Feature article

Advice on creating an online course from an instructional designer

Instructional design advice: how to translate your academic knowledge into an effective online course

Instructional designer Marcello Crolla talks through the basics of how to create effective, engaging online courses

Marcello Crolla

The University of Edinburgh

Not all broadband access is created equal and universities must take their student demographics into account when deciding on levels of online teaching

Don’t forget that not all internet access is created equal

Broadband quality, and thus suitability for online tuition, varies greatly depending on where students come from, say Darragh Flannery, Dónal Palcic and John Cullinan

Darragh Flannery, Donal Palcic, John Cullinan

University of Limerick, National University of Ireland Galway

Advice on building meaningful collaborations for better community and civic engagement

How universities can build meaningful collaborations to solve societal challenges

For universities to extend their impact and community engagement, they need to form strong partnerships with external organisations and individuals. Alicia Wilson shares seven guiding principles that support successful collaboration

Alicia Wilson

Johns Hopkins University

This is our chance to create the classroom of the future

This is our chance to create the classroom of the future

We know what works best for learning, and most of it is easier to implement in the online world, says Daphne Koller

Daphne Koller

Stanford University

Using university physical and digital spaces to better engage local communities

Open to all? Using our physical and digital spaces to better engage local communities

Richard Calvert explores what role universities’ physical spaces should play in civic engagement and how digital technologies can support this

Richard Calvert

Sheffield Hallam University

A framework for an equity oriented pedagogy that improves student grades

Equitable teaching that creates pathways to success for all students

Andrew Estrada Phuong and co-authors present a framework for an adaptive equity-oriented pedagogy that helps diverse students achieve better results

Andrew Estrada Phuong, Judy Nguyen, Fabrizio Mejia, Christopher Hunn, Dena Marie

University of California, Berkeley, Stanford University, Orinda Academy

Engaging students in readings and microlectures

Turning a new page: information literacy goes online

Xiaowei Li and Lulu Wang explore how to take an on-campus institution such as a university library online to deliver hands-on information literacy skills to students around the world

Xiaowei Li, Lulu Wang

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Distance learners deserve better than HE’s latest bait and switch

Remote learning is the latest scapegoat being used to justify returning to the ‘normal’ of rising tuition costs and sky-high student debt, says Zachary Michael Jack

Zachary Michael Jack

North Central College

Advice on overcoming barriers to accessibility and inclusivity in digital learning

Overcoming barriers to accessible and inclusive digital learning

Tim Coughlan offers three key strategies that help to make digital learning more accessible and inclusive, each relating to technology, study support and pedagogy

Tim Coughlan

The Open University

The role of the community college should not be underestimated in terms of providing civil discourse and education opportunities

Don’t downplay the role of community colleges in healing a nation

At a time of rampant disinformation, these two-year institutions can be the engines of enquiry and purpose that enable the next generation to rebuild our democracy, says Eduardo Padron

Eduardo Padron

Miami Dade College

An example of how co-creation of curriculum content with students can work

Co-creation of curricula with students: a case study

Eric Tsui outlines a method he uses to enhance student learning through the co-creation of new scenarios for curriculum development in their discipline

Eric Tsui

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Universities are heading for a mental health crisis following the pandemic, so they need to start preparing now

A student mental health crisis awaits. Here’s how we avoid a bad fall

Extra funding should be requested now to staff up wellness centres, counselling centres and campus ministries, says Todd Zakrajsek

Todd Zakrajsek

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Advice on creating new internship opportunities that benefit students and employers

Creating internship opportunities: showing employers the value in humanities and social sciences

Jonathan Sim describes how he engaged with local employers to open internship opportunities to humanities and social sciences students who would not previously have been considered

Jonathan Sim

National University of Singapore

A group of students. We need to move away from designing HE for the idealised 'traditional' student

Returning to ‘normal’ is really a return to ignorance

Covid revealed that students need flexible and inclusive learning opportunities − something that should have been obvious well before the pandemic, says Torrey Trust

Torrey Trust

University of Massachusetts Amherst

A case study on creating a bridging system to help students prepare for STEM courses at university

High tech and high touch: designing a bridging system to help students prepare for STEM studies

Karin Avnit, Victor Wang and Prasad Iyer describe how combining technology-supported learning with targeted face-to-face instruction helps ensure all students start university with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed

Karin Avnit , Victor Wang, Prasad Iyer

Singapore Institute of Technology

The shift online will have positive side effects that we haven't realised yet

The digital shift will have many (positive) side-effects

In the not-so-distant future, we’ll realise the digital transformation has changed higher education for the better, in ways we never expected, say Rick Shangraw and Wayne Bovier

Rick Shangraw, Wayne Bovier

Cintana Education, Higher Digital

Advice on developing effective HyFlex teaching for the longterm

Solving future problems today: Making HyFlex learning work for all

Trent Montgomery shares the key considerations for developing effective hybrid flexible teaching that will boost universities’ educational offering in the long term

Trent Montgomery

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Leadership game of chess king. University leaders have a unique opportunity to lead change in the HE sector

How leaders can seize higher ed’s ‘catalytic moment for change’

Those that lead by example, reward innovative faculty and increase campus-wide buy-in will determine the future of higher education, says Jon McNaughtan

Jon McNaughtan

Texas Tech University

A stressed student prepares for an online exam. Assessment online brings a new set of problems for academics to be aware of

Are online exams better for student mental health?

