Unfold+

Unfold+ is an on-line portfolio to enhance Personal Tutor meetings via student self-assessment of academic progress and development of graduate attributes.

In academic year 2013-14 an on-line, PebblePad based workbook called Unfold+ was introduced to all students on the BSc Medical Sciences degree programme. The workbook was designed to help students prepare better and more effectively for their Personal Tutor meetings through a series of reflective questions designed to be a focus for discussion.

PTs were introduced to the system and asked to encourage their tutees to complete the Unfold+ workbook prior to one meeting per semester. The PTs were also requested to use the student answers to focus on issues which the student felt were areas of weaknesses and could be improved on and also strengths and areas of enjoyment - all aimed at enhancing the student experience of the PT support system.

A small group of students (55) were asked to participate in the pilot scheme in Semester 1. In Semester 2 all students (148) were asked to participate and use the system. Although the students only needed to complete the Unfold+ workbook once a semester, the questions could be answered many times as the system tracks changes. Any change made prompts a request for evidence to justify a new answer thus allowing a PT to observe how a student’s experience may alter over a semester.

As well as the primary aim of the Unfold+ workbook, the system also allows easy visualisation of whole group responses which can alert staff to issues such as how the majority of the student cohort feels about their progress and whether there are any skills which they feel they lack. Examples of whole group responses as analysed by the portfolio system can be obtained from the authors.

Surveys of both Personal Tutor and student users’ experience of the Unfold+ system were undertaken during the summer vacation period.

Further information on the questions asked and the whole group responses can be obtained by contacting the authors of this paper.

Motivation and Aims

The University has committed to improving academic and pastoral support for students via the Enhancing Student Support Project. The aims of the ESS are to "provide more consistent quality of provision, help students systematically monitor their progress and performance and relate these to their long-term aspirations".

The School of Biomedical Sciences, together with the IAD and IS, developed a PebblePad based on-line workbook to help fulfil these aims of the ESS. The system is designed with a series of simple reflective questions to self-assess academic progress and development of graduate attributes so students can “systematically monitor their progress and performance”.

The system also helps students to “relate these [findings] to their long-term aspirations” as the same questions are re-visited each year, allowing students to build up a profile of their learning journey as they work towards their career goals.

In addition, there is also a section for students to record their ICA marks and link this to their feedback - another issue of importance within the University.

Successes and lessons learnt

In total 59 students from year 1-4 completed at least some part of the system. To increase participation in future years, there will be dedicated meetings with input from staff from the Employability Consultancy to help emphasise the importance of recognising and mapping the development of graduate attributes throughout the student journey.

Analysis of the surveys from both Personal Tutors and student users found a very mixed response. Unfortunately, response rates to the surveys were poor with less than half of the students and PTs responding. In very general terms, Personal Tutors saw the benefits of the Unfold+ system for the students particularly regarding the opportunity to reflect on academic and personal progress.

However, most did not feel it benefitted the PT meetings with some also commenting on the additional burden of reviewing a student’s workbook. Students were more positive about the system and interestingly their views were often in line with the views of the Personal Tutors.

Most students felt it helped them prepare better for the PT meetings and helped them reflect on their current university experience and their future via the development of graduate attributes. However, most did not feel it helped foster a more productive PT meeting.

Scalability and transferability

To allow for maximum engagement the system had to be quick and easy to use with minimal time effort for both staff and student. Additionally, the system still had to be robust and effective in its aims of fostering positive relationships and allowing students to assess their progress.

The Unfold+ system uses Pebble+ (which is housed within MyEd) so can easily be accessed. However, linking the portfolio to the EUCLID PT IT tools would help integrate the student support that is on offer. Unfold+ could in theory be used for every student in the University but would require considerable staff resource for maintaining the system.

Positive buy-in from Personal Tutors would also be needed as if the student’s responses are not discussed then engagement with the system will decrease in future meetings.

Location of practice: Biomedical Teaching Organisation

Date: 15/09/14

Dr Deborah Shaw

Lecturer and UG Senior Personal Tutor

• Biomedical Teaching Organisation (BMTO)
• Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences

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• Work: +44 (0) 131 650 9875
• Email: Deborah.Shaw@ed.ac.uk

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