Presented at Enhancing Student Learning Through Innovative Scholarship Conference, Edinburgh Napier University, July 2019

1. From Newcastle. For the world.
Enhancing Student Learning Through Innovative Scholarship Conference
Edinburgh Napier University, 19th July 2019
Reviewing undergraduate
skills teaching in Natural
and Environmental
Sciences
Dr Sara Marsham
sara.marsham@ncl.ac.uk
@sara_marine
Dr Alison Graham
alison.graham@ncl.ac.uk
@alisonigraham
School of Natural and Environmental Sciences
@SciencesNCL

2. From Newcastle. For the world. 2
Enhancing Student Learning Through Innovative Scholarship Conference
Skills Teaching
oEssential component of programme delivery within School of Natural and Environmental
Sciences (SNES)
oIncludes academic writing; data analysis, presentation and interpretation; oral and poster
presentations
oCombination of innovative teaching techniques e.g. flipped classroom and more traditional
approaches in a creative manner e.g. tutorial systems
oCurrently three successful Stage 1, and two Stage 2 skills modules from the former
Schools of Biology, Marine Sciences, and Agriculture, Food and Rural Development
oModule Leaders expressed concern that skills taught in Stage 1 are not retained into
Stages 2 and 3

3. From Newcastle. For the world. 3
Enhancing Student Learning Through Innovative Scholarship Conference
Review and critique skills
teaching across Stages 1 and 2
in SNES to allow us to identify
where we can consolidate
existing resources, consider
staffing requirements, and
remove over-assessment

4. From Newcastle. For the world. 4
Enhancing Student Learning Through Innovative Scholarship Conference
Approach
oSkills audit across SNES - what skills delivered, how and when
oFocus groups with students
oDiscussions with Module Leaders and academics
Identified key skills all SNES
graduates require

5. From Newcastle. For the world. 5
Enhancing Student Learning Through Innovative Scholarship Conference
Successes
Sharing
effective
approaches
across
disciplines
Retention of
workshop/
tutorial delivery
format
Contributions from
Careers Service,
Library and Writing
Development
Centre

6. From Newcastle. For the world. 6
Enhancing Student Learning Through Innovative Scholarship Conference
Outputs
oNew Stage 1 module for 2019-2020 delivery for all Biology, Zoology and Marine Science
students
oFocus on United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
oDiscipline-specific skills teaching at Stage 2 from 2020-2021

7. From Newcastle. For the world.
Enhancing Student Learning Through Innovative Scholarship Conference
Edinburgh Napier University, 19th July 2019
Thank you
Dr Sara Marsham
sara.marsham@ncl.ac.uk
http://www.slideshare.net/SaraMarsham/presentations
@sara_marine
Dr Alison Graham
alison.graham@ncl.ac.uk
http://www.slideshare.net/AlisonGraham15
@alisonigraham
School of Natural and Environmental Sciences
@SciencesNCL
Acknowledgements:
Newcastle University's Innovation
Fund for funding this project
Dr Sarah Warner (RA)
Skills Task & Finish Group
SNES students and staff
contributing to focus groups