UK Centre for Materials Education
Working with you to enhance the student experience
Working with you to enhance the student experience
Just north of Barnard Castle, before Romaldkirk, but slightly west is the Balderhead reservoir. A youth hostel is situated in the valley within walking distance of the reservoir dam and the Pennine Way. This was the location for the inaugural Materials Science student representatives weekend. The event was organised and run by the UK Centre for Materials Education. Undergraduate and postgraduate student representatives travelled from all corners of the United Kingdom to aid in the quest for improved materials lecturing and student representation.
The meeting commenced on the Friday evening with an ice-breaker at a local public house. In fact, it was almost literally ice-breaking due to the low temperature and the countryside was covered in snow. However, the weather warmed with the snow disappearing by Saturday, as did anyone's nervousness as everyone got to meet each other. There were 16 students and 5 facilitators.
Saturday and Sunday Morning consisted of a number of challenges to reveal the difficulties in teaching, so as to give students knowledge of 'other side of the fence' - as in being a teacher. This ranged from teaching the other students origami to the dance steps for 'the running man'. Another challenge was focused on the incorporation of new material science students into a department at the start of the first year. As can be imagined there is a variety of techniques from a simple handbook to more elaborate orientation events and mentoring schemes.
The last challenge dealt with the collation and presentation of information on issues that affect students. It is hoped that this will allow necessary changes to occur by dealing with the issues in a positive manner, rather than simply complaining. The meeting finished with a 'mock' meeting in which students had a chance to see the benefit of good preparation and the issues lecturers face. These challenges allowed students with their diverse university backgrounds, even in the same subject area, to comment on the bad and good parts of their experience in relation to materials education.
On Sunday afternoon the meeting broke up with a number of students travelling by car and the others going by train to their relevant institutions with renewed confidence and information into student representation and advice for lecturers in their department.
It is hoped that this meeting will become an annual event and allow the continued dissemination of materials education information for both students and lectures and ensure that both don't feel they are 'going mad'!
Simon Panteny