Traditional exams under tightly invigilated conditions are highly stressful for students, but online alternatives bring their own issues, says Michael Priestley

Michael Priestley

Durham University

Advice on setting up a global virtual exchange that enhances your students intercultural knowledge

Global virtual exchange: promoting international learning

Christopher Brighton presents a model of global virtual exchange that could be easily replicated at any institution to enhance its students’ intercultural knowledge and skills

Christopher Brighton

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Text and computer code. We should stop fetishizing high-tech teaching and realise that reading is an optimal means of learning

The joy of text in a world of tech zealotry

Why do we fetishise high-tech teaching while denigrating reading as a second-rate learning style? asks Andy Farnell

Andy Farnell

Campus

Advice on designing online postgraduate courses that intersect the academic and professional worlds

Designing postgraduate education as a means of sharing and developing academic and professional knowledge

Gill Aitken and Tim Fawns explain how to design online postgraduate courses that operate at the boundaries of the academic and professional worlds

Gill Aitken, Tim Fawns

The University of Edinburgh

A female student logs in to a virtual campus.

Socialising is hugely important, but virtual campuses help learning, too

The social elements of university help students succeed academically, so we must start transplanting them online, says Elizabeth Lehfeldt

Elizabeth A. Lehfeldt

Cleveland State University

Advice on using design thinking to engage students in developing real world solutions to sustainability challenges

It’s a game changer: using design thinking to find solutions to the Sustainable Development Goals

Rachel Bickerdike explains how using design thinking to find solutions to the Sustainable Development Goals can open up a new world of social entrepreneurship for students

Rachel Bickerdike

Durham University

Preacher man. Academics need to drop the holier-than-thou attitude and sees themselves in their students when it comes to cheating

Professors, stop pretending that you never cheat

Academics should drop the holier-than-thou attitude and look at cheating from a student’s perspective if we want to understand and eradicate it, says Hamish Binns

Hamish Binns

Saint Louis University

Designing teaching activities which trigger an emotional response making key lessons easier to remember

How to design unforgettable class activities that help students learn better

These teaching techniques are designed to pique students’ emotions and lodge key lessons more firmly in their memories

Jonathan Sim

National University of Singapore

We must stop confusing the emergency use online learning we've been relying on during the pandemic with real, well-designed online learning

Let’s stop confusing what just happened with true online learning

During the pandemic, decades of research and practice were tossed aside in a matter of days, says Ali Carr-Chellman

Ali Carr-Chellman

University of Dayton

Proactive steps educators should take to better engage students in online learning

It’s not you, it’s me: taking responsibility for student engagement and interaction

Maia Forrester and Ian Lee share lessons in boosting student engagement and interaction when teaching online, based on their experience training medical educators

Maia Forrester, Ian Lee

The University of Edinburgh

A student studies at home in bed. Universities must make their moves towards blended learning open and easy to follow.

How do we rescue the reputation of blended learning?

To convince students and stakeholders that blended learning is worth the full tuition fee, we need to tell them exactly how it will work, says Russell Crawford

Russell Crawford

Falmouth University

Advice on using existing online resources to support your teaching

Making the most of online educational resources: a case study

Pascal Grange explains how online educational resources can be used to complement teaching and enhance students’ opportunities for learning

Pascal Grange

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

A university campus. We should seize the opportunity to make our course design reflect the university as an institution

Never forget: your course is not only yours

Too much of our instructional design undershoots the potential of higher education to improve not only individual lives but also the public good, says Robin DeRosa

Robin DeRosa

Plymouth State University

Advice on how faculty should be mindful of their attitudes in order to ensure better outcomes or reaction to challenges

How resetting motivations can help faculty achieve better teaching and well-being during challenging times

Faculty members’ personal motivations impacted their attitudes towards meeting the challenges of the pandemic, and in turn, their well-being and teaching quality, research suggests

Martin Daumiller, Raven Rinas, Julia Hein, Stefan Janke, Oliver Dickhäuser, Markus Dresel

University of Augsburg, University of Mannheim

Time pressure. Many in academia are putting in huge numbers of hours that are not rewarded or even recognised

Recognition of academia’s ‘invisible labour’ is long overdue

We must ensure that academic citizenship becomes a key part of our job descriptions, on par with teaching, research and management, say Shari Boodts and Fleur Jongepier

Shari Boodts, Fleur Jongepier

Radboud University

Learn how instructor featured videos can give your remote learning students a much needed sense of connection

