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'Do they let you out?' - school pupils' views on university presented at UCL conference

23 March 2004

'Do they let you out?' a focus group study of perceptions of university in school pupils from non-traditional backgrounds, is the theme of one of over 50 papers being given at University College London's fourth Teaching and Learning Conference, a two-day event being held on Wednesday 31st March and Thursday 1 April in UCL's Wilkins Building, Gower Street, London WC1.

The conference is intended to showcase best teaching practice in the university sector.

During the event, over 50 UCL academics will contribute papers and lead discussions on all aspects of the learning experience at university. The importance of university education is acknowledged across society, and higher education is rarely out of the headlines, but this conference seeks to set out how universities can innovate to ensure students get the maximum benefit from their time at university.

Some of the key presentations include:

'Do they let you out?' A focus group study of perceptions of university in school pupils from non-traditional backgrounds from UCL's Department of Primary Care and Population Sciences. Year 10 London pupils were invited to discuss their hopes, fears and experiences regarding university life;

'Teaching movies to medical students.' How would one teach medical students about movies? And why would one want to do so in the first place? This talk will describe a module of a new BSc in Medical Humanities which looks at doctors in the cinema.

'It's not for lazy students like me.' A new approach to teaching Electronic and Electrical Engineering, aimed at combating two perceived problems: dissatisfaction from employers about what graduates can do, and students arriving at university with an under-developed understanding of university-level learning;

'Using patients to teach students.' A pilot scheme at UCL asked patients with rheumatoid arthritis to teach and assess medical students. The course has been so successful that it's now being set up to improve the medical professions knowledge of back pain.

"Countless academics are developing inventive and creative ways of enhancing the student learning experience," says Professor Michael Worton. "The conference is a significant forum for sharing such experience."

Notes for Editors

1. For further information on 'Teaching & Learning at UCL: The Way forward 2004' and details of all of the presentations, please visit the website at http://www.ucl.ac.uk/Library/TL2004/ .

2. For copies of papers being delivered, or to interview any participants, please contact Alex Brew on 0207 679 9726 a.brew@ucl.ac.uk or Dominique Fourniol on 0207 679 9728 d.fourniol@ucl.ac.uk .