The Curriculum MakerSpaces provide teams with access to collective educational expertise in the design, build and evaluation of their projects. It ensures that projects achieve their aims, are fit for purpose, completed on time, and within specifications and budget. The model draws on similar curriculum renewal processes in place elsewhere, for example at
Oxford Brookes (opens in a new window) and
Macquarie universities (opens in a new window).
The MakerSpaces offer a formal and intensive development process for project teams. Each team will have access to a number of centrally coordinated sessions.
MakerSpace 1: Orientation
A half-day orientation session took place for all Project Leads and the Learning Futures team on Fri 16 March, 12.00pm-4.30pm. The session supported all Project Leads in refining the scope of the educational expertise required for the project’s success. There were opportunities to learn about the range of projects, their topic areas, and the curriculum elements funded under the Flagship Scheme. Teams were allocated a key liaison from the Learning Transformations team.
MakerSpace 2: Design / Build / Review
On Wednesday 2nd and Thursday 3rd of May, teams were given substantial time to progress their projects. During these two full consecutive days, teams developed a storyboard that articulated the content, structure, key activities and sequencing of the curriculum element, agreed to a project timeline, developed a plan for writing content, and identified the information needed to proceed to the next stage.
MakerSpace 3: On Wednesday 20th June, teams regrouped to consider new information / resources they have collected and resume content writing and development for their project in line with the storyboard requirements. They also outlined an evaluation plan. At the end of the day, teams had made significant progress on building their project.
MakerSpace 4: The Pitch Teams presented their projects-in-progress at the July Curriculum Scholars Network on Monday 23rd July meeting for additional feedback and refinement.
MakerSpace 5: Test and Implement
By the end of September, teams had developed a Working Prototype and had it subjected to a round of user testing.
MakerSpace 6: Reflect and Evaluate
All Project Leads (and teams) were invited to a half-day session on Thursday 31st January 2019 intended to support teams reflect on their participation and the outcome. They considered the data that enables them to determine the future impact of their project as well as the possibility of research and publication.
Alongside the project itself, teams will be invited to participate in the
Educational Fellowship Scheme (opens in a new window) which supports staff develop an application to become a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA). This scheme is available to both academic and professional staff as part of the university’s Access Partnership, and it supports staff with different expertise and experience to be recognised at a range of levels: Associate Fellow, Fellow, Senior Fellow and Principal Fellow.
While the budget exclusions restrict project teams’ capacity to apply for funding related to scholarly conferences, teams may be interested in planning a program of research as a result of their Flagship Curriculum Projects - particularly because evaluation is a key part of the success of each project. Where this is the case, the final stage of the process will support teams to shape a program of research and to consider an application for ethics. Teams are encouraged to plan and design their research in conjunction with their external and student partners.