2021

26th October 202126th October 2021 Mary Jacob [mhj] Resources and Webinars, Uncategorised, Weekly Resource Roundup Leave a comment

As leader of our PGCTHE programme, I keep an eye out for resources to help staff teach effectively. These include webinars, podcasts, online toolkits, publications and more. Topics include active learning, online/blended teaching, accessibility/inclusion, and effective learning design based on cognitive science. Below I’ve listed items that came to my attention in the past week. In the interest of clarity, our policy is to show the titles and descriptions in the language of delivery.

Online events and webinars

3/11/2021 Transforming Assessment, Digital Equity in Online Assessment
4-5/11/2021 AdvanceHE, Assessment and Feedback Symposium 2021: Putting the Student at the Heart of Assessment and Feedback: Equality, Diversity and Partnership
10/11/2021 Echo 360, Reimagining Learner Engagement and Assessment in Blended Learning
11/11/2021 SEDA, CPD and Reflective Practice – Opportunities for meaningful outcomes
8/12/2021 Echo 360, Developing Inclusive Educational Practices with Video-Based Learning
Multiple dates through 2/2022 AdvanceHE, Inclusive learning and teaching workshop series

Resources and publications

Addie, T. (20/10/2021), What Inclusive Instructors Do: Q&A With Tracie Addy, ACUE (with 2-minute video)
Anthony, P. (8/10/2021), How to share best practice with teachers around the world, Jisc Beyond the Technology podcast series, (39-minute audio podcast).
Bunbury, S., Davies, M., Jones, M., Krajewska, A., Popoola, O., Waddington, L., & Revell, L. (2021), Contract cheating detection for markers: checklist, London and South East Academic Integrity Network
Carless, D. (12/10/2021), Supporting the Development of Student Feedback Literacy
Coe, R., Great Teaching Toolkit, Evidence-based Education: Understanding the content (3-minute video), Creating a supportive environment (2-minute video), Maximising opportunity to learn (2-minute video), Activating hard thinking (3-minute video)
Fallin, L. (21/10/2021), Designing for Diverse Learners Poster version 3.2.2, University of Hull LibGuides
Guccione, K. (21/10/2021), Launching the Are You OK? supervisor toolkit, Supervising PhDs
Jones, K. & Wiliam, D. (13/10/2021), Getting the “Think-Pair-Share” Technique Right, ASCD
Kwok, K., Potter, J., Shaikh, S., & Pritchard, J. (20/10/2021), The practical wisdom of… students? Co-creating a practical resource for HE teachers with students as partners, SEDA blog
Matthews, K. (1/10/2021), Energizing institutional assessment activities with students as partners: Assessment Institute 2021, University of Queensland
Salmon, G. (14/10/2021), Captivating Learning: Storyboarding, OEB Insights
Soon, L. (10/2021), Accessible Equations and Mathematical Text at the University of York
Swingler, M., Wehbe, L., Pringle-Barnes, G., Cleland-Woods, H., Buglass, E., Conlan, V., Sabha, N. & Fournarakis, G. (22/10/2021), Staying Connected: A Toolkit for Effective Groupwork, TILE Network, (11-minute video)
Talbert, R. (30/5/2021), How to write learning objectives

Please see the Staff Training booking page for training offered by the LTEU and other Aberystwyth University staff. I hope you find this weekly resource roundup useful. If you have questions or suggestions, please contact our team at lteu@aber.ac.uk. You may also wish to follow my Twitter feed, Mary Jacob L&T.

Weekly Resource Roundup – 1/10/2021

1st October 20211st October 2021 Mary Jacob [mhj] Resources and Webinars, Uncategorised, Weekly Resource Roundup Leave a comment

As leader of our PGCTHE programme, I keep an eye out for resources to help staff teach effectively. These include webinars, podcasts, online toolkits, publications and more. Topics include active learning, online/blended teaching, accessibility/inclusion, and effective learning design based on cognitive science. Below I’ve listed items that came to my attention in the past week. In the interest of clarity, our policy is to show the titles and descriptions in the language of delivery.

