Europe

Where to focus training and resources upskill staff for digital teaching

Your greatest asset: how to focus efforts to upskill staff

Online teaching demands new pedagogical and digital skills among faculty, so universities need to consider how best to focus training and resources, as Susanna Kohonen explains

Susanna Kohonen

University of Eastern Finland

Using visual media to activate student learning

Using visual media to enhance online learning

Nataša Lacković presents a pedagogical approach to using visual media to activate student learning, rather than simply decorating course content

Nataša Lacković

Lancaster University

Webinar discussion how to reduce student drop out rates in the context of the pandemic and online learning

Understanding attrition: what can be done to reduce student dropouts post pandemic?

How has the pandemic affected student dropout rates? And what can universities can do to boost student retention now and in the future? We discuss student attrition with a panel of experts from the UK and Australia

Sally Kift, Jacqueline Stevenson, David Woolley

The Australian Learning and Teaching Fellows, University of Leeds

Wellbeing pedagogies to boost the student experience online

Well-being pedagogies: activities and practices to improve the student experience online

With many concerned about the mental health effects of learning remotely, Elena Riva shares helpful practices that can boost student well-being in the online teaching and learning environment

Elena Riva

The University of Warwick

Engaging staff to drive sustainable change

Universities need buy-in from staff when implementing major change. Phil Collins talks about how to keep everyone engaged and invested in their work for long-term success

Phil Collins

Brunel University London

Tools to engage students in online courses

Live chat, weekly digests and newsletters: online tools to boost engagement

Robert Green talks through the digital tools he uses to keep students engaged in their online course during what are, for many, challenging times

Robert Green

University of Kent

Developing students academic writing skills

Improving academic writing skills to boost student confidence and resilience

Academic writing skills are fundamental to most university courses. Andrew Struan explains how Glasgow has taken a whole-university approach to ensure all students are well equipped to succeed

Andrew Struan

University of Glasgow

How universities can offer students a rewarding university experience online

How to offer students a rewarding university experience online

Successfully teaching online is just one part of the battle to serve students remotely. Here David Woolley talks about what more universities can do to give students a fulfilling experience when they cannot attend in person

David Woolley

Underpinning change with strong stable values that remain constant

How strong, stable values can enable sustainable teaching transformation

Change can be disorienting but if it is underpinned by strong, stable values that remain constant, it is more likely to get staff buy-in and prove successful, Claire Taylor explains

Claire Taylor

Wrexham Glyndŵr University

Advice on reframing lectures for teaching in a digital age

The active lecture: student-centred learning for the future

Online teaching offers valuable insight into effective pedagogy that will remain useful long after the pandemic is past, according to James Pickering, who outlines the key lessons to improve teaching design and delivery

James Pickering

University of Leeds

Learn how to create online teaching principles that actually help faculty

Creating online teaching principles that actually help faculty

Amanda Sykes talks about how to develop online teaching resources around a set of simple guiding principles that are immediately accessible and helpful for faculty trying to get to grips with new digital pedagogies

Amanda Sykes

University of Glasgow

How to manage your busyness to avoid burnout

How to manage your busyness to avoid burnout

Overwork and stress are growing issues among academics, particularly following the sudden transition to online teaching. Erin Wilson talks through how she manages her busyness to avoid burnout

Erin Wilson

University of Groningen

Tips to help students stay focused in online classes

Seven steps to help students stay engaged online

While the same psychological processes are at work online as in the classroom, it is much easier for students to disengage when learning remotely. Here are seven well-researched steps to help students stay focused on their online courses

Leonard Houx, André Spicer

Cass Business School, City University of London

Advice on designing online assessment that reduces the opportunity or temptation to cheat

Design online assessment to prevent academic misconduct

Traditional proctored exams rarely work when teaching online so instructors must rely on careful assessment design to minimise the risk of cheating, explain Patrick Harte and Fawad Khaleel

Patrick Harte , Fawad Khaleel

Edinburgh Napier University

Designing online courses with accessibility and inclusivity in mind

Online alone is not the answer – how to design remote courses with accessibility and inclusivity in mind

Digital accessibility is crucial in online teaching, says Amy Low. Here, she outlines what universities need to consider when designing inclusive online courses

Amy Low

AbilityNet

Sage on the screen? Lessons in using technology to enhance learning

It’s time for the sage to step down from the stage, according to Steve Davies. Here, he shares simple steps to ensure technology enhances learning outcomes

Steve Davies

University of South Wales, Learna

Webinar discussion how to reduce student drop out rates in the context of the pandemic and online learning

What is the secret to quality control in online teaching?

