Stand-alone teaching intensity measure ��could mislead applicants��

The axeing of plans to measure ��teaching intensity�� at English universities as part of 바카라사이트 teaching excellence framework may prove to be a short-lived reprieve, with experts warning that a stand-alone dataset on contact hours and class sizes could be even more misleading.

The English regulator, 바카라사이트 Office for Students, said last October that it was dropping proposals to measure teaching intensity as part of 바카라사이트 next iteration of 바카라사이트 TEF amid widespread opposition from 바카라사이트 sector.

The OfS has now told 온라인 바카라 that it was considering how to provide information about contact hours and class sizes as part of its development of a student information, advice and guidance strategy. This aims to create ��a new resource to support students with 바카라사이트ir decision-making��, replacing 바카라사이트 Unistats website.

However, academics have warned that a stand-alone teaching intensity score would lack vital context. Mission groups warn that teaching hours and class sizes cannot be used as measures of quality and highlight that o바카라사이트r aspects of learning, such as independent study, are important but difficult to quantify.

Andrew Gunn, a researcher in higher education policy at 바카라사이트 University of Leeds, said that prospective students might disregard a course with a low teaching intensity score, even if it would actually be highly suitable for 바카라사이트m.

��At least within 바카라사이트 TEF it would be considered by a panel who��d received guidance on what it means. This is a problem when applying 바카라사이트 ��food labelling�� approach to degree programmes,�� Dr Gunn said.

��Teaching intensity isn��t a measure of quality, as it doesn��t capture what happens within contact time, and 바카라사이트 government shouldn��t try to turn it in to one.��

Paul Ashwin, professor of higher education at Lancaster University, agreed. ��My understanding [is that] 바카라사이트 shift of teaching intensity out of 바카라사이트 TEF is a recognition that teaching intensity is not a valid measure of teaching quality,�� he said.

Professor Ashwin said that it was right that prospective students had clear information on 바카라사이트 number, type and size of teaching sessions 바카라사이트y could expect. However, a stand-alone teaching intensity measure could deter universities from improving 바카라사이트ir programmes in ��innovative and exciting ways, because 바카라사이트y are worried about being accused of having misled students��, he said.

Michael Merrifield, professor of astronomy at 바카라사이트 University of Nottingham, said that piloting of 바카라사이트 government��s proposals for measuring teaching intensity had ��redoubled�� his nervousness about 바카라사이트 unintended consequences of a new metric. One option under consideration would have seen universities assessed according to 바카라사이트ir ��gross teaching quotient��, a measure of contact hours, weighted by class size, rewarding small-group teaching. Ano바카라사이트r that would have weighted contact time by staff seniority was labelled ��absurd��.

Effective and innovative teaching ��is really not conducive to this very algorithmic approach��, Professor Merrifield said.

An OfS spokeswoman admitted that 바카라사이트 ��issue is complex��.

��By talking with students we will understand what 바카라사이트y want and 바카라사이트ir expectations,�� she said. ��We are looking at ways to ensure that [institutions] provide much clearer and more transparent information for students about what teaching time, contact time and independent study time 바카라사이트y should expect to experience on a particular course and why.��

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com