Online events and webinars

Ongoing MOOC, Open University, Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in STEM
Ongoing MOOC, University of Derby, Flexible Learning Toolkit
6/10/2021 Transforming Assessment, Using video in assessment and feedback
11/10/2021 Danish School of Education, What is it like to be a Playful Academic, and how can we forge ways to get there?
13/10/2021 Association for Learning Technology, ALSIG Webinar Series: ABC learning design online
13/10/2021 Tile Network, Supporting Neurodiversity in Education
13/10/2021 Blended Learning Consortium, Higher Education Blended Learning Consortium University Launch Event
19/10/2021 European University Association DigiHE, Developing a high-performance digital education ecosystem: strategy and organisational culture
20/10/2021 UDL UK and Ireland Network, Institution-wide approaches to embedding Universal Design for Learning
20-21/10/2021 QAA, Quality Matters 2021 “Quality Matters is an annual student-focused event providing an introduction to student engagement in quality assurance and enhancement and preparing student representatives for the year ahead”
21/10/2021 Active Learning Network, Developing expectations for peer learning
21/10/2021 Future Teacher Webinars, The wonderful world of webinars
21, 25, & 26/10/2021 Cradle Symposium, ‘What is assessment for inclusion? Problematising inclusion, equity, and access in higher education assessment’ and Panel Session – Big questions and ideas in inclusive assessment
23-25/11/2021 21C Student Curriculum Partners at Western Sydney University, National Students as Partners Roundtable 2021
25/11/2021 Active Learning Network, Digital Reading: affordances for active and collaborative reading from screens
Multiple dates through 2/2022 AdvanceHE, Inclusive learning and teaching workshop series

Resources and publications

Agarwal, P. K. (2021), Recommended Books on the Science of Learning, Retrieval Practice
Bovil, C. (30/9/2021), Better outcomes for students = build community, University of Edinburgh Teaching Matters Blog
Chakraborty, D., Soyoof, A., Moharami, M., Dwi Utami, A., Zeng, S., Ngo, C.-L., Hradsky, D., Maestre, J.-L., Foomani, E. M. & Pretorius, L. (2021), Feedback as a space for academic social practice in doctoral writing groups, The Educational and Developmental Psychologist
Gagne, A. (30/9/2021), Making Accessibility Accessible: Countering The “That’s Too Much Work” Narrative, OLT Faculty Development
Higher Education Futures institute, University of Birmingham (n.d.), Large Group Teaching Techniques Menu
Kennedy, E. (29/9/2021), #Take5 #63 Design Sprints for Developmental Learning, LMU Take5 blog
Kingsbridge Research School (22/5/2021), From Expert to Novice – Jon Eaton: How do we convey expert thinking to our novice learners?, Research Schools Network
Nelms, A. A. & Segura-Totten, M. (1/1/2019), Expert–Novice Comparison Reveals Pedagogical Implications for Students’ Analysis of Primary Literature, CBE Life Sciences Education 18, 4
Pedagodzilla Podcast (29/9/2021), The Pedagodzilla Open Mic Night (Ft. Gamification) (audio recording 1 hour)
Pedagogies for Social Justice Podcast series, University of Westminster
UCL Press open-source books on education
Vines, C. (23/9/2021), altc21 Resources Openly Accessible, Association for Learning Technology Annual Conference, “The full recorded online programme and session recordings are now available openly to all.”
Wolf, L. G. (21/1/2021), ‘Presence’ in an online Teaching Environment
Wolff, C. E., Jarodzka, H., & Boshuizen, H. P. A. (1/8/2017), See and tell: Differences between expert and novice teachers’ interpretations of problematic classroom management events, Teaching and Teacher Education, 66, 295-308.