Four higher education professionals discuss what universities and faculty can, or should, do to ensure a top quality digital teaching across their institutions

Helen Carmichael, Joshua Fleming, David Lefevre, Gunter Saunders

University of Southampton, Office for Students, Imperial College London, University of Westminster

Virtual exchange: enabling online group work that benefits all learners

Virtual exchange: supporting online collaboration to benefit all learners

Virtual exchanges enable group work between students in different locations, but studies show varied learning gains. Irina Rets and Bart Rienties use research to examine how instructors can manage virtual exchanges to ensure everyone benefits

Irina Rets, Bart Rienties

Lancaster University, The Open University

Gather student feedback throughout your online course to test and refine teaching methods

Experiment, test, refine: work with students to shape online courses

If you want to improve teaching, speak to the learners, explains Pat Tissington, who advocates using student feedback to continually experiment and adjust your online instruction methods throughout the course

Pat Tissington

The University of Warwick

Lessons from students in online learning

I spy what’s in the prof’s study: lessons from students in online learning

Student feedback is crucial to improving remote teaching. Here, Roger Austin shares key lessons for effective online course delivery based on a survey of his students

Roger Austin

Ulster University

Approaches to moving practical courses to more remote learning

Innovative approaches to moving practical learning online

A major challenge of the move to remote learning has been how to teach practical subjects. Here, Lesley Saunders and Lucy Kirkham discuss how they adopted a combination of online, blended and socially distanced teaching for a large nursing course

Lesley Saunders , Lucy Kirkham

Sheffield Hallam University

What to consider when personal tutoring remotely

Points to consider when personal tutoring remotely

With many remote students feeling anxious, personal tutors are often the first port of call. Michael Draper talks through things to consider in order to maintain a supportive and helpful relationship with tutees from a distance

Michael Draper

Swansea University

Take steps to ensure a safe and respectful online learning environment through good ‘netiquette’

Netiquette: encouraging good behaviour in online classes

Online teaching can blur boundaries between home and university, so lecturers must take steps to ensure a safe and respectful online learning environment through good ‘netiquette’. Sam Smidt and Joanna Stroud explain how

Sam Smidt, Joanna Stroud

UCL

Using the Community of Inquiry to improve online learning outcomes

Making the implicit explicit: improve online learning through ‘presence’

Dara Cassidy explains how the Community of Inquiry provides a framework to help translate teaching strategies that come naturally in the classroom to the online learning environment where they require more deliberate planning

Dara Cassidy

RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences

Julianne Law offers insight on how she has adapted her ‘lectures’ for the digital classroom

From lecture theatre to living room: adapting teaching techniques to the online classroom

The move to online education has required a major rethink of traditional teaching practices. Julianne Law offers insight on how she has adapted her ‘lectures’ for the digital classroom

Julianne Law

Bangor University

Selecting digital tools that support your pedagogy and teaching strategies

Tech tools to help enhance online and blended learning

With thousands of educational apps all promising to enhance online learning, choosing the right technology is a challenge. Miral Gibson explains why how pedagogy and teaching strategies should inform these decisions

Miral Gibson

University of Roehampton

Build peer support networks to help staff navigate digital teaching

Building peer support networks to help staff navigate digital teaching

Kay Yeoman and Alicia McConnell explain how the University of East Anglia has used peer support networks to ensure all university staff have access to the advice, support and training they need to deliver quality online teaching

Kay Yeoman, Alicia McConnell

The University of East Anglia

Ask your students for feedback right from the start of your online course

Why and how to gather ongoing student feedback right from the start

By gathering student feedback throughout your course, you can make ongoing micro-adjustments to resources and teaching methods to improve online teaching and learning, Leonardo Rolla explains

Leonardo Rolla

The University of Warwick

Tips for training university staff in digital teaching skills

Steps universities should take to support staff with digital teaching

For many academics, the move to online education has been a leap into the unknown. Gunter Saunders explains what institutions can do to support and train staff in this new mode of teaching, for the present and future

Gunter Saunders

University of Westminster

Providing pastoral care for students in the digital classroom

Pastoral care for students in the digital classroom

Providing the pastoral care students need can be difficult when teaching remotely. Here, Chris Headleand offers tips on looking out for students’ general well-being when limited to online communication

Chris Headleand

University of Lincoln

Research on effective digital course design and implementation

A guide to effective digital course design and delivery from four online teaching experts

Chrysi Rapanta consolidates the knowledge of four online teaching experts to produce guidance on what pedagogical content knowledge faculty need in order to develop effective digital courses

Chrysi Rapanta

NOVA University Lisbon

Encourage students to take their online learning outside

Take your online teaching outside

Being outdoors can offer students and teachers dozens of benefits, from improved learning outcomes to better mental health. Aimée Little talks about taking online classes outside

Aimée Little

University of York

Designing online classes for students with ADHD

Making online classes work for students with ADHD

Online learning can be particularly challenging for students with learning difficulties such as ADHD. Kate Lister offers some simple steps every instructor can take to help students with ADHD stay engaged

