Event: School of Science and Technology Showcase

On 14th May 2015 the School of Science and Technology, University of Northampton ran a school wide celebration of a small part of the Technology Enhanced Learning activities of staff within the school.

The structure of afternoon was a 'World Cafe' style session where colleagues move between tables facilitated by other colleagues discussing the work they have done. The informal style encouraged peer-peer discussion with colleagues.

Facilitators:

• Useful Digital Assessments – Carole Morrell (Computing)
• Creative Problem-Solving at a Distance – Jalil Bennecer (Engineering)
• Engaging student representatives off-campus – Rashmi Dravid (Computing) and Paul Cox (Environmental Science)
• Technology enhanced fieldwork – Naomi Holmes (Environmental Science)
• Video capture of practical work – Amir Minai (Computing)
• Helpful Application of Rubrics – Mandy Morrell (Computing)

From a personal perspective the discussions were vibrant, highlighting similarities and differences within the subjects; many colleagues left saying they could use something that they came across.

Related links:

Distance Engineering students enjoy creative problem-solving to test their knowledge and understanding

MApping: integrating mobile technology into geography fieldwork learning and teaching

Immersive technology devices and field work: Oculus Rift 

Opinion: Using the Turnitin iPad app. 

Opinion: Screencast-o-matic video capture 

All views are the authors, and may not reflect the views of any organisation the author is connected with in any way.

Understanding student engagement with social entrepreneurship: a case study of the University of Northampton

Understanding student engagement with social entrepreneurship: a case study of the University of Northampton

Terry Louis Tudor, Cleber Dutra

Abstract

The development of skills for social enterprise is a key learning outcome in UK higher education. Using semi-structured interviews and questionnaires with students at the University of Northampton, this study aimed to examine the key factors that impacted upon student engagement with social entrepreneurship. The study showed that while levels of engagement were generally low, there were significant opportunities to improve these levels. A range of psycho-sociological factors (e.g. behavioural intentions, fears of debt, and awareness), as well as socio-demographic factors (e.g. gender), were found to have impacted upon student engagement with the concepts. Recommendations for increasing engagement including improving awareness, being mindful of terminology used, access to funding, and the need for greater cross-faculty working are suggested. While this is only a limited case study, the implications of the findings for wider UK HEIs such as provision of adequate funding and support, and the need to address key concerns such as student perceptions of links between grants and loans to debt, and limited awareness of social entrepreneurship, are also discussed.

Keywords

Social entrepreneurship; University of Northampton; HEIs; social innovation; social enterprise

Full Text:

PDF

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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14234/elehe.v6i1.87


The Journal Enhancing the Learner Experience in Higher Education can be found at: http://journals.northampton.ac.uk/index.php/elehe/index



All views are the authors, and may not reflect the views of any organisation the author is connected with in any way.

STEM Steering Group blog

The STEM Steering group now has a new web presence through the blog: http://mypad.northampton.ac.uk/stem/ 

The STEM Steering Group (SSG) was formed in 2011, made up of staff and students from across the University’s Schools, Professional Services and external partners. 

Its aim is to promote STEM activities, research and partnerships, that contribute to the Raising the Bar strategy and to raise the profile of STEM through public engagement, activities and initiatives.

To find out more go to http://mypad.northampton.ac.uk/stem/ and to get involved email stem@northampton.ac.uk

To find out the work done by the group on employability go to http://apslandt.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/student-employability-skills-through.html

Sample screenshots from the blog:

To find out more go to http://mypad.northampton.ac.uk/stem/ and to get involved email stem@northampton.ac.uk



Related links

• Junkbots 
• Raspberry Pi Junkbot in Action
• Raspberry Pi in Northampton.

All views are the authors, and may not reflect the views of any organisation the author is connected with in any way.

OERs Summary September 2014

A selection of the open educational resources that have been released from the School of Science and Technology at the University of Northampton. This post shows the number of views and downloads of these resources.

Pollution And Pollutants

Authors: Paul Cox and Nigel Freestone

http://find.jorum.ac.uk/resources/18529

Details

Pollution is the undesirable introduction of pollutants (contaminants) into the natural environment (land, air and water) and can have an adverse affect on human health. This resource provides an introduction to pollution and pollutants. The classification and distribution of pollutants is also considered. A number of self-assessment questions are provided to allow you to check your new knowledge. The material comes in Word format and its HTML equivalent. The pollutants.htm file includes two images (poll.gif and ld50.gif) and an answers page (SAQ_Answers.htm) related to it that need to be put in the same folder as the pollutants.htm file.

