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#12DaysofBGU Day 8: Darcey Bussell
Ballerina and Strictly Come Dancing judge Darcey Bussell visited Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) in Lincoln in October to speak to trainee teachers about DDMIX for Schools. Darcey and her DDMIX team worked with over a hundred trainee teachers from Primary and Secondary programmes from the School of Teacher Development at BGU. DDMIX is a full-body aerobic workout for children created by Darcey Bussell and based on 26 different dance genres, from Arabic and Japanese to the Charleston and the Flamenco. The day opened with a special lecture for all year groups where Darcey introduced the programme. Students then split off into smaller groups to participate in sessions with the DDMIX team. Speaking about DDMIX Darcey said, “Movement to music makes children come alive and changes the way they feel. With the DDMIX programme, children get an exciting and diverse learning experience that is physical, aerobic and high time on task. These benefits should be enjoyed by every child. “Dance fitness can stimulate the child’s interest in sport, in the arts and give them the confidence to explore their own creativity in other fields." DDMIX came to BGU through the work of Helen Thornalley, Subject Leader for PE and Dance for the PGCE Secondary course at BGU, who arrived at the University in January. Helen has worked with Darcey and DDMIX for the past three years on training teachers and reflecting on how this work is implemented within schools. Feedback from the trainee teachers is vital for DDMIX to find out what works for children in schools. Helen said, "The opportunity for trainee teachers to work with these professionals who are at the top of their game, and the sharing of their materials with prospective teachers for schools is amazing. “(It was) unique, rich and cathartic for all involved, a very exciting project that I have seen teachers embrace and make it their own." Members of the DDMIX team introduced BGU students to a range of different dances and activities that can be utilised when students go into schools on placements. Jessica Castro, first year BA (Hons) Primary Education with QTS student, said, “The session was really good. I thought it was great how they split everything up into sections, which will help us with how to teach the children. “They haven’t just thrown us into the deep end, they’ve shown us how to work with the children and taught us the dances as well so I thought that was really clever. “I’d love to use (DDMIX) in schools. When we go into placements and we have to use PE I’d definitely use something like this rather than what you’d expect PE to be.” Find out more about Training to Teach at BGU. -
‘Innovative’ University Design up for Regional Award
Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) and LK2 - a unique company of chartered architects and sports & leisure business advisors - are pleased to announce that their recent renovation project has been shortlisted for this year’s RICS East Midlands awards. The impressive £2.2m redevelopment of BGU's Constance Stewart Hall has been shortlisted for the accolade of ‘Design through Innovation’ at the upcoming award ceremony. Innovation was central to the redevelopment of BGU’s Constance Stewart Hall and LK2 needed to find a visually striking way of introducing a contemporary new extension to a historic building on the University’s campus. The vice-chancellor of BGU, the Reverend Canon Professor Peter Neil, said: “We are incredibly proud of both our 150 year history of teaching excellence and our progressive attitude which has seen us become the top university in the East Midlands for widening participation. “When it came to creating a new flexible teaching space we needed a building that would support our ambitions as well as a team who could understand this. The design by LK2 for Constance Stewart Hall perfectly captured this balance and our finished building provides students with cutting edge facilities to help them progress. We are pleased to see it rightly celebrated by the RICS”. The RICS Awards showcase the most inspirational initiatives and developments in land, real estate, construction and infrastructure. Across eight individual categories, the awards are regarded as the premier property and construction awards in the country, celebrating the most innovative projects in the region and their impact on local communities. Andrew Kitchen, director at LK2, said: “We are delighted to have been recognised for our design of this iconic scheme which has transformed the cityscape. This project showcases the impact of good design in so many different ways. Acting as a ‘shop window’, the new building gives BGU’s campus greater prominence and promotes the University to the wider community.” LK2’s innovative approach to this redevelopment, has resulted in one of the project’s most unique characteristics- the architects were able to blend both new and old elements to create the illusion that the contemporary extension is sailing over the original building. The winners will be announced at a ceremony at the Nottingham Belfry on Thursday 3 May. Visit our new development by booking on to a 2018 BGU Open Day now. -
