Blog

Generating Research Conversation with “The Wheel” Terry Elliot, Western Kentucky University Writing Project, February 2016 I have a semester-long research “thing” that all of my students take part in. I call it a “thing” because it could range from a standard research paper (their default setting I fear) to an extended informational blog to ebooks to collaborative handbooks.  The purpose of this early assignment is to get them thinking first about their personal and disciplinary passions AND connecting those with their immediate community in the classroom.  Passion and connection. I also introduce a really effective sharing technique that I call […]

CREATING ACTIVE LEARNING IN EXAMS Inspired by October 30, 2015 iad4learnteach blog with permission from Simon Bates. In our last Take5 blog, we looked at what makes a great lecturer – this post explores what makes a great exam. Simon Bates is Senior Advisor for Teaching and Learning and Academic Director for CTLT at UBC Vancouver. He has spent time re-thinking classroom practice – AND he has also designed a new two-stage exam that includes both individual and group elements – and that he argues better models real world issues with which graduates will have to engage – and that in the process […]

CREATING ACTIVE LEARNING IN EXAMS Inspired by October 30, 2015 iad4learnteach blog with permission from Simon Bates. In our last Take5 blog, we looked at what makes a great lecturer – this post explores what makes a great exam. Simon Bates is Senior Advisor for Teaching and Learning and Academic Director for CTLT at UBC Vancouver. He has spent time re-thinking classroom practice – AND he has also designed a new two-stage exam that includes both individual and group elements – and that he argues better models real world issues with which graduates will have to engage – and that in the […]

Sebastian Boo, a former LondonMet student, shares his current LSE-based research into student views of excellent teachers. Yes – they mention clarity, voice, passion and performance… BUT there is also great emphasis on CARE and KINDNESS… Have a read. Students’ views of excellent teachers Who were your best teachers or professors? I remember my primary school teacher, Mr Johnson, for his captivating storytelling, my secondary school biology teacher, Dr Higby, for his knowledge and enthusiasm; and my physiology professor John Stevens’ ready wit and humour. Research indicates that teaching quality is the single most significant factor in determining student achievement […]

Welcome back to Take5 – the user-friendly staff development blog from CELT at London Metropolitan University. This autumn we are launching Take5 by joining in with Chrissi Nerantzi’s open course: Creativity for Learning in HE. Like everybody else we are much too busy … BUT if we don’t make time for some creativity – then what’s it all about anyway? So – we are sharing this invitation with you and hope that you too will make the time – take the leap – and join us… Come on in… the water’s lovely!! Tips: If you are from LondonMet and would like […]

It has not been a full year yet of our 2014/15 diary but as our anniversary will fall in October, my (and I imagine many others) busiest time of year I thought that I would take this opportunity, during the slightly quieter summer months, to put together my favourite moments and top observations from the blog so far. Variety The most striking thing about the blog was the variety of tasks that we are all involved in including: supporting PASS schemes; 1-to-1 support for students; running workshops for students and staff; undertaking research; delivering modules; assessment; PhD support, marketing; developing online […]

Write a brief summary of any work-related activities undertaken on 15th June 2015 and/or your nearest working day . In posting your reply, you consent to the potential use of anonymised extracts from this material in resources that may in future be published by the Association for Learning Development in Higher Education (ALDinHE), for educational and professional development purposes only. Dr B On Wednesday 24th June I was invited to visit South Downs College to talk to students and staff there about referencing and plagiarism. After racking my brains for hours and hours in trying to think of how I could […]

Write a brief summary of any work-related activities undertaken on 15th May 2015 and/or your nearest working day . In posting your reply, you consent to the potential use of anonymised extracts from this material in resources that may in future be published by the Association for Learning Development in Higher Education (ALDinHE), for educational and professional development purposes only. I started my day off by marking some assessments for my module that has now finished. It is my first time marking assessments and I have found it quite challenging. Luckily we did write some clear marking criteria so I can […]

The digital age is predicated on the notion of student as producer (of knowledge) – as opposed to earlier education ages that appeared to position the student (only) as a consumer of knowledge. If helping your students to become digitally capable and proficient, why don’t you set students the challenge of making digital artefacts and/or telling digital stories? Here are some strategies for developing Digital Storytelling that we have used. SEE: http://edtechteacher.org/tools/multimedia/digital-storytelling/ – for school examples to inspire and resource your own practice. Join #ds106 and sign up to the teaching blog roll DS106 – or digital storytelling 106 – […]

Write a brief summary of any work-related activities undertaken on 15th April 2015 and/or your nearest working day . In posting your reply, you consent to the potential use of anonymised extracts from this material in resources that may in future be published by the Association for Learning Development in Higher Education (ALDinHE), for educational and professional development purposes only. Today has been a bit of a catch up day. This morning I ended up in a live chat with EndNote technical support for about 30 minutes trying to sort out an issue for one of our students. Unfortunately this has […]