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Papers by Bland Tomkinson
International Journal for Academic Development, 2008
We review research literature on coherent theoretically-based approaches to the use of reflective... more We review research literature on coherent theoretically-based approaches to the use of reflective processes within programmes of initial professional education for new academic staff. Employing a novel methodology that incorporates practitioner perspectives, we establish a framework that highlights the role of personal and social factors, and also pedagogic and theoretical considerations, in shaping reflective processes. The included studies identified participants who had engaged in certain categories of reflection. Certain fundamental outcomes, however, such as changes in professional commitment, were never seen across an entire cohort. We thus discuss the intended learning outcomes that programmes might legitimately seek to meet.
The World Wide Web impacted the educational model and became part of distance education in this e... more The World Wide Web impacted the educational model and became part of distance education in this early century. There were many changes taking place in higher education for political, economic and educational reasons. New goals and educational objectives are being set within educational institutions. There were particular emphases to produce a more effective delivery of learning methods for distance learning students. The use of Internet was seen as an important issue in the development of an understanding of the complex process of instilling knowledge to post graduates students. Well-established universities are re-examining their missions and looking for different ways of providing lifelong education. The Building Division of the MACE was particularly keen to increase the use of web-based learning in its courses, which will increase the amount of students enrolled into these programmes, help them learn in a flexible and workable manner. This paper describes the outline for the desi...
the UK [2] produced statements that explicitly incorporated the need for sustainable development.... more the UK [2] produced statements that explicitly incorporated the need for sustainable development. In the same year, the University of Manchester approached the Royal Academy of Engineering to sponsor a pilot project for an inter-disciplinary course on sustainable development in undergraduate engineering and physical sciences programmes. That project features a problem-based approach with five student exercises covering a range of sustainability issues. Students come from four disciplines and work together in small inter-disciplinary teams, tackling problems that new graduates might realistically be asked to pursue. There is strong focus on teamwork and on the challenges of sustainable development, including cultural, economic, environmental and social imperatives. The final assessment is divided between demonstration of skills and understanding of course content. The pilot is a step in developing imaginative and persuasive proposals for change in education for professional practice....
This paper describes a number of related initiatives at the University of Manchester aimed at fos... more This paper describes a number of related initiatives at the University of Manchester aimed at fostering an inter disciplinary approach to the ‘wicked’ problems of global soc Academy of Engineering was initially to take an inter scientists and engineers. This course has now broadened to include a wi progressed in other directions and a course unit is available to Masters students. Also, a new unit has been introduced on Project Managing Humanitarian Aid, looking at equally complex problems but in a different
Problem based learning (PBL) offers educational institutions involved with delivering quality edu... more Problem based learning (PBL) offers educational institutions involved with delivering quality education an avenue for creating a transformational culture with global outlook while enablingstudents to acquire needed skills for effective engagement in society. Students were able to assumeroles as business consultants, through team projects initiatives which required implementation ofsustainability ideas. Identification of stakeholders and mapping out how well their respectiveinterests could be satisfied is highly impactful and focuses the students in putting into use skillsdeveloped through role-play. Making contacts with professionals within the university and?clients? from outside organisations made project briefs and outcomes realistic, thereby creatingvalue added experience for the students. Analyses of survey data suggest that students perceivedthat the PBL course unit had effected changes in their attitudes as well as in their knowledge andskills. Typical transformational feedba...
Portfolios are increasingly used in professional education, not least in courses for new academic... more Portfolios are increasingly used in professional education, not least in courses for new academic staff. This study looks at the portfolio marking practices over eight intakes on a Postgraduate Certificate programme and sets out to analyse variations between different markers. It concludes that the main problems arise from the standardisation of the marking, rather than its reliability.
The coming together of a number of initiatives provided a springboard for an innovative pilot pro... more The coming together of a number of initiatives provided a springboard for an innovative pilot programme ineducation for sustainable development. For some time problem-based learning has gathered momentum as anapproach to educating professionals. More recently, there has been a burgeoning interest in inter-disciplinaryapproaches to the complex societal and environmental issues that face the world as a whole. At the same time, professional engineering institutions have been reflecting on appropriate approaches to the education anddevelopment of future engineers. Building on work already undertaken by some of the authors, the RoyalAcademy of Engineering sponsored an inter-disciplinary pilot programme in sustainable development for engineers and scientists. The pilot was innovative not only in its inter-disciplinary approach to sustainabledevelopment but also in its approach to the development of the curriculum. Multi-disciplinary exercises weredesigned that enabled a contextual, active...
