Dr Patsala Presenting at the 11th Annual Learning and Teaching Conference of the University of Sheffield
Κολέγιο CITY College
Main Campus, Thessaloniki, Greece
19 January 2017

Dr Patsala Presenting at the 11th Annual Learning and Teaching Conference of the University of Sheffield

The University of Sheffield opened the New Year in a dynamic way with its 11th Annual Learning and Teaching Conference, held on Tuesday, January 10th, 2017. With the focus being on “Engaging Students in a Research-Intensive Environment,the Conference explored the meaning of “engagement” in the context of The University of Sheffield environment where quality, dialogue, experimentation and inquiry are integral to inspiring students as well as leading to successful research.

Among the speakers, who came from 30 different Departments of the University, the Head of our English Studies Department of CITY College, Dr. Paschalia Patsala delivered a presentation under the topic: “Stepping Stones to Student Engagement in Research: From Interfering to Interacting” which actually reflected her emphasis as a Lecturer on the significance of Project-based Learning, student engagement strategies, as well as the constant effort to cultivate a research culture within the Department’s MA and BA programmes.

11th Annual Learning and Teaching Conference of the University of Sheffield - Dr Patsala, Prof. Kefalas and Prof. Simons

Dr Patsala, Prof. Kefalas and Prof. Simons

The MA Unit ‘Corpus Linguistics’ served as a very representative example demonstrating the significance of both knowledge and skills, the need for actual application which by extension leads to and fosters investigation, inquiry and framing original research questions. Projects assigned are thus student-driven and highly realistic. Two MA and one BA student described through a video projection their overall experience illustrating how students literally had undertaken the role of a linguistics researcher and contributed within and outside the academic community with their participation in International Conferences.

Moreover, Dr Patsala exhibited how student engagement with an eye towards research is sought out and achieved in the English Studies Dept., explaining how academic staff introduce and establish in the Postgraduate Programmes the concept of research, integrate it in the curriculum, assign assignments to that effect, expose students to respective seminars and workshops, as well as maintain a constructive dialogue enabling students to find their passion, pose their questions and feel the need to research their interests further.

All in all, the Annual Learning and Teaching Conference of the University is a forum of critical thinking, which encourages the sharing of experiences and constructive dialogue among colleagues from various Schools and disciplines on various Teaching & Learning issues towards academic advancement.

11th Annual Learning and Teaching Conference of the University of Sheffield - Dr Nigel Russell, Prof. Kefalas and Dr Patsala

Dr Nigel Russell, Prof. Kefalas and Dr Patsala

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