Talking Learning and Teaching

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 autism in our work as educational developers. This is a fascinating listen. 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, specialising in dementia care, as well as being a registered learning disability nurse and social worker. Chris is the co-chair of the Higher Education Dementia network, co-editor for the Journal of Cognitive Care, and is also a Senior Fellow of Advance HE. As such, Chris brings a wealth of experience and expertise in relation to supporting autistic learners.

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 her view on the rise of Artificial Intelligence and the potential implications for academic misconduct. This episode is a must for anyone interested in learning, teaching and assessment.  Nikki Welyczko is an Associate Professor and Associate Head of School at the Leicester School of Nursing and Midwifery at De Montfort University. As a key member of the School and Faculty’s leadership teams, Nikki works closely with the Head of School in providing strategic direction and academic leadership for the Leicester School of Nursing and Midwifery, making a significant contribution to Faculty and University priorities. She is an experienced DMU Teacher Fellow and Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Nikki Chairs the School Learning and Teaching Group (SLTG), the Pre and Post Registration Programme Management Boards and is Deputy Chair Nursing and Midwifery Single Tier Assessment Board. A key focus of Nikki’s role is on quality and the continuing development of innovative learning, teaching and assessment activities across the School, Faculty and University. She represents the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences (HLS) at the University Learning and Teaching Committee (ULTC) as a Teaching and Learning Champion and is a Pedagogic Champion for the Centre for Academic Innovation and Teaching Excellence (CAITE). She established and leads the University’s Contract Cheating Working Group and represents DMU at the Midlands Integrity Group. During the sixteen years Nikki has worked at DMU, she has held several key School and Faculty leadership roles. She has experience in module, programme and senior academic leadership and has been involved in the development and design of innovative curricula that enhance learning and teaching and ensure optimum student experience. She is an experienced external examiner, a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) quality reviewer and has also fulfilled the role of external advisor/panel member on multiple occasions for other HEIs. Nikki is an academic reviewer for several nursing publications and publishes regularly for Gastrointestinal Nursing and the Journal of Kidney Care. She is a member of the Nursing Standard’s Art a Science Advisory Panel and networks nationally with a range of academics and senior clinical practitioners advising about publishing content. Nikki is currently in the process of submitting her PhD: ‘Exploring resilience in pre-registration undergraduate nursing students: A constructivist grounded theory study’.

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 Staff Wellbeing & Development Advisor at UCC with responsibility for developing and delivering wellbeing & development programmes for over 3,500 staff. She has extensive leadership experience throughout her career, including executive and management positions in the public and not-for-profit sectors. Susan works with managers and leaders who are interested in constantly learning and connecting with others in their teams and throughout the wider organisation to create a culture of wellbeing. She offers practical applications for embedding individual and organisational wellbeing including one-one and team coaching programmes. In this episode, Susan addresses some of the key reasons foe mental health and wellbeing challenges among academic staff, speaks specifically on the role of line managers in supporting staff wellbeing and provides some hints, tips and guidance on how to support wellbeing. This is a great listen! Enjoy!

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 enhancing student experience, as well as research to develop staff capability and practice in curriculum evaluation and scholarship, co-leading the inaugural Australian Council of Deans of Science Fellowship (2019-20). She is editor of two higher education journals, Advancing Scholarship and Research in Higher Education and Journal of University Teaching and Learning Practice. In this fascinating episode, Jo talks to us about publishing learning, teaching and assessment related work in journals. Jo gives us the editorial insight into how best to go about approaching the publication process from the initial conception of an idea, through to the "nuts and bolts" of putting a high quality submission together. Jo also provides valuable advice around becoming a journal editor, outlining the experience needed as well as the benefits to be gained. This is a fantastic episode! Enjoy!. 

