IBL and Skills Development

Natalie WhelanClaire TaylorAli Bestwick

Back in 2005, The University of Sheffield was awarded some funding in recognition of excellence in teaching and the funding was used to create CILASS.

CILASS is one of 74 Centres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) that exist throughout the country at other Universities.

The basic mission of CILASS is to promote Inquiry-based Learning(IBL), both within the University and across the UK with other CETLs.

CILASS provides funding and support to departments working on IBL projects and some of their funding was used to create us…

The Student Ambassador Network(SAN)

28 Student Ambassadors each

representing a department.

Departmental Role- Evaluation, module design

Working group Role-Dissemination, Journal, Film,

Technology and Evaluation.

Network role- Staff Student Conference, IBL

cafes and external events.

28 Student Ambassadors each

representing a department.

“CILASS work as a team and the collaboration between students and staff is really what makes us work well.”

So CILASS and the Student Ambassadors promote and support

the use of IBL…

Inquiry… based… Learning… What is it?

IBL doesn’t have just one definition but essentially it is self directed learning.

What is wrong with being given all the information?

Why is IBL better than being told the right answer?

Why is IBL so great?

The act of Inquiry gives you a unique set of important and very useful skills that will be fully developed by the time you finish University. You will have these skills, but not everyone will, which gives you a significant advantage

DECISION MAKING:

Sorting relevant information

PROBLEM SOLVING

CONFIDENCE

TEAM WORK:

Listening to others and working together

RESEARCH SKILLS

IN-DEPTH KNOWELDGE OF A SUBJECTDRIVE AND DETERMINATION

ABILITY TO WORK INDEPENDENTLY

For your next essay or project, get to the Library! Not only will you gain these important skills, you will probably do amazing on your next assignment.

Remember the lecturer doesn’t always know all the answers, try and find something new. It can be done.

IBL in BUSINESS…With Claire

IBL in Management

MGT214 –Project Management

• There are 4 aims to this module• 1. Apply theory critically to analyse PM• 2. Employ appropriate PM methodologies,

tools and techniques• 3. Identify and appraise issues in large

projects• 4. Demonstrate transferable employability

skills

3 parts to the course

• Individual coursework – 20%

• Formal exam – 30%

• Group coursework – 50%

Individual Coursework

• Fissure SimProject• Run a small 11 week virtual project keeping

within specifications, time and budget.• A practical test of your abilities as a project

manager.• Write a 1000 word report on this experience

Formal Exam

• 2 hour exam.• Answer 4 questions of 8 from video case

studies watched in lectures• Apply theoretical understanding of project

management key issues to these case studies.

Group Coursework

• Groups of 3 develop a project proposal with the assistance of 5, hour long tutorials held in the semester.

• The groups must:– Propose an idea on literally anything– Develop plans– Draw schedules– Create budgetsNO WORD COUNT!

How does IBL fit into project management?

• Explore new ideas• Teamwork• Take control of your learning• Library based research• Use new technologies to find out new things

and ways of working

• DEVELOP KEY EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS!

IBL Every Day

Library research skills and Information Literacy

Essays and assignments

• What’s the first thing you do when you get an essay?

LIBRARY RESEARCH!

Information literacy skills

1. Recognise the need for information2. Distinguish ways to address the gap3. Construct strategies for locating information4. Locate and access information5. Compare and evaluate material6. Organise, apply and communicate in appropriate

way7. Synthesise and build on existing information,

creation of new knowledge

Talk in context: Applying Theoretical UnderstandingAssess the usefulness and implications

of theoretical frameworks for understanding organisations more

specifically.

1. Recognise the need for information

• Identify problem• What do I already

know?• What do I need to

know?• Identify different

theoretical frameworks• Identify specific

organisations

2. Distinguish ways to address gap

• Library• Journals• Internet• Ask questions• Talk and discuss with

peers• Mind Map

3. Constructs strategies for locating information

• What would you do first?

• Last?• E.g. look through class

notes, then core texts, then bibliographies, then WOK, GoogleScholar

4. Locate and access information

• Now that you know what you’re doing – go and do it!

5. Compare and evaluate material

• Which sources are reliable/unreliable? Why?

• Is the information relevant?

• Which side of the argument are they supporting?

6. Organise, apply and communicate

• Write the essay/presentation/dissertation/

• Structure information• Use appropriate

format, language etc

7. Synthesise and build on existing information

• Create new knowledge• Synthesise and build on

your existing information

• Original work

How this helps

If you can recognise that you are developing these skills – CV!

• Report writing• Data analysis• Presenting new information• Communication• Problem – solving• Information searching

Important to remember the IBL you already do. Recognise its value

Encourage its implementation in your education in even more exciting ways!

The Rewards of IBL

• IBL gives you all of these skills that we have mentioned, which are important in the real world as well as the academic world.

• It is rewarding to find the information out for yourself too.

WorkshopIBL to employability

• IBL gives you a great set of skills which are vital and important for your future job.

• But what are these skills?

Task: What skills does IBL give you?

• Get into groups of 3-5• Mind map these skills onto the flip chart

provided• You have 10 minutes• GO!!!

So you now have your skills…

• How do you use these skills in a job environment as a business management student?

• In a year’s time you will have made several job applications for graduate schemes.

• Are you ready?

• The co-op graduate scheme is one that is based in Manchester.

• Its requirements are a 2:2 degree classification or more.

• “We need our graduates to have an unusual mix of skills and behaviours. It’s not just about academic achievements, but also about the experiences, opinions and beliefs that make you who you are. Importantly, you’ll be as passionate about a career in business, as you are about our values and principles.”

The co-op graduate scheme

Apply for that job

Congratulations

• In front of you, you now have a example application to take home with you which will come in very useful next year when you are applying for graduate jobs.

• Remember the importance of IBL!

IBL and you

• You have seen the fantastic ways in which IBL can help you learn and develop your skills.

• You have seen the ways in which we at the University of Sheffield try to promote and encourage the used of IBL, to reap the rewards for both students and staff.

• The Staff and Student Ambassadors at CILASS work together as equal partners in a team, which is why we are successful in the Inquiry-based Learning projects we support.

Student Ambassadors are a resource:• In our departments, we advise and evaluate.• In our working groups, we review, report and support.• As a network, we strive to motivate and engage.• As part of CILASS, we work together on teaching and learning

projects to ensure the student learning experience is the best it can be.

This morning we hope we have helped you establish how IBL helps students and how we help students at the

University of Sheffield.

Ideas for IBL at MMU?

How can you as students see yourselves getting involved?

How can IBL help your students?

Student involvement with IBL at MMU

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