Strand One

This strand focuses on practice and aims to disseminate and embed current good practice more widely both inside and outside of Oxford Brookes University. Strand 1 looks to develop tried and tested, yet innovative, practices that have already been shown to confer measurable improvements in student performance, and so can be used with immediate impact.

Internally, the work of strand 1 is presently focussed towards developing the 5 following initiatives:

• Pre-assessment Intervention
  The ASKe team has shown that a simple pre-assessment intervention such as a marking workshop prior to undertaking an assessed task can significantly increase students’ understanding of the assessment criteria and improve their performance of the task. ASKe has supported the development and introduction of this kind of intervention on all Business School programmes, and also in three other schools (Built Environment, Health and Social Care, and Westminster Institute of Education). This same support is available for the remaining four schools and five partner institutions.
• The Academic Conduct Officer (ACO) system
  The ASKe team is helping to develop the Academic Conduct Officer (ACO) system, in addition to researching effective ways of encouraging and promoting academic integrity.
• The Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) programme
  ASKe is supporting the extension of the long-established Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) programme across the entire Business School. From year three onwards, support is offered to help at least three other Schools in Brookes introduce the use of PAL.
• '1,2,3' leaflets
  ASKe has launched a series of '1,2,3' leaflets which highlight some practical ways in which teaching staff can improve their students' learning. Each leaflet focuses on a piece of assessment-related research and clearly states how that research can be applied to teaching practice in three easy steps.
• Brookes Assessment Compact
  

  Based on the work of ASKe, the University’s Academic Enhancement and Standards Committee (AESC) have agreed the Brookes Assessment Compact which was implemented in September 2009.  ASKe, together with the Oxford Centre for Staff and Learning Development (OCSLD), to support the implementation of the Compact are offering Course Design Intensives to Programme teams in all OBU Schools.

ASKe works with staff and students to ensure that the adoption of initiatives are rigorously evaluated and shown to improve student learning and experience.

Externally, Strand 1 is working to disseminate the Manifesto for Change, and Feedback: an Agenda for Change (see links for further information).