Bishop Grosseteste University Unveils a Suite of New Courses
Throughout our 150 years of teaching excellence everyone at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) has strived to be at the forefront of innovation in higher education, ensuring our courses continue to meet the needs of a constantly evolving student market. The courses are highly regarded by both students and inspectors for their quality and we are excited to add four new Master's level degree options as well as a new Post Graduate Certificate to our ever-growing portfolio. As with our existing selection of courses, these new additions are designed to support learning with a range of potential study options opening them to any budding student. Dr Graham Basten, Head of School of Social Sciences at BGU, believes the launch of the new courses will mark a step forward in the provision of continuous professional development: “Building on our highly successful undergraduate programmes, our Master's level provision within the School has expanded to incorporate top up degrees to existing students and professionals looking to gain higher level qualifications. These new courses are fantastic opportunities created directly with student learning in mind”. Interest can now be registered for: MA in Professional Studies (now MA in Professional Practice with Children, Young People and Families): A specialised two year, part-time Master's Course designed to support and challenge professionals from a range of formal and informal educational settings and contexts. It aims to produce high-calibre postgraduates who are autonomous, reflexive, possessing of inquiring and analytical minds as part of their continued professional formation. MA in Mathematics Education: Designed for individuals teaching mathematics across all phases including Primary, Secondary and Further Education. The course will give students the tools to refine their own professional practice, to study the latest innovations in mathematics teaching, and to compare international systems of Mathematics Education. MSc in Wellbeing and Learning in Teaching: Suitable for a range of professionals within a variety of educational settings. It is ideal for those engaged in support of mental health and wellbeing in education, such as head teachers, teachers, social workers, school nurses, educational psychologists, police and youth justice workers. MSc in Primary/Community Care: Designed to influence and enhance the nature and quality of provision of care within the Primary/Community care setting. It will facilitate wider understanding for professionals currently in the sector but also for those considering a career within Primary/Community provision of care provision along with management and influences on clinical practice within settings. Post Graduate Certificate in Primary Mathematics: This course is an opportunity to develop mathematical subject and pedagogical knowledge, and is designed for people who are currently teaching mathematics in a primary setting. It is ideal for people who are passionate about the learning and teaching of mathematics and want to be able to influence their colleagues. If you are considering taking your education to a new level and these new courses sound like the path for you, you can sign up for more information on the course pages or contact BGU’s Enquiries Team and start your journey today. -
BGU seminar aims to revolutionise Health & Social Care
The final session in a series of Health & Social Care seminars in conjunction with United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust will take place at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) tomorrow afternoon. Led by BGU’s own Lincolnshire Open Research & Innovation Centre (LORIC) and titled “Are you prepared for the 4th Industrial Revolution?”, the session will examine current and upcoming changes to technology and industry before opening up for discussion on how these innovations could be applied within the Health & Social Care sector. Previous sessions have covered a wide spectrum of topics including ‘Collaborative Leadership in a Complex World’ and supporting evidence-based Health & Social Care in Lincolnshire. The final seminar will utilise LORIC’s unique viewpoint as a centre of innovation to encourage discussions around how to enhance the Health & Social Care sector. The event will be held in Room 1 of BGU’s Hardy Building at 5.30pm tomorrow Wednesday 9 May and will be attended by a broad spectrum of professionals and students from across Health & Social Care attended the seminar including representatives from charities, acute and community health trusts as well as students from BGU's undergraduate and postgraduate Health & Social Care programmes. Attendance is free with light refreshments provided, for further information and to book please contact: Simone.Seychell@ULH.nhs.uk -
BGU celebrate women’s voting rights through Vote 100 events
