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April 2015
Update on Activities from CEDE
The Centre for Engineering and Design Education
Interim Report for the CEDE Management Board
Melanie King
April 2015
The Centre for Engineering and Design Education
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April 2015
Update on Activities from CEDE
This is an interim progress report, from the Centre for Engineering and Design Education (CEDE) on the activities
for our Schools for the period November 2014 – April 2015 and other projects and activities we are undertaking.
For further, more detailed project information
please click the EDEN Share repository link for
each project or get in touch with the CEDE
Project lead.
CEDE are also piloting a project Kanban wall in
our main office. This shows up-to-minute
information on what we’re all currently up to
and the progress of activities. Pop in at any
time and we’d be happy to give you an
overview.
1. Update on Schools’ projects
WebPA enhancements
AACME
School contact:
Richard Holdich
Start date:
Summer 2015
CEDE contact:
Melanie King
End date:
September 2015
Activity outline
Carry out minor updates to WebPA so that students can be randomly assigned to
groups.
Outputs
An updated WebPA.
Progress to date
Not yet started.
Further details available at: http://eden-share.lboro.ac.uk/id/item/90/
ProjectList updates
AACME
School contact:
Karen Coopman
CEDE contact:
Melanie King
Start date:
End date:
Activity outline
Carry out minor updates to ProjectList to include categories.
Outputs
An updated ProjectList.
Progress to date
Not yet started.
Summer 2015
September 2015
Further details available at: http://eden-share.lboro.ac.uk/id/item/91/
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April 2015
Update on Activities from CEDE
COSHH for engineering laboratories
AACME
School contact:
Simon Martin
Start date:
December 2014
CEDE contact:
Lynda Gibbins
End date:
October 2015
Activity outline
Options to simplify the process of creating and approving COSHH forms within AACME
are under investigation.
Outputs
Possible improvements to consider will be identified, although there is insufficient IT
resource to build any new tools at this stage.
Progress to date
A comparative list of available commercial software to manage COSHH forms and
chemical stock control was provided to the Department of Materials to see if any of
these met the current needs. Initial investigations into functionality of existing software
tools and Google Forms are underway. The departmental Safety Officer has been
interviewed to understand better the current process and problems.
Further details available at: http://eden-share.lboro.ac.uk/id/item/92/
CASPA: Impact assessment and enhancements
AACME
School contact:
Dawn Dawson
CEDE contact:
Sarah Bamforth
Start date: January 2015
End date: October 2015
Activity outline
The activity aims to enhance functionality for CASPA based on key user
requirements. The activity will gather these requirements through surveys of Admin
staff and students. The activity will also identify from the user’s perspective the impact
of CASPA on their processes.
Outputs
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
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Progress to date
A focus group discussion has been undertaken with administrative staff to identify
additional user requirements. A pilot survey has been undertaken with
students. Additional surveys with administrative staff and students will take place
shortly; these will focus on the impact of CASPA.
Evaluation of CASPA in terms of its usefulness
A prioritised list of CASPA enhancements
Enhanced functionality in CASPA
Further details available at: http://eden-share.lboro.ac.uk/id/item/93/
Extension of laboratory refresh project
AACME
Activity outline
School contact:
Simon Martin
Start date: November 2014
CEDE contact:
Lynda Gibbins
End date: October 2015
This is an extension of an earlier project to update and refresh the undergraduate
laboratory experience. It aims to assess how to adapt the Department of Materials
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April 2015
Update on Activities from CEDE
model to other departments within AACME.
Outputs
A set of guidelines is in preparation that will capture the lessons learned during the
laboratory refresh project undertaken with the Department of Materials. Advice and
key success factors are offered on quick wins and more substantial changes that could
be introduced by others in the future.
Progress to date
The views of affected staff and students have been captured, and several of the new
laboratory sessions were observed. The guidelines document is in the final stages of
review.
Further details available at: http://eden-share.lboro.ac.uk/id/item/94/
Gap to map: critical thinking for civil engineers
CBE
School contact:
Graham Sander
CEDE contact:
Lynda Gibbins
Start date: December 2014
End date: October 2015
Activity outline
The aim of this project is to identify more opportunities to teach and assess critical
thinking skills to undergraduates across CBE.
