Shaping the future of learning using the student voice: we’re listening but are we hearing clearly?

Student voice data is a key factor as Manchester Metropolitan University strives to continually improve institutional technology enhanced learning (TEL) infrastructure. A bi-annual Institutional Student Survey enables students to communicate their experience of learning, teaching and assessment on programmes and specific units studied. Each cycle of the survey contains approximately 40–50,000 free text comments from students pertaining to what they appreciate and what they would like to see improved. A detailed thematic analysis of this data has identified 18 themes, arranged into six categories relating to the ‘Best’ aspects of courses, and 25 themes, arranged in seven categories in relation to aspects of courses considered to be ‘in need of improvement’. This student data was then used as a basis for semi-structured interviews with staff. Anecdotally, evidence suggested that student expectations and staff expectations around TEL and the virtual learning environment (VLE) differed. On-going evaluation of this work has highlighted a disconnect. In significant instances, academic colleagues seemingly misinterpret the student voice analysis and consequently struggle to respond effectively. In response to the analysis, the learning technologist's role has been to re-interpret the analysis and redevelop TEL staff development and training activities. The changes implemented have focused on: contextualising resources in VLE; making lectures more interactive; enriching the curriculum with audio–visual resources; and setting expectations around communications

Scoping workshop 3 on next generation of mixed fisheries advice (WKMIXFISH3)

WKMIXFISH are a series of workshops bringing together scientists, advice recipients, and stakeholders to identify future research and advisory priorities for mixed fisheries science. The third scoping workshop on the next generation of mixed fisheries advice (WKMIXFISH3) met to review changes to mixed fisheries considerations and progress on method development since the last workshop in March 2023. The workshop focused on three areas of development. First, it reviewed changes and clarifications to mixed fisheries considerations that were incorporated to improve communication around the purpose of and assumptions in the advice. Second, it reviewed the substantial methodological development that has been undertaken by WGMIXFISH-METHODS and EU and UK research projects. The focus of this work was to address an EU/UK joint request to ICES on mixed fisheries science. Third, it discussed the outcome of a workshop on fleet and métier definitions (WKMIXFLEET) that took place the preceding two days. Methodological developments included evaluation of uncertainty in mixed fisheries models, analyses of sensitivity to model assumptions, including fleet and métier structure, and creating new ways to explore mixed fisheries data. It was noted that these, in combination with new tools, guidance, and visualizations, helped to provide greater understanding of the models and advice. While these endeavours are ongoing, there was general support for continued development; in particular, the deployment of a mixed fisheries online app to provide end-users and stakeholders with the ability to interact with the multifaceted outputs from mixed fisheries models. Support for, and engagement with, developments on using the Regional Database Estimation System (RDBES) data to make improvements to fleet and métier definitions was also highlighted. Next steps identified were for WGMIXFISH-ADVICE and WGMIXFISH-METHODS to use the valuable feedback obtained to continue to develop the tools, and implement and receive feedback on them as part of an iterative process. It was noted that further research and dedicated time for scientists was necessary to support the ongoing improvements to mixed fisheries advice and data products, and that this should be a priority.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Dense Cores in Perseus: The Influence of Stellar Content and Cluster Environment

We present the chemistry, temperature, and dynamical state of a sample of 193 dense cores or core candidates in the Perseus Molecular cloud and compare the properties of cores associated with young stars and clusters with those which are not. The combination of our NH3 and CCS observations with previous millimeter, sub-millimeter, and Spitzer data available for this cloud enable us both to determine core properties precisely and to accurately classify cores as starless or protostellar. The properties of cores in different cluster environments and before-and-after star formation provide important constraints on simulations of star-formation, particularly under the paradigm that the essence of star formation is set by the turbulent formation of prestellar cores. We separate the influence of stellar content from that of cluster environment and find that cores within clusters have (1) higher kinetic temperatures and (2) lower fractional abundances of CCS and NH3. Cores associated with protostars have (1) slightly higher kinetic temperatures (2) higher NH3 excitation temperatures), (3) are at higher column density, have (4) slightly more non-thermal/turbulent NH3 linewidths, have (5) higher masses and have (6) lower fractional abundance of CCS. We find that neither cluster environment nor protostellar content makes a significant difference to the dynamical state of cores as estimated by the virial parameter -- most cores in each category are gravitationally bound. Overall, cluster environment and protostellar content have a smaller influence on the properties of the cores than is typically assumed, and the variation within categories is larger than the differences between categories.Comment: 28 pages, 17 figures. Accepted to Ap