UK Centre for Materials Education
Working with you to enhance the student experience
Working with you to enhance the student experience
Whilst out and about on our visits to departments we have been compiling our list of top ten ideas for teaching in materials:
1. Ton Peijs and James Busfield have introduced problem based learning into the 1st year at Queen Mary and Westfield College- read their article in this issue of the newsletter.
2. Chris Dandre of the University of Wales, Swansea plans a case study grant as a competition prize for his students to write up their experiences of his innovative teaching -see case study grants on page 3.
3. John Summerscales of the University of Plymouth gets his 3rd year students to design, make and test real composite parts e.g. a suspension arm for a mountain bike in 1998.
4. James Marrow of UMIST has a collection of images suitable for schools available on the Internet Microscope - www.umist.ac.uk/material/research/intmic
5. Paul Wagstaff of the University of Kingston organises the annual Moscow Aerospace Summer School exchange programme. He takes students on a trip to Russia once a year to see materials used in space stations.
6. Claire Davis of the University of Birmingham has helped to produce a series of books featuring 'Sammy Steel' aimed at primary school children, as part of the Corus Group Curriculum support material.
7. David McPhail of Imperial College, London, has developed a study programme and skills booklets for tutors to use to help first years with personal and professional skills development
8. Alan Davidson, Colin Hindle and Mike Barker from Napier University use the Teaching Company Scheme to help their graduates fast track to careers in UK business.
9. Mike Bramhall and Bob Harris organise a joint project for students between Sheffield Hallam University and the University of Strathclyde using video conferencing for regular meetings.
10. Bill Lee of the University of Sheffield - new external examiner for the University of Liverpool raises the question for the community - 'what is the role of the external examiner in helping to improve the relationship between objectives and outcomes of courses?'
Suggestions are welcomed for the 'Top Ten', just contact the Centre with details of your idea. Check the next edition to see who is up and who is down.