Outputs
A critical thinking “Manifesto” will be produced, which will capture the current position
on critical thinking skills for CBE students and identify any gaps in undergraduate
teaching and assessment. Strategies to address any gaps will be proposed.
Progress to date
A review of the pedagogical literature is well advanced, and case studies and teaching
approaches from a range of institutions are under investigation. Interviews with CBE
Programme Directors are scheduled to analyse each module in detail.
Further details available at: http://eden-share.lboro.ac.uk/id/item/85/
Review of peer assessment practice in CBE
CBE
School contact:
Graham Sander
CEDE contact:
Glynis Perkin
Start date: January 2015
End date: October 2015
Activity outline
The aim of this project is to determine good practice in assessing and feeding back on
group coursework with specific guidance on peer assessment.
Outputs
The output will be a report setting out good practice in assessing and feeding back on
group coursework with specific guidance on peer assessment.
Progress to date
A small review of the literature has been undertaken. Meetings have been arranged
with staff in other engineering departments.
Further details available at: http://eden-share.lboro.ac.uk/id/item/86/
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April 2015
Update on Activities from CEDE
Enhancing engineering learning and teaching with technology
EESE
School contact:
Vince Dwyer
Start date: November 2014
CEDE contact:
Glynis Perkin
End date: October 2015
Activity outline
The aim of this project is to determine what innovative technology is used for teaching
engineering at Loughborough and other institutions.
Outputs
The main output will be the production of a booklet (resource bank) of ideas. CEDE will
also provide assistance to Vince Dwyer to raise awareness of the technologies being
used amongst staff in the School.
Progress to date
A comprehensive search and review of the literature has been undertaken.
Further details available at: http://eden-share.lboro.ac.uk/id/item/83/
Understanding excellence in distance learning for systems engineering
EESE
School contact:
Vince Dwyer
CEDE contact:
Sarah Bamforth
Start date: December 2014
End date: October 2015
Activity outline
This project seeks to assess the new Systems Engineering distance learning module to
capture the staff and student perspective and thereby to extend good practice to
enhance this and other teaching elements. Interviews with students, model leaders and
module helpers are planned.
Outputs


Progress to date
The student interview aspect of the study has been conducted and the findings
analysed and disseminated to the module leaders in order for them to make
enhancements to the module design.
Informal report on the findings of the evaluation
Effective practice for developing and running a Distance Learning module resource
for EESE. (Resource type to be agreed)
Further details available at: http://eden-share.lboro.ac.uk/id/item/84/
Kit Critique enhancements
LDS
School contact:
John McCardle
CEDE contact:
Matt Mould
Start date: November 2014
End date: October 2015
Activity outline
Some developments to Kit-Critique in order to allow for specific commenting types on
the items have been made as well as support for a live trial with a module and then
further edits as required.
Outputs
A trial of Kit-Critique in a live module (14DSA002) and enhancements based on the trial.
Progress to date
Some issues were noted and fixed in February about its usage – mainly to do with the
student comments and ability to edit (which went from having a window, to the
window being removed altogether). There are still issues based around removing items,
and categorising items within the Critique catalogue.
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April 2015
Update on Activities from CEDE
Further details available at: http://eden-share.lboro.ac.uk/id/item/54/
Evaluation of Design School feedback forms
LDS
School contact:
John McCardle
CEDE contact:
Glynis Perkin
Start date: March 2015
End date: October 2015
Activity outline
The aims of this project are to evaluate the standardised paper-based feedback form
that was developed during the 2013/2014 academic year. Following evaluation the
feedback form is to be incorporated in Co-Tutor.
Outputs
A digitised method of providing the agreed LDS feedback form(s) in Co-Tutor.
Progress to date
Members of the Design School staff are undertaking a trial of the paper-based forms
during Semester 2.
Further details available at: http://eden-share.lboro.ac.uk/id/item/88/
Marking Design School presentations: exploring how technology can help
LDS
School contact:
Richard Bibb
Start date: January 2015
CEDE contact:
Glynis Perkin
End date: October 2015
Activity outline
The aim of this project is to produce grade descriptors, assessment criteria and
feedback comments for oral presentations and then undertake a feasibility study for an
automated system.
Outputs
A paper-based document with grade descriptors, assessment criteria and a bank of
feedback comments and an outline of an automated system.
Progress to date
A paper-based document detailing grade descriptors, assessment criteria and a bank of
feedback comments has been completed.
