Learning development

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Learning development describes work with students and staff to develop academic practices, with a main focus on students developing academic practices in higher education, which assess the progress of knowledge acquired by the means of structural approaches (Tejero, 2020). Learning developers are academic professionals who: teach, advise and facilitate students to develop their academic practices; create academic development learning resources; and reflect on their own academic practices through a community of practice.

Contents

Hilsdon (2011: 14) defines learning development as, "a complex set of multi-disciplinary and cross-disciplinary academic roles and functions, involving teaching, tutoring, research, and the design and production of learning materials, as well as involvement in staff development, policy-making and other consultative activities." [1]

Learning development is a term used mainly within UK and Australian academia, with some overlap with academic advising in the USA. The learning development movement in the UK has aligned itself closely with the UK Educational Development movement [2] in light of its developmental work with academic staff. However, the primary objective of learning development remains the development of student learning.

History

The learning development movement began with the recognition of a new direction of practice emerging by founding and early members of an email discussion forum Community in 2002, which was transferred to the documented JISCMail Listserv Community LDHEN in 2003. [3] Early members were all involved in the provision of study skills support, but recognised the limitations of a purely study-skills approach. [4]

From 2005 onward, the establishment of the LearnHigher CETL (Centre of Excellence in Teaching and Learning) contributed greatly to the volume of publicly available learning development resources. The LearnHigher CELT was funded by the Higher Education Funding Council and comprised a consortium of teams from 16 universities, led by Liverpool Hope University to develop learning resources in 20 areas of study. LearnHigher aimed to develop and maintain a bank of open access materials for self-access by students. The CETL later referred to their work as learning development.

The LDHEN later restructured and formed the Association of Learning Development in Higher Education (ALDinHE), who published the first peer reviewed journal dedicated to learning development, The Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. This organisation have also organised a themed national conference since 2003 and annually since 2005, contributing greatly to the development of learning development as distinct area of practice. The Staff and Educational Development Association (SEDA)have also provided space for ideas in learning development to develop, as have other student-focused organisations and conferences.

Conferences on learning development

YearOrganiserHost institutionThemeKeynotes speakersResource
2017ALDinHEUniversity of Hull
  • The Impact and Evaluation of Learning Development
  • The Teaching Excellence Framework
  • Assessment and Feedback
  • Collaboration in the Changing Environments
  • Creative Cultures in Learning Development
2016ALDinHE Heriot-Watt University Professor Dave Hill, Dr Sian BayneYes [5]
2015ALDinHE Southampton Solent University Professor Mick Healey, Celia WhitchurchYes [6]
2014ALDinHE Huddersfield University Learning Development Spaces and Places Étienne Wenger, Lesley GourlayYes [7]
2013ALDinHE Plymouth University Celebrating learning developmentDave Cormier, Les Ebdon, Stella Cottrell Yes [8]
2012ALDinHE Leeds University Learning Development in a digital age: emerging literacies and learning spacesHelen Beetham, Paul Andrews, Grainne Conole [9] Yes [10]
2011ALDinHE Queen's University Engaging Students - Engaging LearningPhil Race, Sally Brown, Becka ColleyYes [11]
2010ALDinHE Nottingham Trent University Celebrating Partnerships in LearningMarcia Baxter-Magolda, Glynis CousinYes [12]
2009LDHEN Bournemouth University The challenge of learning developmentDennis Hayes, Alan MortiboysNo
2008LDHEN Bradford University Learning Development – Who Needs It?Ray LandNo
2007LDHEN Bournemouth University How do Students Engage with Learning??Ronald BarnettNo
2006LDHEN and LearnHigher CETL Liverpool Hope University Excellence in Learning Development - What could it be?No
2005LDHEN Northumbria University 'Working for Students' SuccessSteven RowlandsNo
2003LDHEN London Metropolitan University (none)PlenaryNo

Some observers may identify strong learning development themes in conferences in allied areas, such as Writing Development (e.g. Writing Development in Higher Education (WDHE) conferences and EATAW ), Mathematics Support (e.g. the Sigma Network and the CETL-MSOR conferences) or even Educational Development (e.g. SEDA ). Likewise, the HEA's What Works? conferences and the Improving Student Learning annual symposiums have strongly tangential themes. However, these organisations/conferences rarely use the term learning development to describe their activities.

Allied areas of practice

Writing development

Writing development is administratively subsumed within learning development at a number of UK universities, where practices may be merged locally. However, writing development has rich tradition of research and practice, established before learning development and representing a distinct field.

Information literacy

Information literacy is sometimes seen as learning development, but also has its own distinct body of practice and literature.

According to the SCONUL Working Group on Information Literacy (2011: 3), [13] Information Literacy is, "an umbrella term which encompasses concepts such as digital, visual and media literacies, academic literacy, information handling, information skills, data curation and data management."

