Starting this September, Newcastle University is working with Advance HE to offer onlineExternal Examiner Training. The training will run over two months and is aimed at aspiring, new, or experienced examiners. It will support you to:
understand the role of the external examiner as articulated in the UK Quality Code for Higher Education, and be confident to undertake it;
develop a deeper understanding of the nature of academic standards and professional judgement, and explore the implications for external examining;
use evidence-informed approaches to contribute to impartial, transparent judgements on academic standards and the enhancement of student learning.
Participation in the course can be used as evidence towards gaining (Senior or Principal) Fellowship of the HEA.
The course begins on Monday 13 September 2021. You will be guided to complete five units over two months. Each unit takes 2-3 hours to complete, and on the whole there are 4 hours of online contact with the team.
As the 2021 academic year is coming to an end, Newcastle University Technology Enhanced Learning Advocates (NUTELA) brought together a panel of colleagues to share:
Reflections on moving so swiftly to online teaching
Rethinking delivery with some examples
Re-purposing digital content for a blended approach
From practical tips on encouraging student participation to wider discussions around creating student connections, here are the highlights from the session.
How would you approach a flipped classroom?
Dr Ahmed Kharrufa, School of Computing describes how he successfully incorporated videos, reading materials, live sessions and practical activities into a relaxed weekly timeline.
Director of Digital Education Dr David Grundy gives an overview of the Canvas features he used to help students navigate through their course and shares some of the innovative new digital projects recently funded in the Business School.
As a guest lecturer on over 40 different modules, librarian Emily Dott brought a different perspective to the panel discussion. Sharing how a non-synchronous approach works for the library team, Emily reflects on what worked as well as the elements of synchronous sessions that aren’t as easy to replicate.
Integrating digital skills into courses can be challenging but is now more important than ever. Dr James Stanfield from the School of Education, Communication and Language Sciences, shares how the new module ‘Adventures in Digital Learning’ successfully addresses aspects of digital literacy. He also details how blogging can be a useful tool for reflective practice and shares ideas for increasing student connections next year.
If students could tell their lecturers one thing what would it be?
Dr Brook Galna shares some insights from Sport and Exercise Science students. From positive feedback about short, interactive lecture content to issues around access to technology, student reflections will have a real impact on next year’s teaching.
Find out more about NUTELA
NUTELA are group of academics, professional service staff and technicians, who care about improving learning and teaching at Newcastle University.
We have termly sessions focussing on technology in teaching. They’ve been a bit different this year but usually involve some pizza, pop and a chance to practice.
Microsoft Team
Join the NUTELA Team to continue the conversation about using technology in your teaching. The Team includes resources, upcoming events and the chance to connect with colleagues across the University. NUTELA advocates are also on hand to answer any NUTELA related questions you might have.
Following the success of The Art of The Possible in July 2019 which focussed on accessibility, you are invited to The Art of The Possible 2021 which focusses on blended learning, effective practice, ways to share, and opportunities to learn from each other.
The Art of the Possible 2021 will:
Showcase the excellent practice developed across the University in blended and online learning over the past year by spotlighting case studies and interviews with colleagues across the University.
Inspire ideas for blended learning proposals for consideration by Faculties
Re-focus minds on the education strategy objective for Newcastle University to become recognised nationally as a leading university for the use of technology enhanced learning to support campus-based education.
The second Art of the Possible week will take place the week commencing 5 July 2021. The week of online events will include presentations, workshops, case studies, and the launch of the Newcastle University Learning and Teaching Podcast.
All delivered in a light, fun and adventurous way but with a clear link to the Education Strategy and the Graduate Framework.
The week will begin with a presentation from Professor Helen O’Sullivan Chair of the Association for Learning Technology, Provost and DVC, Chester University, who will deliver a keynote session on the lessons we’ve learned during the pandemic. And what can we take from the pandemic into the future.
Find out more about each day below :
Monday 5th July
Keynote Session with Professor Helen O’Sullivan Chair Association for Learning Technology, Provost and DVC, Chester University
Preparing students for their future, not our past: How the pandemic pushed us past the tipping point into education 4.0
A Series of lightning talks and Q&A about virtual fieldwork and virtual labs
This 90-minute session, hosted by Dr Cees van der Land, will explore how virtual fieldwork and labs have been developed over the pandemic and what effective practice we can take moving forward.
You’ll hear lightning talks from:
Dr Louise Callard, School of Geography, Politics and Sociology
Dr Cristina Navarro, School of Natural and Environmental Sciences
Dr Sara Marsham and Dr Heather Sugden, School of Natural and Environmental Sciences
Designing online activities for university learning (Part Two) with Helen Beetham Session Fully Booked
Time 12:30pm – 1:30pm
You can register for any of the sessions above through our Elements page. Please note, if you sign up to Helen Beetham’s session, you will need to sign up to both parts.
Join us for our next NUTELA (Newcastle University Technology Enhanced Learning Advocates) events . Sessions run on May 10 and 11 – please sign up for any you like below.
Learning Analytics
Monday 10 May, 10:00-11:00
Do you know how analytics might help you in your teaching?
In this session you will find how you might use analytics in your course to support your practice. We will cover:
ReCap Analytics
Canvas New Analytics
You will also hear practical examples from colleagues who have already started using analytics.
Join the NUTELA Team to continue the conversation about using technology in your teaching. The Team includes resources, upcoming events and the chance to connect with colleagues across the University. NUTELA advocates are also on hand to answer any NUTELA related questions you might have.
The fourth international conference on E-Assessment in Mathematical Sciences (EAMS) takes place between 21st June and 2nd July 2021. The conference brings together researchers and practitioners with an interest in e-assessment for mathematics and science.
