Talking Learning and Teaching

In this, the first episode of our Block teaching mini series, Dr John Weldon of Victoria University talks to us about how to design and deliver long teaching sessions, which are common to Block teaching approaches. On the Block approach, individual teaching sessions can last up to three hours, meaning that we need to rethink our traditional approaches to session design and delivery. In this episod...

In this special for Neurodiversity Celebration Week, DMU's Chris Knifton discusses his experiences as an academic with autism. In this fascinating discussion, Chris talks about his experiences of working in higher education as a person with autism, the challenges, his level of openness with colleagues and students about being a person with autism, and how we can better support colleagues with auti...

In this fascinating episode, De Montfort University's Nikki Welyczko provides a enlightening insight into the phenomenon of contract cheating. Nikki helps us to define clearly what contract cheating is, its most common forms, the extent of contract cheating in UK HE, and the trends which may underpin it. Nikki also shares some important ideas on how we can battle contract cheating and also gives h...

In this, the first of a new short-series on mental health and wellbeing, Susan O'Mahony of University College Cork talks to us about supporting the mental health and wellbeing of academic staff.  Susan O’Mahony is a Coach, Facilitator and Trainer with a special interest in staff wellbeing. She holds an MA in HRM Management and a MSc In Personal & Management Coaching from UCC. Susan is Sta...

Dr Jo-Anne Kelder is Adjunct Senior Researcher in the College of Sciences and Engineering at the University of Tasmania, working to embed scholarship and research informed teaching into STEM course curricula. She provides higher education consultancy services through Jo-Anne Kelder Consulting. She has led institutional and national projects focussing on quality assurance of curriculum and enhancin...

In his 2005 book, Taking an Intelligent Look at Emotional Intelligence , Guy Claxton stated that “learning cannot happen without emotion”. The process of learning is a deeply emotional one, and emotions often sit at the heart of learning experiences. For example, because learning is underpinned by the potential for both achievement and failure, the propensity for heightened feelings and subsequent...

In his 2005 book,  Taking an Intelligent Look at Emotional Intelligence , Guy Claxton stated that “learning cannot happen without emotion”. The process of learning is a deeply emotional one, and emotions often sit at the heart of learning experiences. For example, because learning is underpinned by the potential for both achievement and failure, the propensity for heightened feelings and subs...

This podcast explores how entire universities can adopt accessible, inclusive, and equitable approaches to learning, teaching and assessment and in so doing, bring about educational culture change. Focusing on the way in which a large and diverse UK higher education institution successfully adopted Universal Design for Learning (UDL) as its approach to learning, teaching and assessment, the podcas...

Welcome to the talking learning and teaching podcast. On the show today we have Professor David Carless. David is Professor of Educational Assessment at the Faculty of Education, University of Hong Kong, and a Principal Fellow of Advance HE. His signature publication is the book Excellence in University Assessment: Learning from award-winning practice which was published in 2015 by Routledge. His...

Associate Professor John Weldon from Victoria University, Melbourne provides us with a fascinating insight into the world of block teaching. Having played an intimate role in developing VU's pioneering block approach, John provides some fascinating insights into the way in which block teaching differs from traditional termly or semester structures. John discusses the benefits of block for learners...

In this exceptional episode, we discuss all things assessment with the amazing Professor Sally Brown. Sally is an Independent Consultant in Learning, Teaching and Assessment, and Emerita Professor at Leeds Beckett University where she was, until 2010, Pro-Vice-Chancellor. She is a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a Staff and Educational Development Association (SEDA) Senior Fellow...

In this episode, AHEAD CEO Dara Ryder talks to us about all things accessibility and inclusion. AHEAD is an Irish, independent non-profit organisation working to create inclusive environments in education and employment for people with disabilities.  AHEAD provides information to students and graduates with disabilities, teachers, guidance counsellors and parents on disability issues in...

In another short podcast, Kevin Merry provides some advice and guidance on approaching assessment from a UDL perspective. 

In this very short podcast, Kevin Merry shares his top tips for UDL implementation in higher education. 

In this very short podcast, Kevin Merry explains the concept of the Expert Learner from a UDL perspective. 

This short episode explores some of the key ideas when assessing from a UDL perspective. The episode discusses the core purpose of assessment, the key elements required by inclusive assessments, as well as identifying some important limitations when creating inclusive assessments. Finally, the episode explores some useful ways to evaluate new and existing assessment approaches. 

In this brilliant episode, internationally renowned speaker, author and consultant, Tesha Fitzgerald talks to us about the Antiracism agenda and the place of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) as a critical means of supporting and developing awareness and practice around it. With a passion for UDL, Culturally Responsive Teaching and Antiracism, Tesha has become a trailblazer for the antiracist ag...

In this fascinating episode, De Montfort University's Chris Knifton provides some enlightening insights about the experiences of autistic learners in Higher Education, and provides some important tips, hints and guidance on how to support them. Chris is an Associate Professor of learning and teaching with a specific focus on dementia studies and cognitive care. Chris is also an Admiral Nurse, spec...

In this engaging episode, DMU's newest National Teaching Fellow, Julia Reeve discusses her "long and winding road" to National Teaching Fellowship. Julia provides some fascinating insights into how applying for a National Teaching Fellowship stimulated intense reflection that caused her to learn things about herself as a teacher that she previously was not aware of. Julia also discusses the import...

In this episode we talk to the phenomenal Phil Race about his Ripples on a Pond model of how people really learn. Phil helps us to unpick some of the key aspects of the Ripples on a Pond model, including the importance of understanding learner motivation, the criticality of learning by doing, and the position of assessment and feedback as central features of the learning process. As one of the mos...

In this episode we talk to the legend that is Geoff Petty. As one of the UK’s leading experts on learning and teaching, Geoff has gained an international reputation with his his best-selling books which include Teaching Today and Evidence-Based Teaching. As a teacher with over 28 years’ experience and a former teacher trainer, Geoff has worked with over 500 colleges and schools, as well as several...

In this insightful episode, De Montfort University's Associate PVC Academic, Alasdair Blair, tells his story about becoming a National Teaching Fellow. In a typically self-effacing way, Alasdair provides some fascinating insights into the importance of taking critical opportunities that may later support a successful NTFS application. Alasdair also goes on to discuss the opportunities that have co...

In this episode the legend that is Katie Novak shares her insights into Universal Design for Learning. Specifically, Katie discusses her own personal journey into UDL, providing revealing insights into how her interest in UDL began. Katie then goes on to unpick some important UDL related topics including engagement, challenge, metacognition, differentiated instruction, and the place of learners as...

The brilliant Professor Angela O'Sullivan, provides her insights into what it takes to become a National Teaching Fellow. Angela, who is also a Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE) winning team leader, and Principal Fellow of the HEA (PFHEA), provides some valuable reflections and advice on the NTF application process, including the need to identify the "gems" in the application. Thi...

In this episode, Director of DMU's Centre for Textual Studies, Professor Gabriel Egan discusses his journey to National Teaching Fellowship. Specifically, Gabriel discusses the electronic techniques that he has pioneered within the study of English Literature, and also talks about how he became one of the first educators in UK HE to build a large repository of digital materials for teaching and re...