FSLT16 Kicking off

It has been a lot of work this year getting FSLT ready to go. Partly this is because as ever, I start too late. We also pulled the starting date forward from last year by two weeks so not only am I late the course is early. There were several reasons to do this, but … Continue reading FSLT16 Kicking off

FSLT16 Joining Instructions

First Steps into Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (#fslt16) 20 January - 26 February 2016 Hello all Thank you for your interest in First Steps into Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (#fslt16). Welcome to the course. These "Joining instructions" should help you to get started. Because this is an open course, available to … Continue reading FSLT16 Joining Instructions

Countdown to FSLT16: Crazy fun grown up?

There have been and still are some challenges in getting FSLT16 ready to run. The course has grown in complexity since it was first run in early 2012. I have spent a lot of time trying to recover some of the earlier simplicity. In a way this parallels the path that all MOOCs have taken. … Continue reading Countdown to FSLT16: Crazy fun grown up?

Academic Practice in practice?

What is the model and purpose of academic practice development? Producing 21st C Cardiff graduates in your discipline? There are two pillars of Welsh Government policy: Social justice is as important as a buoyant economy. Nationality is an issue. Language is an issue. A concept of privilege pervades the process. Much is made of the Welsh context. A … Continue reading Academic Practice in practice?

Sharks and TELephants

The challenge for technology enhanced learning (TEL) is that it not be used to impoverish people. Let me begin to explain. I can help you teach. I may be deluded, of course, but it is none the less something I believe and something that I can act on with an established and evolving repertoire. … Continue reading Sharks and TELephants

Coaching – before the session

I have been offered and have taken up coaching as a method of professional development. I have had 2 sessions with my coach and am about to have my third. What do I want? Magic. What do I get? Well like magic, you get out what you put in. I expressed my original aim as … Continue reading Coaching – before the session

Tealab? TEL me about it

Reviving Tealab: Tealab is explicitly a Teaching Laboratory and discussion "space". There are a number of excellent initiatives across the university that lap over the territory. When Tealab was set up it was intended to replace the Learning and Teaching Forum (LTF), with a focus on people (possibly "younger" whatever that might mean) interested in … Continue reading Tealab? TEL me about it

Flipping questions

These are the questions about flipped teaching that we will be discussing: Why would you reduce the time spent on "homework" and increase the time given to didactics? Is the significant difference only that texts are presented as multimedia? How do you design for the periods between class? Is higher education is moving from a … Continue reading Flipping questions

Widening Participation Working Group Away Day (Oxford Brookes University)

Semi-live notes from very interesting and data filled Oxford Brookes University Widening Participation Working Group Away Day at Marston Road. (Of 30 people in the room only one obviously black man and two Asian women. Matches our BME student profile? c. 10%) The day was framed by demographics about where Brookes sits, and politics in … Continue reading Widening Participation Working Group Away Day (Oxford Brookes University)

First Steps Again

FSLT15 is off to an easy start so far. It will be interesting to see how many attend the webinar on Monday. There are about 60 participants signed up and about 26 are taking the course for University Credit (10 credits CATS level 7, M-level). The course is validated and acceptable on 3 programmes: The … Continue reading First Steps Again