The CAMEL Trail: SEDA Conference 2010

After a gruelling 5.5 hour train journey last week, Andy and I arrived in Leeds, ready to present with the rest of Curriculum Design Cluster B, at the SEDA Conference. The conference aimed to explore and debate the issues around ‘Communities of Learning’.

Our Cluster Group ran a session called ‘The CAMEL Trail’, which aimed to share the collaborative and supportive ‘CAMEL’ approach that we have adopted, the activities and themes that we have explored as a group, and how each project has gained from being part of a CAMEL community. Through the session, we aimed to explore the benefits of using the CAMEL approach and shared top tips that session participants may be able to apply to their own contexts.

We started the presentation with an introduction to the CAMEL model and how it has been adopted by our cluster group. We outlined the themes that have been focussed upon during face to face meetings, the activities that have been run, the tangible outputs that have been achieved and the benefits of adopting the approach and working collaboratively.

Following this initial introduction, a wider open group discussion took place, exploring the benefits and pitfalls of the approach in more detail. Discussion started around the funding required to help facilitate such collaboration. JISC (funders of the Curriculum Design and Delivery projects) have allocated funding specifically for CAMEL Cluster meetings. The host institution receives a set amount of funding to contribute towards the costs of running a CAMEL meeting. Participants at the SEDA session were interested to find out, ‘what’s in it for the funders?’. Marianne Shepherd, Co-ordinator of the JISC Design and Delivery Programmes advised that JISC had found the CAMEL approach useful in providing projects with another layer of support (i.e. peer support), an opportunity to build upon commonalities between projects so as not to reinvent the wheel, and had also resulted in programme level outcomes (e.g. Dissemination at Conferences, journal articles etc).

During the session, we discussed other approaches and models to facilitate collaboration and support across the HE sector – for example the Centres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETLs), amongst others. There was a general feeling that there is a need on a national level, for a more consistent approach towards the management and co-ordination of support networks. Also, it was felt that more emphasis needs to be placed on the coordination and sharing of project and outcomes, both at a University level and on a wider scale. It was felt that a Central Educational Development Unit (or equivalent) would be the most appropriate and useful place to share outcomes within a University.

It was suggested that given the nature of the Curriculum Design projects, it may be useful to host a CAMEL event aimed at the Pro-Vice Chancellors from the institutions in the cluster… now there’s food for thought…..!

I attended a couple of interesting sessions during the rest of the Conference, including a workshop exploring the Student Experience of Final Year Students and a talk from the soon-to-be President of the National Union of Students (NUS), Aaron Porter.

"No CAMEL route is long, with good company" – Turkish Proverb

It’s nearing the Easter break and there is no doubt I’m wishing away the time until Good Friday – but, I’m feeling refreshed, enthusiastic and excited about the PALET Project once again. I can only draw one conclusion - I must have been to a CAMEL meeting! Andy (Lloyd) and I spent Wednesday/Thursday of last week meeting with staff from four other institutions, all working on similar projects to PALET under the ‘Institutional Approaches to Curriculum Design’ programme, funded by JISC. We take it in turns to host, and this time it was the turn of colleagues from the University of Greenwich. We had a busy agenda for the two days, including the following:

Generic customisable process template (Day 1)

As a cluster, we discussed the potential for the development of a shared and customisable curriculum design and approval process map. We spent time exploring the key questions around the curriculum design and development process, looked briefly at the current practice in project institutions and finally discussed the potential development of a common model. The cluster then began to consider whether the high level model developed by PALET, could be adopted as a common model across institutions. It was felt that if the cluster could agree a common model, then it might be possible to begin collaborating and sharing resources – for instance common and customisable templates, guidance notes, business case development tools etc. We agreed to explore this further offline, and other projects will soon be offering their comments on how well the PALET model fits with their own institutions – should be interesting.

Evaluation Update (Day 1)

The session explored the various approaches that are being used by the projects – which range from completely independent through to entirely embedded. The cluster discussed evaluation methods – both the evaluation of the more tangible outcomes emerging from projects, and also the importance of evaluating more intangible elements, for instance stakeholder engagement.

Cluster Dissemination (Day 2)

The Cluster is due to present at the SEDA Conference in May, the theme of which is ‘Communities of Learning’. Our cluster is presenting on the ‘CAMEL’ model, our experiences of working in this way and the potential benefits and pitfalls that it can bring.  For more information, please visit the SEDA website.

