The Personal Tutor System (PTS) in the School of

Pharmacy and Chemistry

Dr Mark CarewPRMB 2007m.carew@kingston.ac.uk

PTS in Pharmacy & Chemistry

• The PTS evolved from Personal Development Planning (PDP), which was offered from 2007/8 to all level 4 students

• The PTS began in 2013/4 and rolled out “big bang style” to all students (UG, MSc)

• Of 1137 students, 617 students engaged with the process (54%), reflecting the level of engagement (50-60%) over the years

The following slides are made available to all staff and

students in the school each year and describe the operation of the PTS

What is the Personal Tutor System?

• The PTS provides:

“a structured and supported process undertaken by an individual to reflect upon their own learning, performance and/or achievement, and to plan for their personal, educational and career development.”

How do students engage with the PTS?

– By making an electronic portfolio on Study Space You will:

– download and complete activities in templates – e.g. Reflecting on Feedback – You will share the portfolio with your personal

tutor and meet him/her to discuss

Document, reflect, and assess

• Develop a rapport with your personal tutor• Take time to reflect on and assess your growth

during your time at university• Try and get the most out of university – be it a

good degree, a future job, or to take part in anything that interests you

• The PTS will also support struggling and unengaged students with the Academic Progression Programme

Testimonials

Written quotes from previous level 4 students

I feel that the strengths of the [system] is it prompts you to think about your future

aspirations. Certain things that you would have not considered prior to start University are

made aware for you. It gives you the determination to achieve your life time

ambition. For those people who have not really thought about what they want out of their time

at university, it most probably serves as a useful tool for them to really think

about goals.

It's simple and easy to use. It’s not

fancy and complicated. I

think that it helps you think why you come to university and what exactly you would like to achieve from it.

More testimonials

Written quotes from previous level 4 students

I think [it] is a very good idea for a student at Kingston University

because it allows me to communicate with my personal

tutor easier and fast.[it] showed me the way

of achieving good grades

in my lectures

It really helped me improve my

computer skills i.e. designing a

portfolio

student

creates portfolio on Study Space

downloads template – completes activities

arranges meeting with personal tutor

tutor assesses engagement

student is older, wiser and more wonderful

tutor signs off student electronically

electronically shares portfolio with tutor

instruction from Senior Tutor(Dr Carew,Dr Ghatora)

REFLECT!

tutor writes commentson portfolio

Once or twice per teaching block

How the PTS works

Creating a new portfolio

• Log in to Study Space– My Content > Portfolios > My Portfolios >

Create Basic Portfolio NOT Personal Portfolio1

– 1. Leave setting at Create New– 2. Give the portfolio a name– 3. Write a description– 4. Submit2

1. Personal portfolios in this software do not import templates2. Leave the settings alone, keep portfolio as available and comments as shared

Download the template

• Select Build on the drop down list next to your portfolio

• Create Item• Scroll down menu starting with Blank Item and

select “Pharmacy and Chemistry Reflecting on Feedback”

• Click Submit • Give the template a name (e.g. level 4A)• Scroll down to bottom of page Click Submit1

1. Keep 3. Menu Item Availability as Available, Yes

Fill in the template

• Click on Edit next to the name you gave your template

• Place cursor inside text (or select blue text by Path below text box) and edit the text with your own reflections on the questions asked in the activities

• Scroll down and press submit

Share your portfolio with your tutor

• Look in the spreadsheet under Module Admin > Information in the module or level organisation for who your tutor is:

• Pharmacy students, PY4000 – 7000 (Academic and Professional Skills)

• Non-Pharmacy students, level organisations (by course and year)

How to share your portfolio

• Back to My Portfolios, select Share next to your portfolio• Select Share With menu >Users > Select Browse in 1.

Choose Users box > a new window opens > type in tutor’s last name in Search box, and select Last Name > Search

• Select tick box next to tutor’s name > Submit• Tick the Send Email box in 2. Email information >

Submit. Copy an email to yourself as well.• An email will be sent from Study Space to your tutor

informing them that you have shared your e-pdp.• Write another email asking for a meeting with your tutor.

Deadlines – actions to be completed by these dates

Reflecting on Feedback

deadline for meeting with personal tutor is

Friday 31 January, 2014

If your tutor is happy you’ve engaged with the activity then you will be signed off.

Reflection on the PTS

Dr Mark Carew

Senior Tutor

School of Pharmacy & Chemistry

Strengths

• Tutors:– give friendly, helpful, career and non-career advice– write students a job/academic reference– create a sense of belonging to the university for the

student, aiding student retention– catch students who need academic and pastoral care

• Support with the Academic Progression Programme• Signpost to Student Support for counselling

– If students are encouraged to see their tutors, they will experience the benefits of the PTS

See here for evidence from other universities of the benefits of the PTS

Weaknesses

• Students need to meet tutors regularly before benefits become apparent

• Improving CVs, providing evidence of generic skills and understanding the nature of feedback all need to be worked on and takes time

• Tutorials need to be timetabled and embedded in modules, rather than be made ad hoc, even though this is difficult with large student numbers

• Being student-friendly is time-intensive (group tutorials may satisfy the many)