I have been working as a HPL (Hourly Paid Lecturer) for LCF (London College of Fashion) for 5 years. During that time my role has changed considerably. However, in every role that I’ve had I have experienced a frustration around lack of information provided about students with regards to additional learning needs and other things that may effect their ability to study such as religious/ cultural holidays (Chinese New Year and Ramadan – periods of fasting along with other significant times within their calendar). This has led to challenges with regards to lesson planning and guess work around understanding if students have ISA’s and what barriers they may have to learning.
My proposed intervention is to create a form that the students will be requested to fill in regarding learning styles, needs and preferences, religion and/or philosophical beliefs and language. This would help to would help the students to feel seen and enhance their sense of belonging within the university. I would also use the data to make reasonable adjustments to lesson plans – I acknowledge that this would only really be possible for smaller cohorts and within reason (due to time limitations as a non-salaried staff member).
The form can be completed anonymously, and I believe (although would need to test) that if it was delivered through Moodle, that it could be transcribed into different languages, making it more accessible to students for whom English is not their first language.
Suggested questions (1st Iteration, note – please see my reflective report for feedback and adjustments to these after meeting with my peer feedback group – Link here):
Figure 1: Shows suggested questions positioned in an illustrated form to make it more welcoming. However, I acknowledge that it may not be possible to deliver this in such a way in reality – this is reflected upon in my reflective report.
During the Inclusive Practices unit, I critically examined how UAL collects and presents student data through its institutional dashboards. When considered alongside my own experiences as an Hourly Paid Lecturer (HPL), this exposed a key limitation: I often have little or no insight into students’ individual learning needs, disabilities or circumstances unless they choose to disclose them. This lack of information can make it challenging to anticipate and respond proactively to diverse learner needs. I am hoping that this will help me to foster a more inclusive environment within my classroom. It is building upon an initiative that I started when I was the first-year Footwear design tutor, and during the first ‘Intro 2’ unit I would ask my new cohort to take a learning style quiz, this was really interesting as I enabled me to understand their learning preference and adjust my teaching materials according (please see references for link to quiz).
Finally, I believe that even if only a small percentage of the students undertook the quiz any subsequent changes (big or small) that were made, would benefit others as well.
References:
Reference 2: UAL Dashboards: dashboards.arts.ac.uk
Transparent use of ai log: Chat GPT Prompt 1: for making the initial form questions more visual: hi chat GPT – I am working on a form in which my level 4 (1st year UAL university students) fill in to foster a sense of belonging and to enable me as a lecturer to understand and meet their needs better. Please could you formulate the following questions into an easy to digest graphic): Suggested questions (1st Iteration, note – please see my reflective report for feedback and adjistments to these after meeting with my peer feedback group – Link here): This form is an opportunity for you to communicate any needs and preferences that you may have in relation to your learning, with the aim of ensuring that all learning styles and additional needs are met. You may include your name, or you may also fill it in anonymously. If English isn’t your first language – you many fill this in in your primary language. Name (optional): Cultural heritage/ culture most identify with: Primary language: Are you (select box which fits you best): • A night owl (you like to work into the evening) • Something in the middle (you work best throughout the day) • An early bird (you like to work in the morning) Religion / philosophical beliefs (can be any recognised or unrecognised religion of philosophical belief): Additional needs relating to religion / philosophical beliefs (moments of fasting, times when you may not be able to be as present in the classroom): Additional educational needs (if known and willing to disclose): How I like to learn? (visual, doing, listening, reading): You are invited to undertake this learning style quiz, should you find it helpful to fully understand your needs [Insert link to learning style quiz] Any barriers to learning that you are aware of (mental/physical) (e.g my learning environment must be quiet) In a few words, please describe your perfect learning environment: Any other ways in which we can best support your learning journey on this course:
Prompt 2: hi chat GPT – please could this be made into an image based file/ chart etc: Include the emojis and stick to the wording:
Prompt 3: please help me to structure the following sentance better: After exploring the ways in which UAL collects data (UAL dashboards) during the Inclusive Practices unit and identifying the limitations around this along with my learned experience of working with students the lack of information about additional student needs that I am given as a HPL.