Links to external resources for improving skills in teaching and research.

Planning and designing online surveys. This site focuses specifically on the potentials and problems of online research methods and provides:

• a self-supporting online resource to enhance understanding of both the theoretical and practical aspects of online research methods including online questionnaires, and virtual synchronous and asynchronous interviews;
  
• access to a wide range of good practice case studies and important resource links;
  
• discussion of the ethical issues of online research and comprehensive technical guidance

The following links are courtesy of Dr. Jeff Johnston, Assistant Director of the Vanderbilt Center for Teaching:

Mentor Net: MentorNet is the award-winning nonprofit e-mentoring network that addresses the retention and success of those in engineering, science and mathematics, particularly but not exclusively women and other underrepresented groups. Founded in 1997, MentorNet provides highly motivated protégés from many of the world's top colleges and universities with positive, one-on-one, email-based mentoring relationships with mentors from industry and academia. In addition, the MentorNet Community provides opportunities to connect with others from around the world who are interested in diversifying engineering and science.

About.com's Surviving and Succeeding in Graduate School: A nuts and bolts guide that includes a wide variety of topics, including how to approach a professor for help, a grad student's guide to mentors and advisors, public speaking, getting started in your research, dealing with graduate school blues, and tips on time management and balancing school and family life.

Preparing Future Faculty: The website of the Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) program, a "national movement to transform the way aspiring faculty members are prepared for their careers." This site is a great portal to a wide variety of graduate student professional development.

References on Teaching and Learning Geography in Higher Education: Five bibliographies are available on the Centre for Active Learning (CeAL) web site at the University of Gloucestershire. Follow the links to: (a) ‘Resources’, then (b) ‘Reference Lists’.

The bibliographies are:

• Linking research and teaching
• Scholarship of teaching and learning
• Active learning and learning styles
• Pedagogic research and development
• Discipline-based approaches to supporting teaching and learning

Together there are over 600 references listed. The intention is to update them regularly as CeAL staff become aware of additional interesting references.

Visitors are encouraged to send details of their own favorite references to Professor Mick Healey at: mhealey@glos.ac.uk.