Michael Hammond and Rossana Espinoza

This is a project to support research degree students at Warwick Institute of Education. The project arose out of a concern that there was insufficient sharing of resources and general communication between doctoral students, and also between supervisors and doctoral students within the doctorate programme here at WIE. In addition, there was a more specific problem in that part time students, at least those at a distance from Warwick, had difficulties in physically accessing research methods courses. These concerns were identified at the same time as a further round of internal Teaching Quality Enhancement Fund (TQEF) funding was advertised. The TQEF was set up with Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) funding to support the university’s E Learning and Teaching strategies of which this project formed a part.

The project has taken the form of an action research investigation of opportunities and difficulties in develop on line resources and support for students. In practical terms we have produced on line forums; distance learning material and programme details. Meanwhile students’ experiences and attitudes to these innovations have been explored through interviews and focus group discussions.