More screen time: using instructor-featured video to create connection online

Aaron Smith explains why instructor-featured videos are such a powerful tool for keeping remote-learning students grounded and for providing a sense of human connection, based on his research

Aaron Smith

University of Waterloo

A Chinese departure hall. The influx of Chinese students is on a downward turn and universities worldwide need to be prepared

After the gold rush: how to respond to the Chinese student downswing

As the country’s outbound study trend cools, student recruitment strategies must evolve – and there is no ‘next China’ to fall back on, says Matt Durnin

Matt Durnin

British Council

Using self-determination theory to design online courses that boost student motivation

Boosting student motivation through course design

Maurice Kinsella and Niamh Nestor explain how to use self-determination theory as a guide to boost student motivation through careful online course design

Maurice Kinsella, Niamh Nestor, John Wyatt

University College Dublin

Recommendations for how Western institutions can remain attractive to Asian universities and students

Tips for engaging Asian universities and alumni in new modes of collaboration

Western institutions can continue to forge fruitful collaborations with Asian universities and attract students from the region. Here, Benjamin Tak Yuen Chan shares two key recommendations for how to do it

Benjamin Tak Yuen Chan

Hong Kong Metropolitan University

Managing future trends in higher education to get the best outcomes for students

Rethinking higher education in Asia post-pandemic: five key trends

Allan Yuen Hoi-kau highlights five trends to look out for as higher education in Asia evolves post-pandemic, and shares tips on striking a balance between technology and learning objectives

Allan Yuen Hoi-kau

Yew Chung College of Early Childhood Education

Collaboration between Asia and the West is a global common good in higher education and beyond

What does the rise of Asia mean for global higher education?

Many hurdles remain, from racism to presumed Western superiority, but equal dialogues and collaborations will foster the global common good, says Xin Xu

Xin Xu

University of Oxford

Steps universities should take to prevent cyberbullying among students

How to prevent cyberbullying from rearing its ugly head in universities

Christy Cheung presents preventive measures universities should take to tackle cyberbullying among students working online

Christy Cheung

Hong Kong Baptist University

Will the shift to hybrid learning signal the end of the sage on the stage?

Moving online could signal the death of pedagogy

Shifting to andragogical learning models is the ideal way to prepare students for independent study, research and the world of work, says Steve Davies

Steve Davies

University of South Wales

Self directed learning is effective among Chinese students coming from a different educational and cultural context, research shows

Supporting self-directed learning across cultural boundaries

Academics from Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University draw on their research showing the Western teaching model based on ‘self-directed learning’ is effective among Chinese students coming from different educational and cultural contexts

Qian Wang , Chang Xiong, Jiajun Liu

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Advice for meeting the needs of students in the MENA region

Meeting student needs in the MENA region through digital transformation

Barbar Akle, Rula Diab and George Nasr describe ways universities in the Middle East and North Africa can meet the needs of their students by embracing digital transformation and internationalisation

Barbar Akle, Rula Diab, George Nasr

Lebanese American University

A diverse group of students requires a diverse range of learning opportunities, an approach that is championed by universal design for learning

Flexibility is key if we want students to connect with their studies

Universal design for learning not only embraces diversity, it also uses it as the basis for providing choice in how students learn – and succeed, says Lillian Nave

Lillian Nave

Appalachian State University

Advice on fostering collaboration among students more used to competing

How to foster collaboration among students trained to compete

Collaboration is a vital life skill but can be challenging after an education infused with competition at every step. Jie Zhang, Qing Ye and Steven Bateman explain how they overcome this when setting group work

Jie Zhang, Qing Ye, Steven Bateman

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Advice on using coaching to guide students to find their own solutions

The answer is not always the solution: using coaching in higher education

May Lim explains why academics should refrain from always giving students immediate answers and instead apply coaching techniques that guide learners to problem-solve and reach their own conclusions

May Lim

Singapore Institute of Technology

Advice on preparing students so they get the most out of the flipped classroom model

How to induct students into the flipped-classroom model

Jonathan Sim explains how he has designed learning activities to ensure students complete the preparation work necessary to get the most out of the flipped-classroom model

Jonathan Sim

National University of Singapore

Too many devices. Should we be training lecturers to deal with shortened attention spans?

Should lecturers be trained to deal with shortening attention spans?

Would my life be easier if I had received explicit guidance in how to deliver content in TikTok-length pieces? asks Katie Davis

Katie Davis

University of Washington

Advice for teaching students across Eastern and Western cultural boundaries

When East meets West: improving student engagement in culturally diverse classrooms

TJ Moore offers simple steps that support student engagement across Eastern and Western cultural boundaries, for lecturers teaching at home or overseas

TJ Moore

The University of Edinburgh

Diversity faces many challenges in HE, but the Council of Coalitions model at ASU could offer valuable lessons

This model is the future of diversity in higher education

Coming together for support is the only way forward – and the Council of Coalitions is the model for inter-group organising we desperately need, says Pardis Mahdavi

Pardis Mahdavi

Arizona State University

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