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April 2015
Update on Activities from CEDE
Further details available at: http://eden-share.lboro.ac.uk/id/item/89/
DPS management
MM
School contact:
Darren Watts
CEDE contact:
Caroline Lowery
Start date: January 2015
End date: October 2015
Activity outline
The current management of both DIS and DPS placements has inconsistencies with
academic staff undertaking student/visiting tutor interactions, giving feedback and
undertaking company visits at different times and using different formats. There needs
to be a consistent way to undertake the management of student placements to allow
students to receive the same effective experience and to enable staff to efficiently
monitor and manage student placements.
Outputs
Improved management of DIS and DPS placements using existing university systems
(CASPA, Co-Tutor and Learn). A manual for visiting tutors on the steps that need to be
undertaken. Also, a student guide to what needs to be done, when and how. A manual
for the Industrial Placement Co-ordinator (Darren) will also be produced.
Progress to date
The user requirements have been outlined and existing functionality within the current
university systems available has been examined. CEDE is currently determining how
staff and students should utilise the existing systems and examining any enhanced
functionality necessary in order to undertake effective placement management. A
proposed generic process map using service design methodology has been created
along with a systems architecture diagram of how data and systems to support all
processes will be developed. A proposed solution has been designed and a meeting has
been arranged with Darren to sign off the proposed approach.
Further details available at: http://eden-share.lboro.ac.uk/id/item/95/
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April 2015
Update on Activities from CEDE
Elective modules: online information
MM
School contact:
Ann Hall
CEDE contact:
Caroline Lowery
Start date: October 2014
End date: April 2015
Activity outline
The existing module option information for mechanical and manufacturing students is
difficult for users to navigate. The activity involves the development of a more user
friendly interface to aid students in making an informed decision about their elective
module choices.
Outputs
A user friendly set of module option information webpages that allows students to
navigate to their required information easily and efficiently.
Progress to date
The existing webpages have been redesigned to provide a more user friendly
experience for students. Students are now able to access their required module
material efficiently using a tabbed structure. The completed pages have been
developed and provided to Wolfson School to allow them to upload the pages to their
School server.
Further details available at: http://eden-share.lboro.ac.uk/id/item/96/
Consistency of marking
MM
School contact:
Paul Maynard
CEDE contact:
Caroline Lowery
Start date: March 2015
End date: October 2015
Activity outline
The original project proposal identified issues with marking inconsistency between
multiple markers due to differences in interpretations of ‘excellent, good, poor’ and
how these translate to marks. The proposal originally focused on solving this issue by
the creation of a system where the mark is automatically generated from the
categorisation of a student’s performance. However in scoping out this project, the
issue of a single set of grade descriptors to cover multiple assessment methods has
been identified and the difficulties this presents. The focus of the project has therefore
shifted to addressing this issue first before specifying the functional and user
requirements for a system that could automate the process of translating grade
descriptors into marks.
Outputs


Progress to date
The creation of assessment method specific grade descriptors bespoke to the
Wolfson School. (Oral Presentations; Group viva; Report; Posters).
Recommendations for a system suitable to computerise the process.
The final scope of the project has now been signed off so the project is currently
underway.
Further details available at: http://eden-share.lboro.ac.uk/id/item/97/
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April 2015
Update on Activities from CEDE
2. Externally funded projects
Co-Tutor Commercialisation
CEDE contact:
Melanie King
Funders:
HEIF & Jisc
Start date: July 2014
End date: July 2016
Activity outline
To create a commercial version of Co-Tutor and to pilot that version in 2+ institutions in
the UK on the Jisc’s cloud based Janet platform (Arcus global). To continue to develop
features and functionality based on requirements from the pilot group and to evaluate
the use of the tool in other institutions in the context of it becoming a national Jisc
service.
Outputs
Future roadmap features include:
TUTORING AND SUPERVISING
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
Richer student data (disability and additional needs, social / extra curricular
activities, CV, records of achievement)
Milestones and workflow for all student types (e.g. dept milestones,
programme milestones for UG and PG students, plus associated reporting)
STUDENT INTERFACE
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Students can log in and access certain parts of their record
Book available meeting slots
Contact tutor and save into record
Submit placement reports and upload CV etc.