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 emotions is augmented. Adjectives such as “frustrated”, “disappointed”, “exhilarated”,” thrilled”, and “excited” may all be associated with learning at given times, and possibly represent states experienced by anyone that has ever engaged in a learning experience. As such, we can all recognise the emotional component of learning. In this podcast, Dr Kevin Merry will address the role emotion plays in learning. Specifically, Kevin will focus on the critical role emotions play in supporting learner metacognition, enabling learners to develop the learning expertise characteristic of a Universal Design for Learning (UDL) approach to instruction. Kevin will discuss the practical steps that teachers can take to learn about the social and emotional variability among their learners, and how such information can be used to reduce or remove emotional barriers to learning. An important part of the podcast will require listeners to reflect on the emotional atmospheres they create, and whether such atmospheres are conducive to effective learning for all learners. This session is a must for anyone involved in learning, teaching and assessment in Higher Education. Resources supporting the ideas in the podcast can be accessed at Kevin's website here https://drkevinl.wixsite.com/drkevinlmerry/learner-variability 

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 emotions is augmented. Adjectives such as “frustrated”, “disappointed”, “exhilarated”,” thrilled”, and “excited” may all be associated with learning at given times, and possibly represent states experienced by anyone that has ever engaged in a learning experience. As such, we can all recognise the emotional component of learning. In this webinar teaser Dr Kevin Merry addresses the role emotion plays in learning, focusing on the critical role emotions play in supporting learner metacognition, enabling learners to develop the learning expertise characteristic of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) . The webinar entitled Teaching With Emotional Intelligence takes place on December 7th 2023, with tickets available via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/teaching-with-emotional-intelligence-tickets-435674352717 

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 podcast provides clear practical advice, guidance and tips on how institution-wide adoption of accessible, inclusive and equitable educational approaches can be achieved. The podcast will also provide critical insights into the sequential steps that best support change management on a university-wide scale, as well as provide real, practical insights on things to avoid and common mistakes that can occur during the change process. This podcast is a must for anyone interested in accessible, inclusive, and equitable higher education, particularly those responsible for institution-wide educational change.

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 current research focuses on teacher and student feedback literacy to enhance the impact of feedback processes. His most recent book, Designing effective feedback processes in higher education: A learning-focused approach, co-authored with Naomi Winstone, was published by Routledge in 2019. David shares some truly fascinating insights into feedback in higher education. This is a must listen for anyone with an interest in learning, teaching and assessment. 

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 and staff, as well as describing how block teaching changes the role of the teacher by placing them at the center of a team of colleagues tasked with supporting effective learning in a lean and targeted way. Finally, John discusses the manner in which assessment supports learning in the block teaching model, discussing how assessment is more aligned with the process than the product of learning. This is a truly fascinating episode that anyone with an interest in learning, teaching and assessment in higher education should listen to. Enjoy!

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, and a National Teaching Fellow. Irrespective of the formal accolades she has received, Sally is perhaps one of the most important voices when it comes to issues surrounding assessment in UK higher education today, particularly from an educational development perspective. Sally's work has influenced countless educators at home and abroad, and continues to be a powerful influence on assessment practices in higher education in the post-Covid world. This podcast is essential listening for anyone teaching or supporting student learning in higher education. 

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 education. AHEAD also undertake national research relating to the inclusion of students with disabilities, contribute to Irish national policy forums and provide professional development opportunities to develop the capacity of staff in higher education to be more inclusive. Dara provides some fascinating insights into the work of AHEAD as well as provides information and links on the many wonderful CPD resources and opportunities provided by AHEAD for teachers working in further education and training, higher education and graduate employment, many of which are grounded in Universal Design for Learning (UDL). This is a must listen for anyone interested in inclusive, accessible and equitable education. 

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 agenda in education, modelling expert learning, while equipping others to do the same. She is the author of brilliant book, Antiracism and Universal Design for Learning: Building Expressways to Success, and so Tesha's insights into this critical topic are as valuable as they get. This is a must listen for anyone interested in social justice, inclusion, fairness, access and equity. 

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, specialising in dementia care, as well as being a registered learning disability nurse and social worker. Chris is the co-chair of the Higher Education Dementia network, co-editor for the Journal of Cognitive Care, and is also a Senior Fellow of Advance HE. As such, Chris brings a wealth of experience and expertise in relation to supporting autistic learners. This is a must listen for anyone interested in supporting diverse groups of learners. Enjoy!

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 importance of finding a mentor that not only knows about the technical aspects of writing a successful NTFS application, but can also be a shoulder to cry on as well as a personal cheerleader, supporting the application process effectively on those dark days when doubt creeps in. This is a must listen for anyone interested in one day becoming a National Teaching Fellow, as well as anyone that has an interest in learning and teaching. 

