The programme team for the BA (Hons), Film, Radio and\nTelevision (FRTV), aimed to increase the participation of students in student\nvoice activities, including: evaluations, staff student liaison, social events,\nand informal feedback. This was done in response to 2017-18 NSS results in this\narea which, while holding up well against sector average, still needed some\nimprovements. The team determined to work intensively on increasing\nparticipation levels in student voice activities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nature of initiatives\nto foster the student voice<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The team committed to engage with gathering student feedback\nregularly. Formative evaluations for each module was carried out half way\nthrough the semester. Information was gathered from students through a simple\nform, asking for comments on what was going well on the module and what might\nbe improved. The students completed these forms as part of a session, with the\ntutors out of the room. Positive comments and comments pointing towards\nimprovements were discussed in the next session and where possible, solutions\nsuggested to overcome suggested problems. The students appreciated this\nexchange and felt their voices were being heard and valued. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This and other student evaluations and reports through\nBlackboard and Staff Student liaison meetings (SSLMs) also occurred. Much\nattention was given to closing the feedback loop and informing students how we\naddressed their questions and concerns. The team acted on evaluations in a\ntimely manner, reported changes to the students through social media,\nBlackboard and in class discussion sessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Level 5 and Level 6 induction\nsessions start the year with comments from the Programme Director about how we\nacted on student feedback from summative evaluations and how this has been\nworked in to the Programme Action Plan for Annual Programme Monitoring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team also organised student-led social events involving the programme team (academic, administration and technical). The Christmas Bash and the Summer Bash proved a huge success in developing a sense of solidarity, community and enhanced students\u2019 ability to connect with programme staff around evaluation and feedback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Staff development activities were also organised, to focus\non the student voice, with the participation of student representatives on the Staff\/Student\nLiaison Committee. Overall, it is a whole checklist of student voice activities\nthat was put into practice to ensure students feel that staff value their views\nand opinions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Outcome<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In the July 2019 NSS results, an overall NSS score of 85 %\nsatisfaction for Student voice was recorded, thirteen points above the sector\naverage. The specific questions \u201cI have had the right opportunities to provide\nfeedback on my course\u201d achieved 94 %, fourteen points above sector average, and\n88 % for \u201cStaff value students\u2019 views and opinions about the course\u201d, twelve\npoints above the sector average. These results show that progress has been made\nin encouraging student feedback through formal (Staff Student Liaison Meetings,\nformative and summative evaluations) and informal (discussions in lectures and\nworkshops, tutorial chats, Big Bash celebration) mechanisms. \u201cIt is clear how\nstudents\u2019 feedback on the course is acted upon\u201d scored 74 % satisfaction.\nAlthough this is twelve points above the sector average, it represents an area\nwhere more work can be done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to improvements to the NSS results, a key\nbenefit has been a stronger sense of shared community amongst students and\nstaff. Students are more aware that\nstaff value their views and opinions about the course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Feedback from a student who graduated in 2019 reflects well\nthe positive outcomes of the project, especially the FRTV bashes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThese events\nstrongly contributed to my enjoyment of both my time at university and my\nexperience on the FRTV course throughout my penultimate and final year at CCCU.\n[\u2026] T<\/em>he atmosphere created at the events, through its\nsocial and fun format, strongly contributes to a positive student to lecturer\nrelationship that continues through academic circumstances and impacts a student’s\nsuccess within the course. I always felt able to approach my lecturers and\nthoroughly enjoyed my studies throughout my three years. It is also simply a\nhugely fun and enjoyable event! (which is reflected in all the hilarious photos\ntaken at the bashes)\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The team faced one specific issue: the absence of core\nmodules at Level 6 that cover all Single and Combined honours students\nsometimes made it difficult to get the message across in relation to how\nstudents\u2019 feedback is acted upon. However, highlighting changes that have\noccurred in the earlier levels\u2019 induction sessions because of summative student\nevaluations has made it possible to let the students know how the programme has\nresponded to their feedback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Overall, the initiative shows how crucial it is to let\nstudents know when changes or developments happen because of student feedback.\nThe motto: \u201cYou say\u201d \u201cWe did it together\u201d encapsulates this approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.canterbury.ac.uk\/prism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/545\/2020\/02\/Xmas-bash.png\")
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