students on a student level, taking into

consideration current student concerns, issues and difficulties• can obtain different data from staff, as discussion takes place

on a different level• can integrate personal views and experiences, enriching

collected data

Why become a student intern?Future employability

– develop new skills and build upon existing ones– experience collaborating and liaising with people from a range of backgrounds– talk about your internship in your CV and job interviews

Transition to the world of work• use and maintain the academic skills you have developed in a practical

setting• experience a supported transition from student to professional life• experience a UK work environment, settings and ethics

Personal development / CPD– learn about yourself, your skills and where you can improve– develop your personal network– gain insight into the structure and function of the University and Higher

Education as a whole– use own initiative in a rewarding and supporting context

Recommendations (from a student intern’s perspective)

• Engaging students as student interns can enhance overall student engagement

• Increased opportunity for student-staff dialogue through common events-discussions

• Do not forget that the student body is highly diverse! Every student has different motivations, skills and concerns

• Support increased ownership, treat students as developing academics/professionals and give responsibility: higher motivation will increase efforts

Recommendations

• Make sure that your student intern is confident in approaching and working with staff and students across all programmes

• Provide a welcoming and supportive working environment

• Publicise your intern’s work as widely as possible, and at the highest levels

Thanks for listening!

Joy Vamvakari & Bridget Middlemas