SCONUL's seven pillars of information literacy are: [13]

Mathematics support

Learning development in numeracy, mathematics and statistics, commonly referred to as "mathematics support", [14] works with students and staff to develop mathematical practice in the disciplines. Mathematics Support ranges from basic adult numeracy [15] to advanced support for second and third year undergraduate mathematics students. [16] This provision is commonly provided via a mathematics (learning) support centre. [17]

The UK mathematics support movement is seen to have begun in 1993 with a conference held at the University of Luton and was influenced by the Minnesota model of developmental mathematics, [18] and may be considered as a sub-movement, separate and tangential to learning development. [19] A recent survey of mathematics support in the UK identified 88 out of 103 responding higher education institutions offering some form of mathematics support. [20]

Mathematics support centres and services are also present in Australia [21] and the Republic of Ireland. [22] Statistics support for final year undergraduate and postgraduate students is often provided via a statistics advisory service. [23]

Areas of learning development

Many learning developers resist categorising their practice into distinct subjects. For example, the use of statistics, encouraged by learning development, is cross-disciplinary, however, resources such as study guides are often categorised into distinct subjects. The following areas of learning development are taken from the LearnHigher website

When critical thinking is applied to external sources it is called critical analysis. Critical analysis is sometimes seen as the 'holy grail' of academic writing or a 'rite of passage' for students to become accepted members of their academic community of practice. There are several different approaches to critical analysis: critically analysing a single source using a premise, argument, conclusion, application approach; moving from descriptive writing to analytical writing to evaluative writing; comparing and contrasting two different opinions using a discursive argumentation format; moving from summarising, to making simple inferences, to critiquing according to objective criteria and bringing in a personal interpretation; and using a questioning approach (who, what, where, why, etc.) to brainstorm an issue.

A developmental model

The learning development movement emphasises learner development from any prior level of ability. [25] This view is generally opposed to study skills that represent remedial education - aiming to bring weaker students up to a set standard. [25] However, accepting that support may be the most developmental approach in some circumstances, study skills remain a feature of learning development. [25]

Provision for strongly performing students and the extent to which a broader base of students should engage with learning development are both currently debated issues..[ citation needed ]

The characteristics of embedded provision, one-to-one provision and resource provision are each underpinned by the developmental model adopted by learning development.[ citation needed ]

Embedding

Teaching with learning objectives is also an effective way of integrating 'learning development' into the curriculum. [26] This characteristic is usually referred to as embedding.

One-to-one provision

Learning development practices have remained committed to provision one-to-one with academic staff. [27]

Provision of resources

Influences

Research-informed practice in learning development has drawn on various traditions of research. Some key examples are provided below.

Academic literacies

Transitions into higher education

The student experience

Student attainment

Assessment criteria

Lea and Street [28] have demonstrated that university staff in various disciplines have varying expectations of students in assignments. Rust et al advocate explicating assessment criteria to augment success not only in the short term, but also to better facilitate learning for the long term. [29] Nicol and Macfarlane-Dick summarise converging literature suggesting that internal feedback and student self-regulation are only possible with a good conception of the criteria. [30] This has prompted learning developers to work centrally to explicate or negotiate assessment criteria. This ranges from resources providing disciplinary definitions of keywords, to one-to-one practice to negotiate student understandings of assessment criteria with reference to assignment drafts.

Linguistics and EAP

English for Academic Purposes is an area which has a close relationship with Learning Development [31]

See also

Related Research Articles

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Literacy in its broadest sense describes "particular ways of thinking about and doing reading and writing" with the purpose of understanding or expressing thoughts or ideas in written form in some specific context of use. In other words, humans in literate societies have sets of practices for producing and consuming writing, and they also have beliefs about these practices. Reading, in this view, is always reading something for some purpose; writing is always writing something for someone for some particular ends. Beliefs about reading and writing and its value for society and for the individual always influence the ways literacy is taught, learned, and practiced over the lifespan.

Education in England is overseen by the United Kingdom's Department for Education. Local government authorities are responsible for implementing policy for public education and state-funded schools at a local level.

The Association of College & Research Libraries defines information literacy as a "set of integrated abilities encompassing the reflective discovery of information, the understanding of how information is produced and valued and the use of information in creating new knowledge and participating ethically in communities of learning".

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The Key Skills Qualification is a frequently required component of 14-20 education in England, Northern Ireland and Wales. The aim of Key Skills is to encourage learners to develop and demonstrate their skills as well as learn how to select and apply skills in ways that are appropriate to their particular context.

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Australian Council for Educational Research Educational research organization

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Learning disability Range of neurodevelopmental conditions

Learning disability, learning disorder, or learning difficulty is a condition in the brain that causes difficulties comprehending or processing information and can be caused by several different factors. Given the "difficulty learning in a typical manner", this does not exclude the ability to learn in a different manner. Therefore, some people can be more accurately described as having a "learning difference", thus avoiding any misconception of being disabled with a lack of ability to learn and possible negative stereotyping. In the United Kingdom, the term "learning disability" generally refers to an intellectual disability, while difficulties such as dyslexia and dyspraxia are usually referred to as "learning difficulties".

