Request for help from PGRs
The Library and Learning Support Team is once again running their dissertation/final year project workshops for Undergraduate and Masters students, both online and in person. The team successfully ran these workshops last academic year with the able help of PGR students who were invaluable in sharing their own personal experiences and expertise with our student participants. They are now looking for your help once again this year.
Workshop dates:
Semester 1: Weds 30 Nov in-person and Thurs 8 Dec online.
Semester 2: Thurs 9 Feb in-person and Weds 22 Feb online.
All four workshops will run from 12:00 – 13:30.
Format
A blended approach will be taken for this workshop. The students will have access to a series of online teaching resources which will cover various aspects of writing a dissertation/final year project. They are expected to engage with this material prior to the workshop. This is followed up with either an in-person workshop at our training rooms in the library building or a live zoom session on the workshop, dates shown above. This discussion-based workshop will involve students working in small groups discussing common topics and concerns related to dissertations ranging from ‘how to start the dissertation process’ to ‘how to manage my research’ to ‘what to include in my literature review’ and much more. The aim of these discussions are to provide ideas and solutions to the questions and concerns raised. Students will have the opportunity to pose their own questions and concerns during the workshop. PollEveryWhere will be used to allow them to anonymously submit their questions for discussion. The discussion groups will be facilitated by PhD students, who will provide personal insights to many of the questions, with Academic Skills and Development staff providing expert advice and resources to help too.
How to help?
We are looking for PGR volunteers from across all three faculties, who are willing to share their own experiences and expertise of having undertaken a dissertation/final year project. You will be allocated a small group of students and will be responsible for facilitating discussion amongst the students based on the questions/concerns raised at the start of the workshop and provide personal insights where appropriate. The group discussions will last approximately 30 minutes. We can expect between 20 – 30 students attending the workshop. Volunteers can be available for one, two, three or all four sessions, whichever suit them best. It is a great way to develop your learning and teaching skills and share your expertise with undergraduate and Masters students.
Please email Jennifer McLay, Learning Development Adviser, Academic Skills and Development, if you can help on j.mclay@surrey.ac.uk
This first appeared in DC News 25/10/22