Learning about resolving complex problems means that modes of assessment become less deterministi... more Learning about resolving complex problems means that modes of assessment become less deterministic ? real world problems rarely pop up in a form that can be readily solved by an equation or two. This often means the use of projects, portfolios and dissertations. Even simple mathematical problems can give rise to differences of opinion in marking but in the case of the less structured assessments ? where answers may be ?better? or ?worse? rather than ?right? or ?wrong? ? the assessment issues are much more stark. When classes are large and the number of assessors equally substantial there are issues of reliability. In, for example sustainability education in its broadest sense, it is important to grasp the complex nature of the ?wicked? problems that this involves. This inevitably means coping with problems for which there is no defined answer. Part of this can involve learning to work collectively on an issue and the assessment concern then becomes one of marking group assignments a...
Perspectives: Policy and Practice in Higher Education
This article reviews key themes in articles published in Perspectives over the past 25 years sinc... more This article reviews key themes in articles published in Perspectives over the past 25 years since the journal was launched. It highlights changes in the journal itself and its readership as the higher education landscape has evolved. We review the first few editions in the journal and key topics over the past quarter century. This article concludes by looking at the future of the higher education sector and the role of university administrators as important actors in this influential industry.
Perspectives: Policy and Practice in Higher Education
This article reviews key themes in articles published in Perspectives over the past 25 years sinc... more This article reviews key themes in articles published in Perspectives over the past 25 years since the journal was launched. It highlights changes in the journal itself and its readership as the higher education landscape has evolved. We review the first few editions in the journal and key topics over the past quarter century. This article concludes by looking at the future of the higher education sector and the role of university administrators as important actors in this influential industry.
Journal of Education for Sustainable Development
Collected Essays on Learning and Teaching, 2011
The world faces a number of complex challenges that are sometimes referred to as ‘wicked problems... more The world faces a number of complex challenges that are sometimes referred to as ‘wicked problems.’ Universities have been relatively poor at preparing graduates for such challenges, yet it will be the future professionals who need to tackle the problems. This essay looks at two related projects that have attempted to advance the skills training of graduates for a complex world, in the context of educating engineers and scientists in sustainable development.A Delphi study conducted in the UK suggested that systemic, student-centred approaches were vital to the appropriate development of undergraduates to become engineers with skills in sustainable development. A pilot project sponsored by the UK Royal Academy of Engineering developed an inter-disciplinary course unit, using student-centred principles, to embed the principles of sustainable development, in its broadest sense, in the curricula of engineers and scientists. The essay includes an evaluation of this approach.
Online Submission, Apr 1, 2006
The World Wide Web impacted the educational model and became part of distance education in this e... more The World Wide Web impacted the educational model and became part of distance education in this early century. There were many changes taking place in higher education for political, economic and educational reasons. New goals and educational objectives are being set within educational institutions. There were particular emphases to produce a more effective delivery of learning methods for distance learning students. The use of Internet was seen as an important issue in the development of an understanding of the complex process of instilling knowledge to post graduates students. Well-established universities are reexamining their missions and looking for different ways of providing lifelong education. The Building Division of the MACE was particularly keen to increase the use of web-based learning in its courses, which will increase the amount of students enrolled into these programmes, help them learn in a flexible and workable manner. This paper describes the outline for the design and development of a distance-learning module. Some benefits and setbacks will be discussed and recommendation for future improvement explained.
The Realities of Change in Higher Education explores the theory and practice of the everyday real... more The Realities of Change in Higher Education explores the theory and practice of the everyday reality of change to promote learning and teaching in universities. Drawing on international case studies, it analyzes a range of practical strategies to promote change that enhances students' learning. Structured to flow from analysis of policy level change through to small-scale change at curriculum level, experienced practitioners consider key topics including:
International Journal of Sustainable Engineering, Dec 1, 2008
... References. 1. Barrett, PS, Sexton, MG and Green, L. 1999. ... Santa Monica, Rand Corporation... more ... References. 1. Barrett, PS, Sexton, MG and Green, L. 1999. ... Santa Monica, Rand Corporation.”. Available from: http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_memoranda/2005/RM5888. pdf [Accessed 4 February 2008]; 4. Dalkey, NC and Helmer, O. 1963. ...