The history of the campaign for votes for women is inspiring and compelling, and still has great political significance in the present. Through 2018 and since, staff and students at BGU and other Lincolnshire communities have been exploring this history and its contemporary resonance. This engagement has found special expression through the creation of a touring exhibition, exhibition ‘Vote100: A Lincolnshire View of Women’s Suffrage’, and we have captured some of the reflections on its production and importance. The exhibition, which is continuing to tour locally, was created collaboratively with other organisations and individuals, including Lincoln Central Library and the local Fawcett Society as lead partners. It has formed the showpiece for part of a series of events celebrating important dates in the history of women’s voting rights and the extension of the franchise by #Vote100BGU project at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) and elsewhere in Lincolnshire through 2017-18 and into 2019. February 6 2018 marked the 100th anniversary of the Representation of the People Act 1918, which enabled all men and some women over the age of 30 to vote for the first time. July 2 2018 marked the 90th anniversary of the Equal Franchise Act, which gave women the same voting rights as men from the age of 21. December 14 2018 was the centenary of the first general election in which women could exercise their newly gained right to vote. BGU hosted a series of events in the lead up to the centenary on February 6 2018, and since. Lectures, debates, performances and more, including student-directed events, celebrated the important milestones. History and English Literature staff Dr Andrew Jackson and Dr Claudia Capancioni, and students, Elaine Johnson, Sian Hope-Johnson, Jasmine Mills along with team members from BGSU were particularly active in supporting the various events. BGU was founded in 1862 as the Lincoln Diocesan Training School for Mistresses, and through much of its history was a college specialising in preparing young women for the teaching profession. ‘Equal opportunities for women in professional life was at the heart of BGU’s original purpose. The history of the University over more than a century and a half make it a fitting setting to celebrate 100 years of progress in electoral and political opportunities for women.’ Dr Andrew Jackson, Head of Research, Bishop Grosseteste University. Upcoming dates: Our itinerant exhibition will contribute to the Wolds Women of Influence this summer. It will be at Spilsby Franklin Hall from 5th June to 26th July 2019. The exhibition will continue to tour throughout the year, please check back here for more information. Previous events: 2018, December 14. The Vote100 exhibition formed the backdrop to an event to mark the centenary of the 1918 General Election. The event also featured an extract from the play, 'The World At Her Feet', introduced by Dr Claudia Capancioni (BGU) and Stephen Gillard and Sam Miles (Lincoln Mystery Plays); an extract from the play, 'The Forgotten Suffragette', introduced by Phoebe Wall-Palmer (Lincoln Performing Arts Centre) and Rachel Baynton (Proto-type Theater); a talk by Prof. Krista Cowman (Lincoln University); and contemporary writings introduced by Dr Andrew Jackson, and read by Elaine Johnson, Sian Hope-Johnson and Jasmine Mills 2018, December 10 – 13. The Vote100 exhibition was placed on display in the historic Old Stonebow Guildhall on the invitation of the City of Lincoln Council, as part of the lead up to the centenary of the 1918 General Election 2018, November 17. The Lincoln Labour Club hosted the Vote100 exhibition for their event to recognise and celebrate women’s rights: ‘100 years of Women’s Suffrage: Learning from their Legacy’. The exhibition was opened by Karen Lee MP and Professor Krista Cowman from the University of Lincoln, who introduced the collection within its historical context and explored its ongoing significance. The event also featured readings from letters in the BGU archive of 1909, on the arguments for and against women’s suffrage. The readings were introduced by Dr Andrew Jackson, and presented by Elaine Johnson, Sian Hope-Johnson and Jasmine Mills. 2018, November 16. The Vote100 exhibition provided the stimulus and inspiration for a workshop with local schools for the Being Human Festival, led by Dr Claudia Capancioni and Sian Hope-Johnson. The Being Human Festival theme for 2018 was ‘Origins and Endings’. 2018, October 4 - November 13. The Vote 100 exhibition was on display as part of North Kesteven District Council’s Local Democracy Week, and tying in with European Local Democracy Week / UK Parliament Week. The portable exhibition was to be found in the Council Chamber, Sleaford Town Hall, and at Kesteven & Sleaford Girls High School in Sleaford, Sir Robert Pattinson Academy in North Hykeham, and in the Terry O’Toole Theatre, Nth Hykeham, over this period. 2018, September 27. BGU sponsored a Vote100-inspired evening event for the Lincoln Book Festival. The Festival’s theme for 2018 was ‘Revolution’, and under the banner of ‘Sisters of the Revolution, there were talks by authors Jane Robinson, Maggie Andrews and Janis Lomas, introduced by Prof. Krista Cowman of the University of Lincoln. 