Researcher Buddy Group Case Study (Research Office)
(Case study created by Ann Charlett-Day)
Describe the purpose of your pilot:
To enable an existing group of 6 researchers involved with a pilot CPD project (Researcher Buddy Group) to share reflections on their learning.
How did you go about setting it up:
The Researcher Buddy Group was set up at the beginning of 2009. The uSpace group was created to fit with the structure of the Researcher Buddy Group.
Did you get others involved and how long did it take?
No-one else was involved.
Did you think it appropriate to acquire "buy in" from your community or management to set it up?
Group members had already 'bought into' the concept of the Researcher Buddy Group so we simply included uSpace as one of the features of the group.
Did you use a space or a group? If you choose a group why?
I chose a group as we want individuals' learning reflections to only be visible to members of the Researcher Buddy Group.
Did your community engage with the space/group - did they get it?
So far there has only been minimal engagement with with uSpace group. We have face to face meetings on a regular basis and these have been very valuable, so probably members felt that there would be minimal benefit in using uSpace in addition to attending the meetings.
Finally did your community achieve what you wanted?
Not yet, but I will be able to report back in more detail at the end of the CPD initative in June 2009.
Top tips from your pilot
- Explain to everyone how to access and interact with uSpace. When I went through this with group members they were very appreciative.
- Consider whether uSpace is the best way to go, or whether an existing mechanism for networking and sharing information will suffice.