Student Engagement (Day 2)

We had a useful session exploring how each of the institutions had engaged with/intended to engage with students in their projects. Several of the projects reported that the students at their institution felt over-surveyed, and were making use of data that had been collected for other purposes instead. Birmingham City University (T-SPARC) described a strategy to embed students in the programme development/approval process, through a method of “co-creation”, facilitated by payments of £10 per hour to students. We were all very interested to hear more about this, and agreed that student engagement should feature on the agenda for the next CAMEL meeting in Birmingham.

Quality Assurance / Quality Enhancement Session (Day 2)

Day 2 of the CAMEL meeting was rounded off nicely by a session with Peter Findlay, Assistant Director at QAA for Higher Education. Peter summarised how the QAA works at the moment, and gave an indication of the potential changes on the horizon (e.g. a greater focus on the quality of student learning experiences, more meaningful student involvement in quality processes and clearer information to be made available to students about the pathways open to them and what is expected of them.)

The session was of particular interest to us at Cardiff, as it focussed on how the QAA might respond to significant changes to quality process, which of course is fundamental to the PALET Project. Peter stressed that the QAA welcomes institutions that are looking to enhance and develop their processes and that most QAA requirements are more negotiable than is commonly believed (as long as the HEI has a clear rationale!) He indicated that the QAA will accept a degree of risk in a process, as long as quality standards and the quality of the student learning experience are not harmed.

Peter advised that the work of our cluster group is of great interest to the QAA, and has the potential to be very influential, as it clearly addresses significant aspects of the QAA agenda. Peter agreed to provide feedback on the high level process map developed by PALET, and we’re looking forward to working with him, and the QAA, as the project progresses.

Social Activities

A valuable part of each CAMEL event is the social activities, which offer a good opportunity for cluster members to reflect upon the sessions of the previous day, continue informal discussion about projects and build good relationship and mutual trust between project teams. Our hosts from Greenwich took us for an early evening walk to the point where East meets West at the Greenwich Meridian Line at the Royal Observatory of Greenwich. This was followed by an evening at the Trafalgar Tavern on the banks of the Thames, and once popular with the likes of Charles Dickens and William Thackery. The cluster also enjoyed a session to reflect upon the activities and outcomes of the CAMEL, whilst spinning around on a capsule of the London Eye - Andy and I were unable to attend (a good job as we’re both petrified of heights!).

All in all, a very successful and positive CAMEL – I look forward to the next one hosted by Birmingham City University later this year.

"No CAMEL route is long, with good company" - Turkish Proverb

Last week, Cardiff played host to the third CAMEL meeting of Design Cluster B*. The meeting took place in the impressive Committee Rooms of the Glamorgan Building - people seemed very impressed - and perhaps more impressed that a scene from Dr Who was filmed in the ladies loo...!

The meeting began with a summary update from all visiting projects. This was followed by a 'calzon quitao' session, during which we (Andy and I) highlighted key challenges and difficulties that had arisen during the life of the PALET project and accepted constructive criticism, advice and support from other cluster projects.

The first workshop session of the Camel meeting was run by Katya Hosking, the Inclusive Curriculum Officer at Cardiff University, and focussed building inclusivity into curriculum design. The interactive session was well received and seemed to provide food for thought for many project teams. Feedback on the session was captured via twitter and included;

"E&D session gave genuine food for thought."

"Great session from on inclusive curriculum design at Cardiff"

"Rethinking notion of "disability" and inclusion in light of #dcb09 session this pm will include this as one of our principles for predict"

 Day one concluded with a picturesque, sunset boat trip around Cardiff Bay. (This sounds very peaceful and relaxing, but ended up involving a huge panic when Taffs Mead ferry port couldn't be found...!) We continued discussions over dinner at Mimosa and came up with some great ideas for joint dissemination (*Watch this space!*).

 A 9am start on day two, and straight into another workshop session focussed on evaluation. Professor Peter Chatterton facilitated the session, at which we explored the different approaches projects were taking to evaluation. The meeting finished with further discussion of potential joint dissemination opportunities. And to round of a successful camel meeting, we found out that our proposal to run a symposium session at the SEDA Conference next year has been accepted.

Personally, as the host, I found it difficult to relax and enjoy the meeting at first - I was more concerned whether everyone else was enjoyed the sessions. Once I realised that everyone was engaging well with the inclusive curriculum workshop, I was able to enjoy the session myself. So, we're looking forward to the next Camel Cluster meeting in March, at which we'll experience sights and sounds of Greenwich...

* Cardiff University, Cambridge University, Birmingham City University, City University London, Greenwich University.

Sunset over Cardiff Bay