CUSTOM CONFIGURATION PER ORGANISATION
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Organisational structure
Additional Roles with associated permissions
Custom comment categories
Custom help and support links to local files and websites etc.
REPORTING & ANALYTICS
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Additional visualisations and reports on data for tutors e.g attendance patterns
Dashboards for tutor roles
Tools for data-mining across organisation and associated visualisation for BI
applications.
SUPPORT MATERIALS FOR TUTORS AND STUDENTS


Progress to date
Context sensitive help links to online knowledge base
Access to Co-Tutor Know-how Forum (Co-Tutor Community of Practice)
Developments have been undertaken already and the latest version of Co-Tutor was
released at Loughborough in October 2014. Systems are being set up for Queen Mary
University in London (QMUL) and the University of Southampton on the cloud. Demos
planned soon at Birmingham and Dundee Medical School.
Further details available at: http://www.co-tutor.co.uk
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April 2015
Update on Activities from CEDE
Kit-Catalogue
Activity outline
CEDE contact:
Melanie King
Funders:
Jisc
Start date: July 2014
End date: July 2016
The pilot will take place over a two-year period (Aug’14 – Jul’16) with ten institutions.
We will explore if Kit-Catalogue can:



Make it easier for institutions to achieve efficiency savings through sharing
facilities
Deliver demonstrable progress against the Research Council UK’s (RCUK)
strategic goals in this area
Stimulate and facilitate new collaborations, both within HE and with industry.
We will also:



Establish resource requirements to offer Kit-Catalogue as a full cloud hosted Jisc
service
Support further development of the Kit-Catalogue software, according to a
roadmap developed with pilot institutions
Work with the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC’s)
equipment data project to create a user friendly ‘one stop shop’ for equipment
sharing.
Together, these databases now include details of over 10,000 items of high value
equipment being shared with research and industry.
Outputs
A hosted pilot with 10 institutions (Aston University; University of Birmingham;
University of Brighton; De Montfort University; Loughborough University; Newcastle
University; Northumbria University; University College London (UCL); University of
Leicester; University of Nottingham; University of Portsmouth). Two user group
meetings, associated materials and system development.
Progress to date
A user group meeting was held in
November 2014 to prioritise the
roadmap and developments are
underway. A Jisc promotional video was
produced at the user group. A case
study has been produced for the
Efficiency Exchange website and a beta
Android App has been developed.
Project details available at: http://www.kit-catalogue.com/projectpages/community/jisc-pilot/
Case study: http://www.efficiencyexchange.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/KitCat_casestudy_ee_Feb15.pdf
Jisc promotional video: http://t.co/am8Yj7FxP7
Kit-Catalogue Android App: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.ac.jisc.kitcat&hl=en_GB
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April 2015
Update on Activities from CEDE
3. Community of practice
Events Attended
Sarah Bamforth and Glynis Perkin attended INTED2015: The 9th International Technology, Education and
Development Conference held in Madrid, 2nd – 4th March 2015. They presented a paper entitled “Feedback on
student assignments: are there impediments to using feedback to feed forward?”
UNITECH General Assembly 2014, Delft, Netherlands
Huzaifa (CEDE’s intern) presenting at UNITECH GA
Adam Crawford and Ashraf El-Hamalawi from Civil
and Building Engineering and Huzaifa Essajee
(CEDE’s graduate intern and UNITECH alumnus)
attended the UNITECH General Assembly taking
place in Delft, Netherlands from Wednesday 27th
August to Saturday 30th August 2014. This is the
yearly reunion event where academic partners,
corporate partners, current students, new students
who are starting the programme and alumni come
together to network and gain new experiences.
Huzaifa was one of four delegates selected
(together with a panel of corporate and academic
partners) to pitch ideas for the development of
UNITECH to the audience of alumni and other
stakeholders.
Further details available at: https://cedeintern.wordpress.com/2014/10/09/what-do-bicycles-tu-delft-andunitech-have-in-common/
Events Hosted
UNITECH Mid-Term-Week 2015
The second joint module for UNITECH was hosted by Loughborough University in the Keith Green Building and
Stewart Mason Building from Sunday 5th January to Friday 9th January 2015. CEDE’s Kate Everest and Huzaifa
Essajee were instrumental in organising and facilitating this event. Huzaifa was also closely involved with the dayto-day running of the event and organised a site visit to our corporate partner, Caterpillar. The new students
(2014-2015) were allocated groups and worked on case studies set by their corporate case advisors. They were
required to share their interim ideas/results by the end of the week, which were presented to all the students,
corporate case advisors and their UNITECH coaches.
