Imperial showcases research into education

Dr Mike Streule, Director of Undergraduate Studies for the Department of Earth Science and Engineering

The Education Research Showcase saw Imperial academics present the latest research into teaching and education.

Organised by the Educational Development Unit (EDU), the event celebrated staff who have recently completed education-focused qualifications.

The evening was hosted by Professor Martyn Kingsbury, Head of the EDU and Imperial’s first Professor of Education, Professor Alan Spivey, Assistant Provost (Learning and Teaching), and Professor Simone Buitendjik, Vice-Provost (Education).

Echoing Imperial’s new Learning and Teaching Strategy, which includes a commitment to evidence-based innovation, Professor Buitendjik said: “We want to be both guided by and contribute to academic research into learning and teaching. By evaluating the impact of our education and adjusting our teaching methods if needed, we will continue to enhance the quality of education at Imperial.

“I am impressed by members of our academic staff who are putting this into action – and I enjoy watching their presentations and learning from them. It is important to pause and celebrate achievements.”  

The EDU provides support for Imperial staff with teaching responsibilities to undertake a range of stand-alone workshops covering various aspects of learning and teaching. It also offers taught programmes up to Master’s level, including a Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert), Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) and Master of Education (MEd) in University Learning and Teaching.

These three courses form a practice-centred three-stage approach to the study of teaching and learning in the university setting, encouraging participants to critically engage with wider educational theory. The full MEd programme provides training and support in education research methodology and allows participants to investigate and inform their teaching practice through research.

Student voice

The event featured a series of presentations from staff who had recently completed a Master’s in Education (MEd), which includes a research project element.

Dr Mike Streule, Director of Undergraduate Studies for the Department of Earth Science and Engineering, discussed his research which looked at using the student voice to understand teaching excellence and esteem across the Faculty of Engineering.

He said: “We find it easy to talk about research excellence and identify highly esteemed researchers. We should be able to talk about teaching excellence and identify highly esteemed teachers too.”

Dr Toby Athersuch from the Department of Surgery and Cancer presented on his research project, which investigated how doctoral students perceive their research environment and community, and their identity as researchers within this.

The final presentation, by Dr Tanya Tolmachova, formerly of the National Heart and Lung Institute, focused on what medical students and their educators perceive as academic success in years one and two of their six-year programme and how these perceptions differ. Dr Tolmachova presented several recommendations based on her research, including developing more in-course assessments, community experiences as part of the learning process and interactive small group teaching.

Award winners

The event included the annual prize-giving for staff who have completed the PG Cert, PG Dip and MEd in University Learning and Teaching. The award-winners for 2017 are as follows:

PG Cert Rees Rawlings Prize:

Dr Edward Stott, Teaching Fellow, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

Annual award for the student with the best PG Cert University Learning and Teaching portfolio.

PG Diploma Routledge Education Prize:

Dr Adam Sadowski, Lecturer in Structures, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Research project: ‘Does not compute? Why even the numerically literate struggle to learn programming.’

PG Diploma Library Project Prize:

Dr Andy McKeown, Course Director - Integrated Clinical Apprenticeship, Primary Care and Public Health.

Research project: ‘Fake it ‘till you make it?’: Longitudinal Integrated Clerkships and Educational Authenticity.’

Dr Sophie Rutschmann, Senior Lecturer, Department of Medicine.

Research project: ‘Critical thinking: let’s celebrate our differences!’

MEd Dissertation Prize:

Dr Tanya Tolmachova, formerly Research Fellow, National Heart and Lung Institute.

Dissertation: ‘What helps medical students to achieve academic success in Years 1 and 2?’