Keywords: UKOER, Environmental Science, Waste Management, Pollution, Pollutants, Environment, Air Pollution, Water Pollution, Pollution Pathways, Toxicity 

Licence: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported

The resource found on Jorum at: http://find.jorum.ac.uk/resources/18529 

Properties of Ultrasonic Waves

Author: Phil Picton 

http://find.jorum.ac.uk/resources/18755

Details

This material gives the description of the physical processes involved in the propagation of ultrasonic pressure waves as they pass through a material. It includes a mathematical derivation of the amplitude of the transmitted and reflected pressure waves, and an explanation is given for the differences between the near and far zones. This material has been used in the Advanced Inspection Methods and Techniques module as part of the BSc programme in Non-Destructive Testing at the University of Northampton.

Published:  School of Science and Technology, University of Northampton

Keywords: UKOER, Ultrasonic waves, Inspection and testing, Non-destructive testing 

Licence: Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International

Summary of Evolutionary Algorithms

Click here for the resource: http://find.jorum.ac.uk/resources/19204

Author: Dr Scott Turner 

These slides are intended for undergraduate computing students, providing an overview of Genetic Algorithms, a concept of in artificial intelligence. As well providing an overview the material also include links to applications via web resources. The slides are taken from an undergraduate artificial intelligence module on the BSc Computing Programme at the University of Northampton. Possible uses of these including support material for second year, third year or masters level course on artificial intelligence.

Licence: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International

Click here for the resource: http://find.jorum.ac.uk/resources/19204

C Programming

Click here for the resource: http://find.jorum.ac.uk/resources/19192

Author: Dr Scott Turner
In this material you will be introduced to some of the principles of programming, and specifically learn to write fairly simple programs using a programming language called C. An idea central to this material is that programming is about problem solving; you write a program to solve a particular problem. It is hoped that at the end of the material you should see that there is nothing magical or mysterious about programming. One of the features some people like about programming is you are making the computer do what you want. During the programming exercises, do not worry about making mistakes. In this material you will be expected to try out programs and eventually write your own. The target audience is anyone who wants to learn a programming language or is looking for some assessment questions around programming. The material was originally aimed at second year engineering students at the University of Northampton.

Click here for the resource: http://find.jorum.ac.uk/resources/19192

Problem-Solving

Author: Dr Scott Turner

http://find.jorum.ac.uk/resources/19001

These mini lectures are intended for undergraduate computing students, for providing simple steps in problem solving before the students learn a programming language. Problem-Solving and Programming is a common first year undergraduate module on the BSc Computing Programme at the University of Northampton. This material was taken from the problem solving part of the module and provides an introduction to five topics in problem-solving.

The resource can be found at: http://find.jorum.ac.uk/resources/19001

Sustainability: Environmental Business Imperatives

http://find.jorum.ac.uk/resources/19120

Author: Professor Margaret Bates
Created: 7 July 2014, by School of Science & Technology and Northampton Business School, The University of Northampton

This video outlines the drivers for resource efficiency for business including raw materials scarcity and economic imperatives. The savings that can be made by more efficient use of raw materials, energy and waste are highlighted. Case study examples are given to show how different sectors have achieved resource efficiency and moved towards a circular model of resource use.

Licence: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International

All views are the authors, and may not reflect the views of any organisation the author is connected with in any way.

OER: C Programming

 Another new Open Education Resource (OER) has been made available by the School of Science and Technology, University of Northampton.

C Programming

Click here for the resource: http://find.jorum.ac.uk/resources/19192

Author: Dr Scott Turner
Created: 11 August 2014, by School of Science and Technology, University of Northampton

In this material you will be introduced to some of the principles of programming, and specifically learn to write fairly simple programs using a programming language called C. An idea central to this material is that programming is about problem solving; you write a program to solve a particular problem. It is hoped that at the end of the material you should see that there is nothing magical or mysterious about programming. One of the features some people like about programming is you are making the computer do what you want. During the programming exercises, do not worry about making mistakes. In this material you will be expected to try out programs and eventually write your own. The target audience is anyone who wants to learn a programming language or is looking for some assessment questions around programming. The material was originally aimed at second year engineering students at the University of Northampton.

Published: 11 August 2014, by School of Science and Technology, University of Northampton

Keywords: C Programming; Programming; Problem solving; Computer science; Computing 

Licence: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International

Click here for the resource: http://find.jorum.ac.uk/resources/19192

views are the authors, and may not reflect the views of any organisation the author is connected with in any way.

OER update for Science and Technology

Recap on what the Open Educational Resources (OERs) so far released for the School of Science and Technology are and the statistics on their views an downloads.