EAMS 2021 will again be an entirely online conference, following last year’s successful move to a fully virtual format. The conference will feature a mix of live sessions and web-based activities, with plenty of opportunity for discussion and collaboration.
As many of us have spent much of the last year delivering teaching and assessment online, EAMS 2021 presents an opportunity to share best practice, for experts in the field to present the latest developments, and for those new to e-assessment to get hands-on with software.
Live talks will take place over Zoom at 9am or 4pm BST (UTC +1) each day, with recordings available later. We hope that the online format and longer timescale will allow participants to engage more deeply with the material presented.
The call for talk and workshop proposals is currently open. If you have some research or an innovative technique related to mathematical e-assessment that you would like to present, then please submit an abstract at eams.ncl.ac.uk/call-for-speakers.
With over 280 delegates, 12 lightning talk videos, 9 live sessions and some creative entries to the poster competition, our first online learning and teaching conference had something for everyone. Thank you to all colleagues and students for getting involved and sharing some of their teaching and learning successes and challenges from the past year.
You can find a number of resources from the week below and we look forward to seeing you all at the next event.
Introduction from the Vice-Chancellor
Professor Chris Day introduces the conference celebrating the many collaborative, creative and impactful approaches to teaching across the University. He also highlights the achievements of Professor Suzanne Cholerton, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Education, who is retiring this year.
Opening Keynote Address: Education for All?
Professor Sue Rigby, Vice-Chancellor, Bath Spa University
Professor Sue Rigby opened the event with her address intended to provoke, asking colleagues and students to think about some key questions:
Why doesn’t everyone thrive at University?
Attainment gap or awarding gap?
Thrive or strive: Is learning purposeful? Is it effective? Is it challenging? Is it engaging?
A diverse range of approaches to teaching and learning all covered in less then 7 minutes. With contributions from colleagues from Schools and Services across the University these are a great resource if you’re looking for some new ideas:
Closing Keynote address: Keynote Address: Powerful Learning for a Challenging World
Professor Dilly Fung, Pro-Director for Education, The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
Professor Dilly Fung closed the conference with an inspiring talk which looked at the relationship between education, research and public engagement through the lens of the Connected Curriculum framework.
Meet the researcher schemes, an interdisciplinary course for all first-year students and a degree showcase portfolio are all practical examples of ways that the Connected Curriculum can be achieved.
The talk ended with some questions and examples of work already happening in these areas as well as lots of new ideas to explore.
Professor Suzanne Cholerton, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Education
Professor Cholerton thanked all speakers, delegates and organisers for making this year’s conference happen in spite of the current circumstances.
This was Professor Cholerton’s last learning and teaching conference and during her time as PVC Education the conference has gone from strength to strength with increased numbers of colleagues and students presenting and attending each year. This is down to Professor Cholerton’s vision and leadership and we hope we can continue to make future conferences equally as successful.
Next years event
Planning will be underway soon and if you’d like to get involved in the programme committee we’d love to hear from you. Please email LTDS@ncl.ac.uk
There’s still time to apply to the University Education Development Fund which supports staff to undertake projects with real benefit to students’ education at Newcastle University.
Two strands of funding are available:
Up to £2,500 for projects focused within an individual academic unit, or across multiple areas through the Responsive strand.
Up to £10,000 for projects with collaboration across academic units through the Strategic strand.
Chaired by the PVC Education this fund support projects which further the aims and key themes of the Education Strategy and applications in the areas of UN Sustainable Development Goals and decolonising the curriculum agenda would be welcome.
Application deadline for 2020-21: Deadline extended to Wednesday 28 April, 17:00
Prize for winning design: Headphones (up to the value of £100)
Newcastle University Technology Enhanced Learning Advocates (NUTELA) are a group of academic and professional services staff who are passionate about promoting technology in teaching.
We are inviting students to help us design a new logo! Something simple yet eye-catching that we can include on our website and in presentations, social media, and other printed materials.
You can find out more about NUTELA and some of the events we run at go.ncl.ac.uk/nutela
What you need to know?
This competition is open to registered students across all Newcastle University campuses
The logo must be 100% original and clearly feature the name NUTELA
The logo must look good in colour and when printed in black and white
The logo can’t contain licenced or copyright material (other than those owned by Newcastle University)
The logo must be easily reproducible and scalable for large and small formatting The logo should indicate the group is part of Newcastle University
Newcastle University Technology Enhanced Learning Advocates
NUTELA are a a group of individuals who support good practice using technology in education.
We are a group of academics, professional service staff and technicians, who care about improving learning and teaching at Newcastle University.
We have termly 3Ps sessions which are hands-on sessions learning about and trying technologies that you can use in your teaching.
Microsoft Team
Join the NUTELA Team to continue the conversation about using technology in your teaching. The Team includes resources, upcoming events and the chance to connect with colleagues across the University. NUTELA advocates are also on hand to answer any NUTELA related questions you might have.
All are welcome to join us.
Mailing list
For information about upcoming events and other related news join the NUTELA mailing list.
Share your ideas
Have you got an idea for a session, or something you’d like to share? Contact us at nutelaops@newcastle.ac.uk
Small grants fund
There is a NUTELA small grants fund to enable colleagues to explore and embed technology-enhanced practices into their learning and teaching.
Perhaps you have an idea for your teaching that uses technology, but need some funding to support it or maybe you know of interesting technology enhanced learning at another institution and would like to be able to visit to explore it further.
Applications are invited for a wide range of activities which enable you to explore, disseminate or import ideas and practices, and share these with colleagues at Newcastle through the NUTELA network.
Applications for up to £500 are welcomed, and applications will be on a rolling basis, rather than at set points in the academic year.