Weekly Resource Roundup – 16/9/2021

16th September 202116th September 2021 Mary Jacob [mhj] Resources and Webinars, Uncategorised, Weekly Resource Roundup Leave a comment

Online events and webinars

Ongoing MOOC, Open University, Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in STEM
Ongoing MOOC, University of Derby, Flexible Learning Toolkit
6/10/2021 Transforming Assessment, Using video in assessment and feedback
13/10/2021 Tile Network, Supporting Neurodiversity in Education
19/10/2021 European University Association DigiHE, Developing a high-performance digital education ecosystem: strategy and organisational culture
Multiple dates through 2/2022 AdvanceHE, Inclusive learning and teaching workshop series

Resources and publications

Armellini, A. (n.d.), Don’t Just Deliver: Teach, Educational Technology Insights
Compton, M. (9/9/2021), ‘Basic Hybrid’ Teaching: Recommendations, Martin Compton, UCL
Cross, K. P. (n.d.), Encouraging Metacognition: Helping Students Learn How to Learn (with videos 1-2 minutes each), The K. Patricia Cross Academy
Ivory, S. (16/9/2021), The point of an on-campus education, Teaching Matters Blog
Jones, A. & Jordan, K. (8/9/2021), Special Collection: Learning from Lockdown: challenges and benefits, Journal of Interactive Media in Education
Lecture Breakers podcast (n.d.), Episode 77: Tips for Designing Collaborative Learning Experiences and Group Work with Dr. Alexandra Mihai (30 minute podcast)
Office of Digital Learning & Inquiry, Middlebury College, (20/5/2021), The Asynchronous Cookbook:recipes for engaged & active online learning, PB Pressbooks
Phipps, L. (14/9/2021), Learning from students and staff during the pandemic: A talk for #ESLTIS21, lawrie: converged
RAISE (2021), RAISE Annual Conference materials
Veletsianos, G. (12/8/2021), A ‘return to normal’ on campus? 5 ways university students and faculty hope for better, The Conversation

Weekly Resource Roundup – 8/9/2021

8th September 20218th September 2021 Mary Jacob [mhj] Resources and Webinars, Uncategorised, Weekly Resource Roundup Leave a comment

Online events and webinars

Ongoing MOOC, Open University, Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in STEM
Ongoing MOOC, University of Derby, Flexible Learning Toolkit
9/9/2021 Media & Learning, How accessible are higher education video services one year on from the Directive?
13/9/2021, Practical Pedagogy conference
14/9/2021 TILT, TILT Annual Learning and Teaching Conference
15/9/2021 Amnet, Accessibility: Matching Image Description to the Content
16/9/2021 Active Learning Network, Creative Universities: Global Challenges and Alternative Futures
16/9/2021 Centre for Excellence in Learning & Teaching, UEL Learning and Teaching Symposium
6/10/2021 Transforming Assessment, Using video in assessment and feedback
13/10/2021 Tile Network, Supporting Neurodiversity in Education

Resources and publications

ALT (2021), Framework for Ethical Learning Technology.
Bayne, S., Evans, P., Ewins, R., Knox, J., Lamb, J., Macleod, H., O’Shea, C., Johnston, K. (2020), The manifesto for teaching online, MIT Press.
Callaghan, D. & Collins, H. (2021), Adaptive action learning in an online community: facilitating a large cohort to deliver results, Action Learning: Research and Practice, 18:1, 20-37
Cormier, D. (30/8/2021), Facilitating Online Breakout Groups (7-minute video)
Dieste, T. (1/9/2021), 75% of university lectures are inaccessible for students with auditory impairments, Media & Learning
Drysdale, T. (7/9/2021), Innovation in Science Teaching, Teaching Matters Blog
Freelon, D., Bali, M., Chibnall, D., Morris, S., Kuo, R., Tedford, R., & Williams, A. (31/8/2021), How Can Educators Equip Students with the Tools They Need to Combat Misinformation?, Sage Publishing, (4-hour recording and toolkit from 2021 Critical Thinking Bootcamp)
Fripp, D. (3/9/2021), Assessment Feedback Assistant, Jisc Co-Design
Gyurko, J. (26/8/2021), Bringing Faculty into the Student Success Movement, ACUE Community
Hunt, R. (1/9/2021), Inclusive Cultures: What experiences give students a sense of belonging or exclusion? (podcast 15 minutes), Teaching Matters Blog
Jisc (7/9/2021), Students say universities must learn from the pandemic to improve higher education, Jisc News
Misiejuk, K. & Wasson, B. (28/8/2021), Backward evaluation in peer assessment: A scoping review, Computers in Education
Open University Learning Design Team, Resources (including Collaborative Online Activities)
Teaching Enhancement Unit (7/2021), Guidance for moving large class cohorts to the online environment, Dublin City University
Walker, R., Chong, S., & Chong, J. (2021). Facilitating peer-led group research through virtual collaboration spaces: an exploratory research study. Research in Learning Technology, 29.