Further details available at: https://cedeintern.wordpress.com/2015/01/19/unitech-mid-term-week-2015/.
UNITECH Assessment Centre 2015
Loughborough’s student participation in the UNITECH programme is increasing year on year with the number of
applications increased to thirteen. Huzaifa Essajee actively promoted the scheme to our undergraduates, and
facilitated the smooth running of the Assessment Centre (Thursday 12th February 2015). He also invigilated the
student preparation sessions for the presentations. At the end of the assessment centre, carried out by HR
personnel from the UNITECH Corporate Partners in the same fashion as carried out in industry for placement and
graduate assessment centres, ten students were selected to be on the programme.
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April 2015
Update on Activities from CEDE
Further details available at: https://cedeintern.wordpress.com/2015/02/16/unitech-assessment-centre-2015/.
British Computer Society’s 20th Annual SQM and INSPIRE 2015 international conference
CEDE were pleased to host the above 2-day conference in the Keith Green Building, on March 30-31st 2015.
Delegates from across the globe participated in sessions on a range of topics. Inspire addresses software process
improvement related to teaching, training and research whilst SQM addresses issues relevant to business and
industry. Melanie gave an Inspire keynote on day two entitled, ’18 years developing educational technology for
Loughborough and beyond’. The talk covered the history of the Centre and the evolution of the Centre’s
methods, management and learning technology products.
The PowerPoint from Melanie’s Keynote presentation can be seen here: http://t.co/rG8FNetsGT
EDEN FLIX
This academic year has seen the screening of seven out of the nine scheduled EDEN FLIX documentaries so far
which are open to Loughborough University staff and students. There have been a range of topics relating to
engineering, design, sustainability, politics and economics amongst others. Huzaifa invited academic speakers to
present and take questions on four of the documentaries, which gave an opportunity for patrons to think critically
and look at different points of view.
EDEN SHARE
Our teaching and learning repository, EDENShare (http://edenshare.lboro.ac.uk), stores information on all CEDE’s projects, past and present.
There are also a number of previous HEA Engineering Subject Centre resources,
updated and republished online by CEDE as “Busy Academic’s Guides”. The
following updated guides are currently available:
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An Introduction to Sustainable Development in the Engineering
Curriculum
Approaches to the Teaching of Design
Education Theories of Learning
Personal Tutoring
To download the updated guides, visit:
http://eden-share.lboro.ac.uk/item/busy-academic-s-guides/76
4. Working with other areas of the University
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Glynis and Sarah are members of the assessment sub-group, which is part of the Programme Design and
Delivery initiative being led by The Centre for Academic Practice (CAP).
Huzaifa and Glynis are members of the Student Enterprise group. The outputs of CONNECT (student-led
activities) are presented at these monthly meetings.
Melanie sits on the IT Portfolio Board (ITPB), the Student Systems Steering Group (SSSG), the Student
Systems Monitoring Group (SSMG) and the Teaching Innovation Awards Panel.
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Update on Activities from CEDE
April 2015
CONNECT – Student-led activities
Huzaifa is the advisor for CONNECT (student-led activities) which is run by students who engage with employers
to develop their extracurricular skills. So far, the newly selected CONNECT committee have run two events this
year. The first event was a Symposium held on Wednesday 19th November 2014. Following on from the success
of this event, a PwC Workshop was held on Wednesday 18th February 2015. The purpose of the events was to
involve students who are looking to develop their employability skills and learn about a new area outside their
course.
5. Publications
Bamforth, S., Perkin, G. & Glass, J. (2015) Feedback on student assignments: are there impediments to using
feedback to feed forward? Paper presented at: INTED2015 Conference: 9th International Technology, Education
and Development Conference, 2nd – 4th March 2015, Madrid.
6. Staffing
We say goodbye Kate Collins after 10 years working in the HEA Engineering Subject Centre and CEDE. Kate is now
working at the University Library. Kate Everest is also on secondment at the UTC within AACME for 9 months.
Kay Davey, who is working at WEDC, will be covering Kate’s secondment at CEDE.
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