Kate Lister

Leeds Trinity University

Make online teaching content relevant and fun for Gen Z students

Making online content relevant and fun for Gen Z students

Relating your online teaching content to real-world interests and issues affecting your students is a great way to win and keep their attention. Tina Joshi explains how she does this

Tina Joshi

University of Plymouth

Asking remote students questions in online classes

Top online teaching tip: ask your students questions

Asking students questions during online classes provides insight into what they understand and where they need support. David Martin explains how to do this effectively when teaching remotely

David Martin

University of Dundee

Fostering a sense of belonging among remote students to aid learning

Developing students’ confidence and sense of belonging online

With most students new to online learning, many may lack the confidence to actively participate in group classes. Georgina Blakeley offers her tips on fostering a sense of belonging that aids interaction among students

Georgina Blakeley

University of Huddersfield

Make virtual learning fun: using ‘break in’ rooms in online teaching

Creating fun, game-like activities as part of your online classes can aid learning, student engagement and collaboration. Shonagh Douglas explains how she has used ‘break-in rooms’ as an effective induction for remote students

Shonagh Douglas

Robert Gordon University

Promoting student collaboration in online classes

Soft skills: how to promote student collaboration in online environments

Online collaboration is not an innate skill for most students but something that instructors must cultivate. Hugh McFaul explains how he did this through careful design of the content and assessment on his course

Hugh McFaul

The Open University

Adapting teaching to get the most out of your synchronous online classes

Optimise your synchronous online classes

Teaching online requires adaptations to in-person teaching, whatever your level of experience. Jesper Hansen explains what key changes he has made to his teaching practice to optimise his synchronous online classes

Jesper Hansen

UCL

How university staff can avoid digital burnout when teaching online

Tips on avoiding digital burnout after moving all your teaching online 

Many academics are at risk of "burnout" after working around the clock to move their courses online. A tweet on this subject sparked a flurry of responses offering advice and solutions to faculty overwhelmed by heavy workloads

Miranda Prynne

Campus

Design an online course that promotes interactive learning

How to design an online course centred around interactive learning

Interactive learning is an effective way to keep remote students engaged with online courses. Sara Wolfson offers four tips on how to design classes with a strong focus on interactive elements

Sara Wolfson

The Open University

Create a welcoming online learning community

Creating a welcoming and inclusive online learning community

Creating a sense of community among students is vital for effective online teaching. Here, Miral Gibson explains how fostering this welcoming online learning environment should be pedagogy-led

Miral Gibson

University of Roehampton

How to offer real-world training and fieldwork through digital channels as part of its online courses

How to tackle fieldwork and real-world training online

Francine Ryan explains how the Open University law school offers real-world training and fieldwork through digital channels as part of its online courses

Francine Ryan

The Open University

How to encourage peer to peer learning when teaching online courses

The power of peer to peer: how and why to encourage your students to learn from each other

Peer-to-peer learning brings major benefits for students and instructors. Here, Zachary Walker explains how to encourage your students to learn from each other and why this can be so effective when teaching online

Zachary Walker

UCL

How Southampton University supported staff across all departments to design quality online courses

How to support staff across all departments to design quality online courses

The sudden shift to online forced university staff to rethink and redesign classes often with little experience or knowledge of remote teaching. Helen Carmichael and Bobbi Moore explain how the University of Southampton supported all faculties to ensure high-quality online courses

Helen Carmichael, Bobbi Moore

University of Southampton

What has been learned so far in the rapid transition to digital teaching and learning?

Lessons from navigating the digital pivot

Having reopened for a new academic year, universities are looking ahead to how they can deliver the best possible online teaching for the longer term. Here, Robert MacIntosh highlights what has been learned so far in the rapid transition to digital teaching and learning

Robert MacIntosh

Heriot-Watt University

Using Blackboard learning journals as a form of online assessment

Translating creative assessment styles online: Blackboard learning journals

Traditional exams can inhibit students, while more creative assessments provide a forum where their talent and knowledge can shine. Madeleine Davies discusses a technique to offer creative assessments online

Madeleine Davies

University of Reading

Selecting tools to promote personalised teaching and to encourage more self-regulated learning online

How to use online tools to offer more personalised teaching

There is no one-size-fits-all model for effective online teaching. Rupert Ward offers advice on selecting tools to promote personalised teaching and to encourage more self-regulated learning online

Rupert Ward

University of Huddersfield

Illustration of using technology at work

Top tips for selecting and implementing new technologies

Effective technology is now instrumental to the successful performance of universities at every level. Here, Chris Cobb offers his top tips on what to consider when choosing and implementing new systems

Chris Cobb

University of London

Running safe and secure online meetings and calls

New digital teaching methods risk exposing personal and sensitive information among students and staff. Here are best practice tips from Matthew Davis on running safe and secure online meetings and calls

Matthew Davis

Leeds University Business School

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