Resources from the Annual Learning and Teaching Conference

23rd August 202123rd August 2021 James Woolley [jbw] Annual Learning and Teaching Conference 2021, Conference, Uncategorised Leave a comment

Hector, our AberForward who has been working with us to support the Annual Learning and Teaching Conference, has pulled together a list of resources inspired by the talks at the conference. If you want to watch any of the sessions again, then you can do so on our webpages.

Conference Keynote: Dr Chrissi Nerantzi

Our conference keynote was definitely a highlight. Chrissi asked conference attendees the following questions. Below are the results from our conference delegates:

Mentimeter poll result outlining how much colleagues agree with the following statements:

I am feeling more creative since the pandemic broke out (3.8)

My students react more positively to create tasks since the pandemic broke out (3.2)

I find it easier to be creative in my teaching practice during the pandemic (3.3)

Being creative means risk lowering my evaluation scores linked to my teaching (3)

Mentimeter word cloud results answering the following question: What is your main driver to innovate in your practice?

Most common answers:

Engagement
Student engagmeent
Fun
Curiosity
Inclusivity
Learning

If you’re interested in reading more about Chrissi’s work, then take a look at the following webpages:

Weekly Resource Roundup – 11/8/2021

11th August 202111th August 2021 Mary Jacob [mhj] Resources and Webinars, Training and Support, Uncategorised, Weekly Resource Roundup Leave a comment

Online events and webinars

16/8/2021 ALT, A Framework to Support Problem-Based Learning (mobiPBL)
27/8/2021 ALT, Copyright and online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic
1/9/2021 Transforming Assessment webinars, Making post-pandemic assessment authentic and engaging (Sally Brown & Kay Sambell)
1-2/9/2021 RAISE Network, Annual conference: Student Engagement in the Context of Covid-19
10/9/2021 Pedagogy and Pancakes, Practical Pedagogy Conference
6/10/2021 Transforming Assessment webinars, Using video in assessment and feedback

Resources and publications

ACUE (2020), Inclusive Online Teaching Webinars recordings and resources (about 1 hour each)
Bartolic, S. K., Boud, D., Agapito, J., Verpoorten, D., Williams, S., Lutze-Mann, L., Matzat, U., Moreno, M. M., Polly, P., Tai, J., Marsh, H. L., Lin, L., Burgess, J-L., Habtu, S., Mercedes Rodrigo, M. M., Roth, M., Heap, T. & Guppy, N. (2021) A multi-institutional assessment of changes in higher education teaching and learning in the face of COVID-19, Educational Review
Bournemouth University Centre for Fusion Learning, Innovation and Excellence, Co-creating Assessment (6 videos, about 3 minutes each)
Bruff, D. (29/9/2010), Tools for Grading – Sample Rubrics and Spreadsheets, Vanderbilt University Center for Teaching
Fisher, K. (11/2003), Demystifying Critical Reflection: Defining criteria for assessment, Higher Education Research & Development, 22(3), 313-325
Healey, M. & Healey, R. (n.d.), Embedding Active Learning into your Teaching Practice, Heriot Watt University Learning & Teaching Academy
Honicutt, B. (27/7/2021), Podcast Episode 95: Case Study Episode: Redesigning an In-Person Lab to an Online Format with Jennifer Wallace (30-minute recording), MSN, RN, CNE, Lecture Breakers Podcast and Show Notes
Lawrence, J., Brown, A., Redmond, P., Maloney, S., Basson, M., Galligan, L., & Turner, J. (8/3/2021), Does Course Specific Nudging Enhance Student Engagement, Experience and Success?: A Data-Driven Longitudinal Tale. Student Success, 12(2), 28-37.
Liberman, B. (18/3/2019), How Learning Works: 10 Research-Based Insights, Getting Smart
Mayes, J. T. (7/4/2015), Still to learn from Vicarious Learning, E-learning and Digital Media 12(3-4)
Nebel, C. (29/7/2021), Unlearning Neuromyths, The Learning Scientists blog
Open University Learning Design Team (4/2021), Planning the Student Journey
Pun, K. (2/9/2016), Dos and Don’ts on Designing for Accessibility, Accessibility in Government, UK government blog post featuring useful posters for accessible design
Vanderbilt University Center for Teaching, Teaching Guides
Varwell, S. (5/7/2021). Models for exploring partnership: Introducing sparqs’ student partnership staircase as a reflective tool for staff and students, International Journal for Students As Partners, 5(1), 107–123.