Skills for Life was the national strategy in England for improving adult literacy, language (ESOL) and numeracy skills and was established as part of the wider national Skills Strategy to increase the numbers of young people and adults with adequate skills. The strategy was launched by the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, in March 2001.

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Brian Street

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Rosalind Ivanić is a Yugoslav-born British linguist. She is currently an honorary professor at the Department of Linguistics and English Language of Lancaster University, United Kingdom. Her research focuses on applied linguistics with a special focus on literacy, intertextuality, multimodal communication, adult literacy, educational linguistics, critical language awareness, punctuation, and second language writing. Along with Theo van Leeuwen and David Barton, she is considered one of the most prominent researchers on literacy.

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References

  1. Hilsdon, J. (2011). What is Learning Development? In P. Hartley, J. Hilsdon, C. Keenan, S. Sinfield & M. Verity, eds. Learning Development in Higher Education. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 13-27.
  2. Gosling, D. (2008) Educational Development in the United Kingdom. Heads of Educational Development Group. Available at: http://www.hedg.ac.uk/documents/HEDG_Report_final.pdf%5B%5D [Accessed 20 June 2013]
  3. Association for Learning Development in Higher Education (2012) Learning Development in Higher Education Network (LDHEN) [accessed 16/06/13]. Available from http://www.aldinhe.ac.uk/ldhen.html.
  4. Possibly influenced by understandings reflected in Lea, M. & Street, B. (1998) Student Writing in Higher Education: An Academic Literacies Approach, Studies in Higher Education, 29(6), pp. 157-172.
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  9. in absentia
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  12. "7th LDHEN Symposium - "Celebrating Partnerships in Learning"". www.aldinhe.ac.uk.
  13. 1 2 SCONUL Working Group on Information Literacy (2011) The SCONUL Seven Pillars of information literacy: Core model for higher education. [pdf] Available at: http://www.sconul.ac.uk/sites/default/files/documents/coremodel.pdf [Accessed 20 June 2013].
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  15. Coben, D., Colwell, D., Macrae, S., Boaler, J., Brown, M. and Rhodes, V. (2003) Adult numeracy: Review of research and related literature. London: National Research and Development Centre for Adult Literacy and Numeracy.
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  17. Lawson, D.A., Croft, A.C. and Halpin, M. (2003) Good practice in the provision of mathematics support centres. 2nd edn. Birmingham: LTSN Maths, Stats and OR Network. Available at: http://newukmlsc.lboro.ac.uk/resources/Good%20Practice%20Guide/goodpractice2E.pdf [Accessed: 20 June 2013].
  18. Beveridge, I. (1993) The Minnesota Model of Developmental Maths. Available at: http://www.sigma-cetl.ac.uk/index.php?action=download_resource&id=322&module=resourcesmodule&src=%40random4b8fd8fe5704c [Accessed 20 June 2013].
  19. Samuels, P. C. (2013) Promoting Learning Development as an Academic Discipline, Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education, 5, available at: http://www.aldinhe.ac.uk/ojs/index.php?journal=jldhe&page=article&op=view&path%5B%5D=146 [Accessed 20 June 2013].
  20. Perkin, G., Lawson, D. A. & Croft, A. C. (2012) Mathematics learning support in UK Higher Education: the extent of provision in 2012. [pdf] Birmingham: National HE STEM Programme. Available at: http://www.sigma-network.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/MathematicsLearningSupportProvision2012.pdf [Accessed 21 June 2013].
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  22. Gill, O., O’Donoghue, J. and Johnson, P. (2008) An Audit of Mathematical Support Provisions in Irish Third Level Institutes. Limerick: CEMTL, University of Limerick.
  23. Smith, K. and Gadsden, R. (2006) Sigma SAS rescuing projects, In CETL MSOR Conference 2006, Loughborough University (ed. D. Green), pp. 149-154.
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  26. Wingate, U. (2006). Doing away with ‘study skills’. Teaching in Higher Education, 11(4), 457-469.
  27. Turner, J. (2010) The Case for One-to-One Academic Advice for Students. Hartley, P., Hilsdon, J., Sinfield, S., Keenan, C., & Verity, M. (Eds.). (2010). "Learning development in higher education". Palgrave Macmillan.
  28. Lea, M. & Street, B. (2000)
  29. Rust, P. Price, M. & O’Donovan, B. (2003) Improving students' learning by developing their understanding of assessment criteria and processes. Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education, 28(2), pp147-164.
  30. Nicol, D. J. & Macfarlane-Dick, D. (2006) Formative assessment and self-regulated learning: a model and seven principles of good feedback practice. Studies in Higher Education, 31(2), pp199-218. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  31. Hilsdon, J (2018). The significance of the field of practice 'Learning Development'in UK higher education (PDF) (Thesis). University of Plymouth.