Linking Teaching and Research: Key Actions and Deliverables

This national project for the Learning and Teaching Support Network Generic Centre involves:

• Exploring how to embed teaching /research links in disciplinary communities.
• Creation of generic support materials to help further embed teaching/research links in disciplinary communities.
• Support materials to include web site with: links to international projects on the teaching/research nexus; a guide to support making strong linkages in departments; and a range of workshop materials for others to adapt.
• Initially involves Five LTSN Subject Centres embedding teaching / research links in their disciplinary communities.
• Providing a framework, ideas and strategies that will also support other LTSN Subject Centres in developing such links.
• Initially the project is for the period January 2002 to September 2003.

While the project is directed to identifying and disseminating good practice, it also recognises that as disciplinary communities and academic institutions we have much to learn about both the nature of the links in our communities, and how best to strengthen those that are 'effective'. The project is thus directed both at tangible 'deliverables' and developing processes that support our understanding.

The specific 'actions' and 'deliverables' by the 5 initial LTSN Subject Centres include :

Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

• Develop dedicated pages of the GEES Web site
• Prepare an annotated bibliography
• Collect, edit and publish at least 20 case studies
• National Conference (June 30/July 1 2003)
• Prepare a review essay
• Publish a Special Edition of Planet

BioScience

Development of a dedicated section of the LTSN Bioscience web site which contains:

• Case studies of effective practice in linking teaching and research in the Biosciences;
• An annotated bibliography on teaching /research links in the Biosciences;
• A short review on teaching /research links in the Biosciences;
• A digest of the Bioscience QAA Benchmark statement and those for Agriculture, Forestry, Agricultural Sciences, Food Sciences and Consumer Sciences to illustrate areas where teaching and research are or should be linked;
• links to relevant web sites;
• Development of a workshop session, which will offer guidance, resources, discussion and exchange of ideas about linking T&R in Bioscience departments. The session will be presented within the LTSN Bioscience Events Calendar and on request from departments.

Health Sciences and Practice

A dedicated section of the Subject Centre web site, containing

• A report mapping current links between teaching and research in Health Sciences The map will reflect what teachers claim they do when linking teaching and research in classroom and placement settings (teaching approaches/pedagogy and the kinds of research being linked with teaching (epidemiological, practice based and pedagogical.).
• Document reporting on teacher evaluations of current practice in linking teaching and research. The teacher perspective will illuminate the purposes and conditions of linking teaching and research.
• Four detailed ethnographic case studies.each of approx.6000-10000words The case studies will illuminate the student, teacher and institutional perspectives in linking teaching and research. They will be drawn from different disciplines in Health Sciences and reflect different teaching contexts.

Further dissemination will include: An article for Exchange Magazine, Evidence based practice in health sciences; Conference paper and Journal Article.

Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism

• A Learning Resource Guide on Linking Teaching and Research in our disciplines aimed at departments, course teams and individual staff.
• Summary outline findings of a focus group session of staff perception and issues.
• Target of 12 Case study examples: 3 from each of Hospitality; Leisure; Sport; Tourism.
• Two detailed case study research projects - one from the staff perspective and one from the student perspective.
• We will also promote the topic via subject based events, LINK our newsletter, and our guide to current practice.

Law

• Dedicated section of UKCLE website with links and examples.
• Bibliography relating to linking teaching and research in legal education.
• Survey of current practice on linking teaching and research within legal education.
• Case study template developed in the light of review of current practice.
• 10 case studies on linking teaching and research in legal education.
• project themes introduced and discussed at four UKCLE events.

The project hopes to extend its subject base as it develops. Currently we are in discussion with Medicine and English to secure input on the links in their disciplines.