Other

19/9/2021 deadline, call for proposals – SOAS Learning & Teaching Conference, The New Normal and Collaborative Student Learning
OpenLearn MOOC started 5/8/2021, Scholarship of teaching and learning in STEM, Open University

2021-2022 Modules now available to Staff

5th August 20215th August 2021 Robert Francis [rsf09] Uncategorised Leave a comment

Modules for the academic year 2021/2022 are now available for staff teaching on modules. This is in order to assist staff in preparing for the new academic year. You may have noticed that a new tab has appeared on the top menu of your Blackboard screen:

If you’re enrolled as a staff member on the module in Astra then you should be able to view your modules for next academic year. If you’re not able to see a module that you are enrolled on then contact your Departmental Administrator. Students won’t be enrolled on the module until registration is complete.

You’ll notice that the codes for modules have changed slightly owing to the new MAF form. AB1 denotes modules running in semester 1, AB2 denotes modules running in semester 2, and AB3 denotes modules running in Semester 3 and Semester S.

We’ve got the following support available to help with Course Copy:

Read our FAQ

If you have any queries regarding Course Copy, or need further assistance, please email elearning@aber.ac.uk.

Interactive Blackboard Tools Case Studies – Wikis

28th July 202128th July 2021 James Woolley [jbw] Blackboard, Blackboard Wikis, Blackboard Wikis, Interactive Tools, Uncategorised Leave a comment

This case study is based on and includes extracts from the Student-led Planning of Tourism and Hospitality Education: The Use of Wikis to Enhance Student Learning book chapter written by Dr Mandy Talbot (Aberystwyth Business School) and published in the Routledge Handbook of Tourism and Hospitality Education.

What tool do you use and how?

Dr Mandy Talbot used Blackboard wikis to facilitate ‘a student led, collaborative learning project (…) on the second year, bachelor degree module: international tourism development. (…) The module course work required students to work in small groups to identify and evaluate the tourism development strategies that were being followed in given tourist destinations and to compare these with approaches being taken elsewhere. Due to the collaborative and interactive nature of the assignment the most suitable web tool was the wiki.’

Why did you choose this tool?

Before implementation of wikis ‘students undertook the exercise by creating and delivering a group PowerPoint presentation of 15 minutes to the class, with a further 10 minutes for questions.’ Dr Mandy Talbot changed the format of this assessment in order to:

‘Improve the cohesiveness of student group work: The wiki format provides a collaborative work space for students to develop their work’

‘Provide students with more opportunity to interact with the work of other groups: The wiki format enables students to visit each other’s’ presentations over an extended time period. Wiki pages also have comment boxes which enable students to pose questions and engage in discussion on the other sites.’

‘Develop student IT skills: Students will learn how to create and structure web pages’.

So Long, and Thanks for All the…

28th July 202114th July 2021 Lara Kipp [lak22] Online Teaching, Uncategorised 1 Comment

…challenges, suggestions, and insights into many different departments at the university! The last 11 months have been an absolute blast working with the Learning and Teaching Enhancement Unit as an Online Learning Specialist.

Having started with the 2020 Annual Learning and Teaching Conference, it was wonderful to be able to be a part of the 2021 instance of the same event towards the end of my time in this job. This time round, I even presented (albeit in my role as Lecturer in Theatre and Scenography with TFTS) – you can find the recording of that paper here. Those two events bracket an intense time of learning and teaching for me: alongside my lovely colleagues, I designed, developed, and delivered training sessions on everything from Blackboard to Vevox. I supported staff from all kinds of departments in the switch from in-person to blended learning, to online-only, and back. It is no exaggeration to say I am in awe of the dedication, determination, and ingenuity displayed by colleagues all over the university. I am sure that the resources produced by the Learning and Teaching Enhancement Unit will continue to support staff as we head towards another academic year potentially full of necessary adaptations. Keep an eye on the Staff Training pages – I for one will be sure to make use of them.

