Finding Inspiration: Sharing Practice and Developing Authentic Multimedia Artifacts for Supervision of Undergraduate Research in Irish Higher Education

Abstract

Supervision is a specialist academic practice that can be learnt through the experience of the practice of supervision itself. However, increasingly, supervisors can find inspiration from each other in structured, supported, collaborative professional development. This Chapter evaluates the perceived impact on faculty and student learning of sharing inspirational practices and creating multimedia artifacts which formed the assessment of an accredited postgraduate module entitled 'Supervising Undergraduate Dissertations and Projects' at a Technological University in Ireland. A range of themes are explored in the Chapter including the increasing demand for this form of professional development for academics; the importance of a peer learning approach for providing inspiration and sharing of practice; the design and development of multimedia artifacts for undergraduate supervision practice and the national context within which this work is situated. Participants were surveyed to explore how they now approach supervision and how they disseminated their multimedia artifact in undergraduate supervision. Findings indicate increased levels of confidence, clearer communication in the supervision conversation, greater emphasis on guiding rather than leading the student, and improved feedback processes.