The project aims to develop a team of students who are confident and skilled with the use of technology and are able to collaborate with staff in the department to promote innovation. The project will develop student engagement in a form similar to that taken by the DigiChamp project at the University of Southampton which employs students to develop and support the enhancement of education through the appropriate use of technology. In practice this means that students and staff collaborate on events, development of resources, workshops and projects and that DigiChamps also share, inspire and teach others how to use digital technologies. However, this project will differ in that, in line with the principles of student as producer, students will also research and shape the department's technology use and strategy. The project aims are to:

• Develop student-led development of educational technology
• Develop collaborative relationships between students and academic staff
• Develop research based learning and teaching development
• Embed the philosophy of student as researcher in a departmental educational development context

Through the project, 3 undergraduate students will be employed as Student Technology Champions. Once employed the students and staff will work together to develop the project plan. An initial focus will be the development of resources to support the development of an understanding of key biological concepts as new students make the transition between school and university, an area identified by our existing students as one which could be developed.

Rebecca Freeman is the Educational Strategy and Communications Officer in the School of Life Sciences. She oversees the student experience in Life Sciences and has significant experience of developing and facilitating collaborative projects between students and staff having developed the THE-award-winning Student Academic Partners Scheme at Birmingham City University, acted as lead researcher for student engagement on a JISC-funded curriculum design project and founded the national Student Learning and Teaching Network.

Final report - supporting video

Note: The audio in this clip is fairly soft.