Problem-Solving

Author: Dr Scott Turner

http://find.jorum.ac.uk/resources/19001

Details

These mini lectures are intended for undergraduate computing students, for providing simple steps in problem solving before the students learn a programming language. Problem-Solving and Programming is a common first year undergraduate module on the BSc Computing Programme at the University of Northampton. This material was taken from the problem solving part of the module and provides an introduction to five topics in problem-solving.

The resource can be found at: http://find.jorum.ac.uk/resources/19001

Statistics are:

Pollution And Pollutants

Authors: Paul Cox and Nigel Freestone

http://find.jorum.ac.uk/resources/18529

Details

Pollution is the undesirable introduction of pollutants (contaminants) into the natural environment (land, air and water) and can have an adverse affect on human health. This resource provides an introduction to pollution and pollutants. The classification and distribution of pollutants is also considered. A number of self-assessment questions are provided to allow you to check your new knowledge. The material comes in Word format and its HTML equivalent. The pollutants.htm file includes two images (poll.gif and ld50.gif) and an answers page (SAQ_Answers.htm) related to it that need to be put in the same folder as the pollutants.htm file.


Statistics are:

Properties of Ultrasonic Waves

Author: Phil Picton 

http://find.jorum.ac.uk/resources/18755

Details

This material gives the description of the physical processes involved in the propagation of ultrasonic pressure waves as they pass through a material. It includes a mathematical derivation of the amplitude of the transmitted and reflected pressure waves, and an explanation is given for the differences between the near and far zones. This material has been used in the Advanced Inspection Methods and Techniques module as part of the BSc programme in Non-Destructive Testing at the University of Northampton.

Statistics are:

Open Educational Resources: Problem solving

 Another new Open Education Resource (OER) has been made available by the School of Science and Technology, University of Northampton.

Problem-Solving

Author: Dr Scott Turner

http://find.jorum.ac.uk/resources/19001

Details

These mini lectures are intended for undergraduate computing students, for providing simple steps in problem solving before the students learn a programming language. Problem-Solving and Programming is a common first year undergraduate module on the BSc Computing Programme at the University of Northampton. This material was taken from the problem solving part of the module and provides an introduction to five topics in problem-solving.

The resource can be found at: http://find.jorum.ac.uk/resources/19001

After one week on JORUM 93 downloads and 12 views of the OER.

Open Education Resource: Properties of Ultrasonic Waves

Another new Open Education Resource (OER) has been made available by the School of Science and Technology, University of Northampton.

Properties of Ultrasonic Waves

Author: Phil Picton 

http://find.jorum.ac.uk/resources/18755

Details

This material gives the description of the physical processes involved in the propagation of ultrasonic pressure waves as they pass through a material. It includes a mathematical derivation of the amplitude of the transmitted and reflected pressure waves, and an explanation is given for the differences between the near and far zones. This material has been used in the Advanced Inspection Methods and Techniques module as part of the BSc programme in Non-Destructive Testing at the University of Northampton.

Published:  School of Science and Technology, University of Northampton

Keywords: UKOER, Ultrasonic waves, Inspection and testing, Non-destructive testing 

Licence: Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International

The resource found on Jorum at: http://find.jorum.ac.uk/resources/18755 

Virtual Reality field trips

An ongoing project, which is a collaboration between the Dr Naomi Holmes (Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Northampton)  Dr Scott Turner (Department of Computing and Immersive Technologies, University of Northampton) and Adel Gordon (Learning Technology Team, University of Northampton)

Virtual field trips are not a new idea, but with the release of the developer version of the Oculus Rift providing a more affordable immersive/virtual reality equipment, could virtual field trips become immersive virtual field trips at reasonable cost? Is this a good idea?


The Oculus Rift (http://www.oculusvr.com/), a device whose popularity with gamers is increasing, is under investigation of tool for preparing for field trips. The demo of a house and gardens in Tuscany that comes with the Oculus Rift (available through the Oculus Rift developer centre https://developer.oculusvr.com/) is being used as the basis of the test. 

Students come in, put the headset on, after an initial orientation, walk around the house, and gardens, later fill in a questionnaire on the experience, as well as talking to the two investigators. Part of the procedure is the students are told they can stop at any time and restart if they want at any time during the session.

The research questions revolve around
- Do students like the tool?
- Do students think this tool could be used for:
   - preparation before a field trip to try out ideas.
   - a way of describing a trip when they come back.
   - a replacement for field trips.
- What are the limitations of the approach?
- Where else could it be used, if anywhere?
- Is there some procedures that need to be put in place to enable effective use of these?



Preliminary results will be released in the near future.

Funding for this work has come from the University of Northampton's Innovation Fund.




Related Links:

Update from the Innovation Fund Panel