2018, June 4 – July 2. The exhibition ‘Vote100: A Lincolnshire View of Women’s Suffrage’, at Lincoln Central Library on Freeschool Lane, Lincoln. The exhibition was designed by History and English staff and students at BGU, Dr Andrew Jackson, Dr Claudia Capancioni, Elaine Johnson, Sian Hope-Johnson and Jasmine Mills; together with staff of Lincoln Central Library. The exhibition features Lincolnshire’s contribution, set in the context on the progress towards achieving the vote in 1918, and the equalising of the franchise in 1928. 2018, February 9. Women into politics event at BGU Students’ Union (BGSU). The evening included a debate on ‘who should sit on the iron throne’. Guest speakers included Lincoln MP Karen Lee, former BGSU President Becca Smith and BGSU Manager Abigail Rogers. 2018, February 6. Andrew Jackson and Sian Hope-Johnson, BGU SU Officer and Eng Lit student, featured on BBC Radio Lincolnshire, discussing the historical and contemporary significance of Vote100. Andrew and Sian appear a number of times through the first hour of a three-hour programme marking the event, available on BBC Catch-Up here. 2018, February 5. Parliamentary Reform in 1918: Continuity, Reform or Revolution? In this talk noted historian, Professor Martin Pugh, explored a number of important and relevant questions surrounding the Representation of the People Act 1918. 2017, November 27. BGU hosted the Lincolnshire heat of the Historical Association Great Debate 2017 on the topic of: ‘Was the 1918 extension of the franchise the most significant moment in British democratic history?’ The heat, organised by the City of Lincoln Historical Association was open to Lincolnshire schools and sixth form colleges. Further information is available from Dr Claire Hubbard-Hall at BGU. 2017, November 18 and 23. Part of BGU’s engagement with the national Being Human Festival on this year’s theme of ‘Lost and Found’. An event for two Lincoln-based schools on November 23 was organised in collaboration with the charities Slam Jam and First Story. The event on Saturday November 23 was open to the public and celebrated ‘Becoming teachers: women’s college life from 1862 to 1918’. This occasion considered the life and opportunities for young women in this period in history. Further information is available from Dr Claudia Capancioni at BGU. 2017, November 6. The first event relating to Vote 100, a lecture for the City of Lincoln Historical Association. Dr Andrew Jackson, Head of School of Humanities at BGU, presented ‘Life on the First World War Home Front: Distressing or a Blessing?’ Andrew was accompanied by Maureen Sutton, folklore historian and dialect poet. Maureen read some extracts of the work of the Lincolnshire home-front poet, Bernard Samuel Gilbert, whose writings considered the lives, experiences and opportunities for working women 100 years ago. Further information is available from Andrew or Dr Claire Hubbard-Hall at BGU. Articles: Dr Andrew Jackson: Celebrating votes for women one hundred years on, The Lincolnite. For further information: Dr Andrew Jackson, Head of Research, BGU andrew.jackson@bishopg.ac.uk Dr Claudia Capancioni, Programme Leader for English, claudia.capancioni@bishopg.ac.uk Staff from the Research Department at BGU are involved in the organisation of our Vote 100 events. Find out more about their work here. -
BGU Celebrate Voting Equality with #EqualiTeas Event
Last week staff and students at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) held a special event to celebrate voting equality for women. Organised and hosted by a hardworking group of staff from across the University (including the CELT and Research teams), the #EqualiTeas afternoon was part of a national programme of events in the run up to the 90th anniversary of the Equal Franchise Act which granted equal voting rights to women and men across the UK. After an opening speech by Dr Andrew Jackson, Head of Research at BGU, the event delved into the history of Women’s Suffrage in Lincolnshire with readings from BGU’s archive covering records of debates held on women’s voting rights at the then Diocese College. These were followed by letters written to the college magazine at the close of the First World War read by current BGU MA students Elaine Johnson and Sian Hope-Johnson. Both letters were written by students of the college and offered rich historical detail discussing the appropriate nature of protest along with whether women should be allowed to sit in the Houses of Parliament. On top of this guests were provided with afternoon tea as well as an opportunity to discuss the continuing issues concerning equality both inside and beyond politics. Speaking after the event, Dr Jackson explained why celebrating the anniversary of the act continues to be of great importance: “Through this celebration we are remembering the long and hard fought campaign for Women’s Suffrage and questioning whether we have yet reached a good place in terms of opportunities, representation and conduct in politics and wider society” 2018 is a landmark year in anniversaries for equal voting rights and BGU are running events to celebrate throughout the next months. You can find more information on all the exciting plans, including our ongoing exhibition at Lincoln Central Library, on our dedicated #Vote100 page. -
