Mary RobertsStudent Learning Support Service

Learning and Teaching Strategy Committee Grant

Research and Enquiry Skill Project: Undergraduate Research Skill Development

Key points: The current situation

University required to integrate teaching and research

Learning and Teaching Strategy committed to revitalisation

2009 audit called for revitalisation of discussion

Key roles in UG research skill development

The teacher

The undergraduates

The support team

The researcher

SLSS role

•Part of academic support team

•Asked to look at• Undergraduate research skill development

• What a VUW UG research skill development framework would look like

• What a VUW UGRSD mapping tool would look like

• What support could be offered

Lit review findings:Benefits of UG research courses

= improved• Confidence• Competence• Satisfaction with study• Technical skill• Team work• Ability to deal with ambiguity and obstacles• Communication skills• Critical thinking skills• Integration & retention of under-represented minority group students

Lit review findings:Generic nature of “research skills”

• Communication:– written– oral

• Search Strategies• Critical thinking/analysis• Lab and field skills• Understanding how research is done in the discipline• Developing a research question• Becoming independent• Becoming part of a research community• Understanding research processes and methods• Developing teamwork skills• Understanding the primary literature• Persistence and tolerance for obstacles

Research Skill Development Framework

Next steps: Mapping links between teaching and research at Victoria

Develop clear guidelines for strengthening teaching /research link

Explore recognised potential of UG research skill development as technique for developing this link

Identify what support would be useful to staff wishing to incorporate new UGRSD into teaching

Current sources of supportMain research related skills Relevant academic support services

Communication SLSS- Written SLSS/WRIT 121, 151, 251- Oral SLSS

Search strategies LibraryCritical thinking/analysis SLSS/PhilosophyLab and field skills SLSS (where maths/stats support is relevant)

Understanding how research is done in the discipline

Developing a research question SLSS (limited role but can act as sounding board and give feedback on logical structure)

Becoming independent SLSSUnderstanding the primary literature SLSS (in limited ESOL situations)Becoming part of a research community

Understanding research processes and methods

Developing teamwork skills SLSS (through student leaders programme); VicPlus/VILP

Persistence and tolerance for obstacles SLSS

Follow up

Anyone interested in participating in ‘research skills mapping exercise’ (on line questionnaire),

please contact mary.roberts@vuw.ac.nz