As my Online Learning Specialist colleagues and I move on to other challenges, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank all Information Services colleagues, and especially the Learning and Teaching Enhancement Unit, for being so welcoming and allowing me to gain a much deeper understanding of and appreciation for the many-facetted work of that department. Diolch o galon i gyd!

2020/21 External Speakers and Resources

22nd July 202121st July 2021 Anna Udalowska [aeu] Annual Learning and Teaching Conference 2020, Annual Learning and Teaching Conference 2021, Events and Networks, External Speakers, Uncategorised Leave a comment

As part of this year’s CPD programme, we hosted a number of external speakers who provided us with new perspectives and unique expertise in various aspects of learning and teaching. In preparation for the upcoming year, we would like to briefly remind you of some of the topics discussed and the resources available to you. We hope that by building on these and other sessions the Unit organised this year you will feel fully prepared to adapt and innovate your teaching in the upcoming year.

Professor Ale Armellini: The Journey towards Active Blended Learning

Last summer’s conference keynote speaker, Professor Ale Armellini, shared his insights and advice on learning innovation and online pedagogy.

Recording

Dr Naomi Winston: From Transmission to Transformation: Maximising Student Engagement with Feedback

In the first mini-conference of the year, we had an opportunity to listen to Dr Naomi Winstor who argued that maximising students’ engagement with feedback is fundamentally an issue of design, where opportunities for students to develop the skills required for effective use of feedback, and opportunities to apply feedback, can transform the role of students in assessment.

Recording

Frederika Roberts: Flourishing at Aberystwyth – Putting Positive Education into Practice

In this mini-conference keynote speech attendees learnt about key elements of positive psychology in the context of higher education and practical strategies for enhancing their own wellbeing.

Recording

Kate Lister: Online Communities and Student Well-being

Kate Lister from Advance HE explored how to create effective digital communities that can support students’ sense of belonging and purpose, facilitate meaningful connections, and provide support without relying on a campus environment.

Recording

Dr Kate Exley: Taking your (PowerPoint) Lectures Online

Dr Kate Exley was invited to deliver a workshop on moving our lectures, previously delivered in large lecture theatres and classrooms, to online platforms.

Summary

Dr Sally Brown & Dr Kay Sambell – Improving assessment and feedback processes post-pandemic: authentic approaches to improve student learning and engagement.

During our Mini-Fest on assessment, Dr Sally Brown and Dr Kay Sambell led a workshop designed to build on lessons learned during the complex transitions academics made last year and explore the concept of authentic approaches to assessments.

Link to recordings & resources

Professor Mick Healey & Dr Ruth Healey: Engaging students through student-staff partnership

We invited Professor Mick Healey and Dr Ruth Healey to deliver a workshop on student-staff partnerships and consult them on engaging students in projects and provisions we currently deliver.

Recording

Dr Dyddgu Hywel: Blaenoriaethu Iechyd a Lles Staff

The first external speaker of this year’s Learning and Teaching Conference talked about prioritizing the health and well-being of staff.

Recording

Andy McGregor: What will assessment look like in five years?

We also had an opportunity to listen to Andy McGregor from JISC on the future of assessment. A talk based on JISC’s paper: The future of assessment: five principles, five targets for 2025, which ‘sets five targets for the next five years to progress assessment towards being more authentic, accessible, appropriately automated and secure’.

Recording

Dr Chrissi Nerantzi: Breaking Free

Lastly, our keynote speech for this year’s conference was delivered by Dr Chrissi Neratzi who talked about open and flexible pedagogies.

Joe Probert & Izzy Whitley: Using Vevox to engage learners.

Joe Probert and Izzy Whitley from Vevox, our university polling software, delivered a session on how to make effective use of polling to engage learners.

Recording