International Journal for Academic Development, 2008
We review research literature on coherent theoretically-based approaches to the use of reflective... more We review research literature on coherent theoretically-based approaches to the use of reflective processes within programmes of initial professional education for new academic staff. Employing a novel methodology that incorporates practitioner perspectives, we establish a framework that highlights the role of personal and social factors, and also pedagogic and theoretical considerations, in shaping reflective processes. The included studies identified participants who had engaged in certain categories of reflection. Certain fundamental outcomes, however, such as changes in professional commitment, were never seen across an entire cohort. We thus discuss the intended learning outcomes that programmes might legitimately seek to meet.
The World Wide Web impacted the educational model and became part of distance education in this e... more The World Wide Web impacted the educational model and became part of distance education in this early century. There were many changes taking place in higher education for political, economic and educational reasons. New goals and educational objectives are being set within educational institutions. There were particular emphases to produce a more effective delivery of learning methods for distance learning students. The use of Internet was seen as an important issue in the development of an understanding of the complex process of instilling knowledge to post graduates students. Well-established universities are re-examining their missions and looking for different ways of providing lifelong education. The Building Division of the MACE was particularly keen to increase the use of web-based learning in its courses, which will increase the amount of students enrolled into these programmes, help them learn in a flexible and workable manner. This paper describes the outline for the desi...
the UK [2] produced statements that explicitly incorporated the need for sustainable development.... more the UK [2] produced statements that explicitly incorporated the need for sustainable development. In the same year, the University of Manchester approached the Royal Academy of Engineering to sponsor a pilot project for an inter-disciplinary course on sustainable development in undergraduate engineering and physical sciences programmes. That project features a problem-based approach with five student exercises covering a range of sustainability issues. Students come from four disciplines and work together in small inter-disciplinary teams, tackling problems that new graduates might realistically be asked to pursue. There is strong focus on teamwork and on the challenges of sustainable development, including cultural, economic, environmental and social imperatives. The final assessment is divided between demonstration of skills and understanding of course content. The pilot is a step in developing imaginative and persuasive proposals for change in education for professional practice....
This paper describes a number of related initiatives at the University of Manchester aimed at fos... more This paper describes a number of related initiatives at the University of Manchester aimed at fostering an inter disciplinary approach to the ‘wicked’ problems of global soc Academy of Engineering was initially to take an inter scientists and engineers. This course has now broadened to include a wi progressed in other directions and a course unit is available to Masters students. Also, a new unit has been introduced on Project Managing Humanitarian Aid, looking at equally complex problems but in a different
Problem based learning (PBL) offers educational institutions involved with delivering quality edu... more Problem based learning (PBL) offers educational institutions involved with delivering quality education an avenue for creating a transformational culture with global outlook while enablingstudents to acquire needed skills for effective engagement in society. Students were able to assumeroles as business consultants, through team projects initiatives which required implementation ofsustainability ideas. Identification of stakeholders and mapping out how well their respectiveinterests could be satisfied is highly impactful and focuses the students in putting into use skillsdeveloped through role-play. Making contacts with professionals within the university and?clients? from outside organisations made project briefs and outcomes realistic, thereby creatingvalue added experience for the students. Analyses of survey data suggest that students perceivedthat the PBL course unit had effected changes in their attitudes as well as in their knowledge andskills. Typical transformational feedba...
Portfolios are increasingly used in professional education, not least in courses for new academic... more Portfolios are increasingly used in professional education, not least in courses for new academic staff. This study looks at the portfolio marking practices over eight intakes on a Postgraduate Certificate programme and sets out to analyse variations between different markers. It concludes that the main problems arise from the standardisation of the marking, rather than its reliability.
The coming together of a number of initiatives provided a springboard for an innovative pilot pro... more The coming together of a number of initiatives provided a springboard for an innovative pilot programme ineducation for sustainable development. For some time problem-based learning has gathered momentum as anapproach to educating professionals. More recently, there has been a burgeoning interest in inter-disciplinaryapproaches to the complex societal and environmental issues that face the world as a whole. At the same time, professional engineering institutions have been reflecting on appropriate approaches to the education anddevelopment of future engineers. Building on work already undertaken by some of the authors, the RoyalAcademy of Engineering sponsored an inter-disciplinary pilot programme in sustainable development for engineers and scientists. The pilot was innovative not only in its inter-disciplinary approach to sustainabledevelopment but also in its approach to the development of the curriculum. Multi-disciplinary exercises weredesigned that enabled a contextual, active...