From Visual to Verbal, the Many Ways to Understand Mathematics
By Elizabeth Kimber – Programme Leader for Mathematics at Bishop Grosseteste University The Conversation UK recently published a piece written by Vicky Neale (people.maths.ox.ac.uk/neale) (Whitehead Lecturer at Balliol College, University of Oxford) and myself about how there are many ways to think about mathematics. From visual to verbal – there’s more than one way to understand maths was written for a general audience and aimed to address the idea that being ‘mathematical’ is about thinking in one particular way. We used the example of ellipses because while they aren’t generally covered in school mathematics, they are all around us and are amenable to being looked at in various ways that may be familiar from school maths. Encouraging students to think in different ways about mathematics is a big part of how we teach at BGU and we are not alone in this. At A level, many students have been encouraged to work algebraically and geometrically to get a fuller sense of functions and graphs, perhaps supported by dynamic geometry software. However, many students have developed a preferred approach to their school mathematics and expect to continue working only in this way during their undergraduate studies. If they do this, then they’ll be missing out on powerful ways of thinking. We need to build up students’ confidence in thinking in different ways and extend it undergraduate mathematics. A big part of mathematics is about making sense of definitions and theorems. For example, what it means for a sequence of numbers to converge. These results can be expressed very formally using words and mathematical notation, and the pressures of assessment make it tempting to move quickly into helping students write in this formal style before the underlying ideas have taken shape. However, our workshop-style teaching sessions give students the opportunity to explore these underlying ideas. This might involve working visually or numerically, perhaps using technology, but the most crucial aspect is the opportunity for students to discuss their thinking with each other. I’m struck by how much students use gestures to describe their mathematical ideas to each other, often before they are ready to commit these ideas to paper. The gestures and discussion help to reveal students’ different ways of thinking and provokes others to ask questions and refine their ideas. This frequently flags up related issues that I couldn’t possibly cover in a lecture. We do also spend time writing up solutions to problems to help develop students’ mathematical writing style, but we don’t rush into this at the expense of grappling with the underlying ideas. “The way in which our lessons are styled as a workshop rather than a lecture has been extremely helpful in allowing me to gain an understanding of the course content. The informal style of the workshop allows me to feel much more comfortable when discussing a topic that I am not confident in.” 1st Year student “Since studying at BGU my confidence in and passion for mathematics has increased. The small group teaching creates the optimum environment for discussion – students no longer simply accept the maths but question what we are learning, to understand how and why the maths works. This has helped me to understand the maths in greater depth, compared to studying A-level.” 1st Year student Working on this piece with Vicky was an interesting exercise in itself, but it also prompted me to reflect on my teaching at BGU and the great advantage of our long workshop-style teaching sessions. You can find the full article on The Conversation. For more information on our Mathematics courses, visit our website or get in touch with our Enquiries Team who will be more than happy to help you. -
BGU offer new professional qualification for aspiring youth workers
Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) is pleased to be able to offer students the opportunity to work towards Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) professional accreditation on its new Childhood and Youth (Youth Work Pathway) course option. -
BGU’s Top Tips for a Successful Clearing Experience
With results day on the horizon, one of the main things on the minds of students will be the Clearing Process. If you end up going through Clearing don’t worry because at BGU we aim to prepare our students for every eventuality; even before they join us! -
Mentoring changes mindset of young people in Lincolnshire
Fifty years 10 and year 12 students across 10 Lincolnshire secondary schools took part in an online mentoring scheme this year organised by LiNCHigher in partnership with Brightside mentoring.
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