Our Work

Centre for Inquiry-based Learning in the Arts and Social Sciences

Description

CILASS was committed to supporting further development and innovation in inquiry-based learning (IBL), with the aim of embedding inquiry at the heart of the student learning experience in the university.

In particular, CILASS promoted IBL that involved students in discipline-based and inter-disciplinary collaborative inquiries, develops students´ information literacy capabilities, and used information and communications technologies imaginatively to enhance the learning experience.

Projects:

CILASS funded projects
Each department and school involved with CILASS developed a departmental/school strategy for the integration of IBL into curricula. Smaller-scale project were then formulated and implemented as part of the bid, in order to bring about the envisaged departmental/school change.

IBL Grant Scheme Projects
The IBL Grant Scheme funded individual members of staff to undertake a curriculum development project within their department. They were creative, innovative projects that impact significantly on the student learning experience through inquiry-based methods, and built on the thematic priorities of CILASS: networked learning, collaborative inquiry, information literacy and interdisciplinarity in inquiry.

Proposals for the second year:

CILASS was located on the first floor in the newly built Information Commons building from February 2007. There was flexible teaching and learning spaces called Collaboratories and smaller break-out spaces available to both staff and students. Facilities included Access Grid Node video conferencing, plasma screen technology and interactive whiteboard and sound/video recording equipment.

What is being offered to the wider teaching/subject community:

In addition to the facilities in the Information Commons, a satellite collaboratory was available located in another part of the University of Sheffield, offering further technology rich space for use by both staff and students. CILASS also offered expertise in Networked Learning and Information Literacy from two Learning Development and Research Associates to colleagues planning projects and developing strategies to embed IBL in their subject areas. Further opportunities for support for evaluation and dissemination activity were available via commissioned support from the University Learning Development and Media Unit and the Teaching Learning and Development Unit.

Events:

There was a range of events planned to build upon a lively year in 2005/06 of activity promoting IBL across the university and via the IBL Network, Student Ambassadors Network and Information Literacy Network. One major event took place in the Lake District at a residential in January 2007 where CILASS invited colleagues to join them at their Inquiry Academy.

Organisations / Institutions

University of Sheffield

Related documents/URLs

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