Learning about resolving complex problems means that modes of assessment become less deterministi... more Learning about resolving complex problems means that modes of assessment become less deterministic ? real world problems rarely pop up in a form that can be readily solved by an equation or two. This often means the use of projects, portfolios and dissertations. Even simple mathematical problems can give rise to differences of opinion in marking but in the case of the less structured assessments ? where answers may be ?better? or ?worse? rather than ?right? or ?wrong? ? the assessment issues are much more stark. When classes are large and the number of assessors equally substantial there are issues of reliability. In, for example sustainability education in its broadest sense, it is important to grasp the complex nature of the ?wicked? problems that this involves. This inevitably means coping with problems for which there is no defined answer. Part of this can involve learning to work collectively on an issue and the assessment concern then becomes one of marking group assignments a...
Perspectives: Policy and Practice in Higher Education
This article reviews key themes in articles published in Perspectives over the past 25 years sinc... more This article reviews key themes in articles published in Perspectives over the past 25 years since the journal was launched. It highlights changes in the journal itself and its readership as the higher education landscape has evolved. We review the first few editions in the journal and key topics over the past quarter century. This article concludes by looking at the future of the higher education sector and the role of university administrators as important actors in this influential industry.
Perspectives: Policy and Practice in Higher Education
This article reviews key themes in articles published in Perspectives over the past 25 years sinc... more This article reviews key themes in articles published in Perspectives over the past 25 years since the journal was launched. It highlights changes in the journal itself and its readership as the higher education landscape has evolved. We review the first few editions in the journal and key topics over the past quarter century. This article concludes by looking at the future of the higher education sector and the role of university administrators as important actors in this influential industry.
Journal of Education for Sustainable Development
Collected Essays on Learning and Teaching, 2011
The world faces a number of complex challenges that are sometimes referred to as ‘wicked problems... more The world faces a number of complex challenges that are sometimes referred to as ‘wicked problems.’ Universities have been relatively poor at preparing graduates for such challenges, yet it will be the future professionals who need to tackle the problems. This essay looks at two related projects that have attempted to advance the skills training of graduates for a complex world, in the context of educating engineers and scientists in sustainable development.A Delphi study conducted in the UK suggested that systemic, student-centred approaches were vital to the appropriate development of undergraduates to become engineers with skills in sustainable development. A pilot project sponsored by the UK Royal Academy of Engineering developed an inter-disciplinary course unit, using student-centred principles, to embed the principles of sustainable development, in its broadest sense, in the curricula of engineers and scientists. The essay includes an evaluation of this approach.
Online Submission, Apr 1, 2006
The World Wide Web impacted the educational model and became part of distance education in this e... more The World Wide Web impacted the educational model and became part of distance education in this early century. There were many changes taking place in higher education for political, economic and educational reasons. New goals and educational objectives are being set within educational institutions. There were particular emphases to produce a more effective delivery of learning methods for distance learning students. The use of Internet was seen as an important issue in the development of an understanding of the complex process of instilling knowledge to post graduates students. Well-established universities are reexamining their missions and looking for different ways of providing lifelong education. The Building Division of the MACE was particularly keen to increase the use of web-based learning in its courses, which will increase the amount of students enrolled into these programmes, help them learn in a flexible and workable manner. This paper describes the outline for the design and development of a distance-learning module. Some benefits and setbacks will be discussed and recommendation for future improvement explained.
The Realities of Change in Higher Education explores the theory and practice of the everyday real... more The Realities of Change in Higher Education explores the theory and practice of the everyday reality of change to promote learning and teaching in universities. Drawing on international case studies, it analyzes a range of practical strategies to promote change that enhances students' learning. Structured to flow from analysis of policy level change through to small-scale change at curriculum level, experienced practitioners consider key topics including:
International Journal of Sustainable Engineering, Dec 1, 2008
... References. 1. Barrett, PS, Sexton, MG and Green, L. 1999. ... Santa Monica, Rand Corporation... more ... References. 1. Barrett, PS, Sexton, MG and Green, L. 1999. ... Santa Monica, Rand Corporation.”. Available from: http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_memoranda/2005/RM5888. pdf [Accessed 4 February 2008]; 4. Dalkey, NC and Helmer, O. 1963. ...