Biosciences Education Research
This cluster promotes the development of evidence-based, high-quality teaching and learning in the School and beyond.
The Biosciences education cluster was established in 2024 to support staff on teaching-specialist contracts contracts in pursuing scholarship of teaching and learning activities, and the professional development of all staff with teaching responsibilities. It promotes the development of evidence-based, high-quality teaching and learning in the School and beyond. We are doing this in the following ways:
- Monthly meetings for professional development and sharing best practice and ideas
- Development teams working on areas of strategic importance in a scholarly manner
- Social events including regular coffee meetings and end-of-term dinners
- Pedagogical seminars
- Mentoring and support for both teaching-focussed and teaching and research staff on teaching-related matters
- Coordinating training on teaching methods and tools, together with the Faculty and Elevate administering funds for conference attendance and other scholarly activities
If you have any questions or would like to get involved, please contact Cluster Lead Rebecca Barnes: r.barnes@sheffield.ac.uk
Projects
Three development teams are currently working on projects influenced by current pedagogical challenges. The results of this work will influence School policy, and be disseminated more widely in peer-reviewed papers or conference presentations:
- A team led by Laura Corns is looking at authentic assessment, and how we can assess skills that are valued by employers
- A team led by Janet Cronshaw is looking at how we can best prepare our students for their exams
- A team led by Emma Jones is looking at attendance data and relating this to student attainment.
People
Dr Polly Gravels
Dr Melanie Stapleton