Contribution to the design and planning of learning activities and/or programme of study

I was responsible for leading the revalidation of the BSc (Hons) Biological Imaging degree programme following my appointment in January 1995 as Programme Leader designate; subsequently for minor modifications undertaken to improve the programme following student feedback and changes to other programmes involved in the delivery of the programme.

Additionally I have been involved in the validation and design of other programmes in the School of Art & Design and cross-University validations e.g. BSc (Hons) Forensic Science programme as well as undertaking membership of validation panels for programmes in the School of Art & Design.

Together with a colleague I have developed an illustrated learning support handbook for the Biological Imaging Integrated Project which is based around a fieldtrip to North-East Mallorca including booklists, project briefs, health and safety and guides to the flora and fauna on the Island. This also links to showing the previous year's students’ work on video and exhibition of photographs and illustrations. The module led by my colleague involves team teaching and individual lectures to build up the programme of study. There has been good feedback from students for the handbook especially the booklists and sources for other reference materials. The module also links to work undertaken by the previous year's students through an exhibition of their photographic and illustrative work (some included in the module handbook) and a showing of the videos produced.

I have been involved in the development of Open Learning materials including a package for teaching Medical Terminology; I use this as a supplement to teaching in the Medical Imaging module. A colleague at the University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff, also uses it for students on the MSc in Medical Illustration and distance learning programmes in medical illustration.

Following a School project to develop on-line Professional Practice module materials I have developed a thread linked to the Professional Practice module which I teach to Biological Imaging and Illustration students. The series of pages I have developed are directly linked to the lecture sessions provided by colleagues and myself and have embedded the use of on-line materials for students.

It is not easy to stop materials that are essentially factual in nature from becoming a dry repetition of lecture notes. I have tried to make sure that the module materials appear fresh each year by changing the material in response to different reactions from students to sessions and responding to the research needs of students following tutorial sessions on their individual or group projects. These range from setting up exhibitions in Art Galleries to running a business as a photographer or illustrator to planning the costing for an overseas trip to film wildlife. So the web site has developed and progressed becoming more useful to each successive year group yet still seen as personally relevant to them.