The Teaching and Learning Centre’s new range of resources for 2016/17 has just been launched, with the first two titles focusing on PhD Supervision and blogging. These documents are designed to provide quick, easy-to-reference advice across a range of topics. David Faggiani, administrator from the Teaching and Learning Centre, reports on conversations with his colleagues about them.
Dr Jenni 
Carr, who put together PhD supervision: roles and responsibilities, had this to say about the focus of the booklet:
“In putting together this resource I tried to strike a balance between signposting readers to sources of ‘rules and regulations’ surrounding PhD supervision and scholarship that seeks to explore the supervisory relationship.
Supervisors need to be able to access details of the relevant procedures when needed, of course. My particular interest in this area, however, stems from thinking about the ways in which we construct our identities as academics, and what part the doctoral process plays in that construction. Most people who have completed (or tried to complete!) a PhD will remember the ‘messiness’ of the process and the feelings engendered through occupation of that ‘liminal space’. Hopefully some of the resources in this guidance will help both students and supervisors navigate that space more effectively.”
Dr Est
her Saxey, who drafted Guidance on blogging, wanted to communicate her own enthusiasm for academic blogs, and her belief in their potential centrality to the School’s work:
“Blogs are, for me, one of the most lively and intriguing recent outgrowths from academia. I go to blogs to find introductory explanations, and I know students also do. Blogs then allow students to explore highly specialist areas, and to be on the spot when new scholarly debates emerge.
Students can also benefit immensely from writing their own blog posts: they learn to communicate complex issues, and to articulate their own observations. Much of my own personal development in my academic field was done through writing online, in informal but scholarly contexts!
LSE academic blogs are really powerful, and I’d like students to feel that reading, creating and commenting on blogs is a particular strength of studying here.”
The Teaching and Learning Centre’s academic developers will be adding to these resources throughout the year. Look out for more publications in:
- Course and Programme Development
- Diversity and Inclusivity
- PhD Supervision
- Small and large group teaching
We are currently working on a Class participation and an Active learning in quantitative disciplines resource, due to be published later this term.
Do get in touch with the Teaching and Learning Centre on tlc@lse.ac.uk with any ideas for future resources.