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 most important learning and teaching voices in UK Higher Education, Phil's insights into such central aspects of learning and teaching are a must for anyone interested in enhancing their teaching practice. It was a great pleasure and privilege to talk learning and teaching with Phil. This is one to enjoy!

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 national and international education bodies in the pursuit of improving teaching practice. It gives me great pleasure to welcome Geoff Petty onto the show. This is an absolute must listen for anyone with an interest in learning and teaching. Enjoy!

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 come to him as a result of being a National Teaching Fellow, and the positive impact these have had on his career. This is a must listen for anyone interested in one day becoming an NTF, or anyone interested in hearing an absorbing story about the development of a successful academic career. 

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 partners in developing effective UDL practice to name but a few areas of discussion. This podcast is a must for anyone interested in effective learning and teaching practice with a UDL lens applied to it. Enjoy!

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. This is a must listen for anyone interested in one day becoming a National Teaching Fellow. 

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 research purposes. This is a genuinely fascinating listen for anyone interested in supporting student learning in HE or anyone interested in applying for a National Teaching Fellowship. 

In this special episode, De Montfort University National Teaching Fellow, Leisa Nichols-Drew shares her journey to becoming an NTF. Leisa provides some fascinating insights into how she has risen to become a prominent learning and teaching figure at DMU and beyond, providing important advice, ideas and reflections on her path to NTF. This is a must listen for anyone interested in learning and teaching and anyone thinking about one day becoming a National Teaching Fellow. 

In this episode DMU Teacher Fellow, National Teaching Fellow, CATE Award winner and Churchill Fellow, Leisa Nichols-Drew shares her fascinating journey as a teacher in Higher Education. Leisa discusses how her journey to teaching excellence began, discusses her most important influences and advice, and tells us about the things that inspire her as a teacher. This is a must-listen for anyone interested in learning and teaching in Higher Education. 

In this episode, DMU Teacher Fellow and National Teaching Fellow Julia Reeve discusses the emergence of her playful learning approach. Specifically, Julia discusses some of the key influences and drivers behind her approach, addresses the key benefits for staff and students, and provides some excellent practical hints, tips and advice on taking a more playful approach to learning and teaching. 

In this episode, Steve Nordmark from the Centre for Special Assistive Technology (CAST) discusses the place of technology when applying UDL. Specifically, Steve discusses the importance of technology to UDL and takes us into the future by sharing his thoughts on the future of educational technology and UDL. 

In this episode, DMU Teacher Fellow Andrew Reeves talks to us about Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). Specifically, Andrew explores the importance of ESD in modern Higher Education, and the potential benefits for students, staff and the wider community.  Transcription 

In this fascinating episode, we speak to the Director of Learning Technology for the Kennedy Krieger Institute, Dr Eric J Moore about UDL and its place within Teacher Education. Eric discusses the challenges of getting teachers onboard with UDL, as well as providing some excellent insights into how we can support teachers with UDL in relation to issues such as instructional design, assessment and technology. This is a must for educational developers and anyone with an interest in UDL. 

Senior Lecturer in Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, and DMU Teacher Fellow Nicola Ward gives a fascinating insight into how wellbeing can be embedded into the curriculum. Specifically, Nicola discusses the involvement of academic staff in student wellbeing, the benefits of embedding wellbeing in the curriculum, and provides some great hints, tips and pointers on on how to embed wellbeing if you're just starting out. This show is a must for anyone supporting student learning in HE today. 

In this episode, Professor Angela O'Sullivan discusses the importance of inclusive learning and teaching practices, as well as discussing her own journey to becoming an inclusive practitioner. Angela is a National Teaching Fellow, successful Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence team leader and Principal Fellow of Advance HE, as well as being a Professor of inclusive practice. Hence, Angela's experience and expertise with inclusive practice is beyond compare, and as such, this episode is a must for anyone wishing to better implement inclusive learning and teaching practices.

In this episode, our first episode, we talk to Dr Kevin Merry about Universal Design for Learning. Kevin is the lead for Academic Professional Development at De Montfort University and has become known for his work on Universal Design for Learning.  In this episode, Kevin provides some fascinating insights into how UDL can be applied as part of a broader approach, which includes mixing the UDL principles with existing pedagogic ideas.