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June 2018 Learning and Teaching Newsletter

Information gathering: future demand for online exams and in course tests

The eAssessment and Feedback Steering Group are currently gathering information about potential demand for online exams and in course tests in the next 5 years.

We are asking all colleagues who are interested in introducing a new online exam (whether for a new module, or a change to assessment method in a current module) to complete a short online form for each potential new exam.

The information collected will be used to gauge demand and assist in planning future provision.

Continue reading “June 2018 Learning and Teaching Newsletter”

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Reflections on the Learning and Teaching Conference

By Ma. Brenda Carbonilla Pancho,  MD, MPH, PGDipMedEd, FHEA Associate Professor and Assistant Dean for Student Support, NUMed Malaysia

Brenda Pancho standing in front of her poster presentation
Ma. Brenda Carbonilla Pancho, Associate Professor

The Learning and Teaching Conference covered a range of topics, from broad issues such as the Newcastle University Education Strategy, to more specific topics such as the use of technology to support and enhance learning, approaches that promote active student engagement in the classroom, inclusive learning and other innovative teaching strategies.   I think that because of this, the conference was able to cater to the interests of everyone, from those who set educational policies within the institution, heads of departments who implement educational programmes, those involved in providing academic and other types of support to students, and those involved in teaching.

My own contribution to the conference was a poster entitled ‘Student Support Services at Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia’, which was basically an audit of student support services during the Academic Year 2015-2016, the aims of which were to determine the distribution of students seen by Student Support Services, the types of problems affecting these students and the types of support provided, and to make recommendations to improve service provision. Continue reading “Reflections on the Learning and Teaching Conference”

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NUTELA Small Grants Fund: Deadline 1st June 2018

NUTELA logo

The application deadline  for the NUTELA Small Grants Fund is approaching quickly but there is still time to submit an application this academic year.

Key facts about the fund:

  • Funding is available to help you  explore technology-enhanced practices in your learning and teaching.
  • Activities might include; conferences, visits to other institutions, or trialing new software. Other ideas are also welcome.
  • In your application you should identify how you will disseminate ideas among colleagues.
  • Apply for up to £500; this might fully fund or part fund an activity.

Previous successful applicants

This is the first year that the fund has been available but we have already received some successful applications. Read more about the applications from Sonia Bussey and Dr Jo Matthan here:  https://blogs.ncl.ac.uk/ltdev/2018/04/27/success-for-nutela-small-grants-fund-applicants/ 

Ready to apply?

You can find full guidance notes and application forms for the fund on this blog post https://blogs.ncl.ac.uk/ltdev/2017/01/07/nutela/

If you have any questions get in touch with nutelaops@newcastle.ac.uk

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Windows 10 update in teaching spaces

Update from Gary Atkinson, Infrastructure Systems Manager, NUIT

Desktops located in teaching clusters, flat floor teaching, lecture theatres and meeting rooms will start to move to Windows 10 over the summer period.

Why are we upgrading? 

Windows 7 has been our preferred desktop operating system for the last 9 years and will fall out of support in 2020.

Moving to Windows 10 will allow us to present a modern up to date desktop which our current and prospective students have come to expect and may already be using on their personal devices.

Moving to Windows 10 will allow us to improve our customer experience: Continue reading “Windows 10 update in teaching spaces”

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Media enhanced learning special interest group

The Media Enhanced Learning Special Interest Group (MELSIG) is a group of academics, learning technologists, staff developers and others whose purpose is to:

  • develop a self-sustaining UK Special Interest Group and community of practice for Media Enhanced Learning that adds value, builds capacity, and stimulates global partnerships and networks;
  • facilitate discussion and dissemination of the pedagogic use, purposes and benefits of digital and social media in post-compulsory education, and to consider its future uses;
  • provide a staff development focal point for media-enhanced academic practice (digital audio, video, smart and social media, and the use of related technologies), from ‘novice‘ to ‘expert’;
  • integrate ‘the student experience’ and ‘student views’ into SIG activities and deliberations;
  • be a resource for pedagogic research and investigation in the areas relating to digital and social media, related new technologies and applications;
  • co-ordinate a network of practitioners;
  • provide information and guidance on practice through its association;
  • provide an annual futures report based on a survey of leading international practitioners in the area of media-enhanced learning.

With a diverse stering group drawn from post compulsory education from all over the UK, it is an active group sharing effective practice widely.

There is already a great set of co-produced resources on the MELSIG website, including :

Regular events (usually free to attend)  provide opportunities for networking with others from different disciplines and institutions to co-produce more toolkits, collaborate and share effective practice. The next event, on 21 June 2018 in Sheffield, focuses on enhancing practice with digital and social media.

There is a jiscmail list which anyone can join.

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Conference Summary: Advance HE Surveys 2018

Dr Joe Barton (Representation & Research Coordinator, Newcastle University Students’ Union)

On 9 May, I ventured to Leeds to present at the Surveys 2018 conference, organised by Advance HE (formed from the recent merger of the Higher Education Academy, the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education and the Equality Challenge Unit).

As far as I am aware, I was the only representative of a Students’ Union at the conference, and so this was a unique opportunity to promote NUSU’s work and our partnership with the University.

This year’s Surveys conference explored ‘the potential of insight from surveys, metrics, qualitative research and wider methods of capturing the student voice for driving excellence and enhancement within higher education’.

At NUSU, we have been reflecting on similar themes as we prepare our third Teaching Excellence Awards Report. In recent months, we have consulted with staff at the University about the extent to which our TEAs Reports are useful as enhancement tools and what we might do to improve them. These discussions have in turn focused our attention on the methodological and theoretical challenges inherent in dealing with student-led teaching award nomination data.

Continue reading “Conference Summary: Advance HE Surveys 2018”

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E-Assessment in Mathematical Sciences (EAMS) 2018 Conference

The Numbas team is organising and hosting the international conference on E-Assessment in Mathematical Sciences (EAMS) here at Newcastle on 28th – 30th August 2018.
The conference aims to bring together researchers and practitioners with an interest in e-assessment for mathematics and the sciences, with an emphasis on enabling attendees to have a go at creating material, and getting an opportunity to share expertise directly. It will consist of a mix of presentations of new techniques, and pedagogic research, as well as live demos and workshops where you can get hands-on with leading e-assessment software.
The conference will feature keynote talks from Mohamad Jebara, founder and CEO of MathSpace and Paul Milner, development manager at National Numeracy.
The conference is free to Newcastle delegates (£75 external delegates) and includes a conference dinner. You can find out more about EAMS, and the forms to register for the conference and propose a talk, at the conference website.
We hope that EAMS 2018 will be an inclusive conference environment that invites participation from people of all races, ethnicities, genders, ages, abilities, religions, and sexual orientations. We’re actively seeking to increase the diversity of our attendees and speakers through our call for talk proposals and other conference communication. Please consider helping us in our goal in creating a more diverse conference through any of the following actions:
  • Recommend appropriate speakers to us by contacting any of the session organisers, or at eams@ncl.ac.uk
  • Forward our call for proposals to colleagues or potential speakers, with the message that we are looking for a diverse programme of speakers.
  • Suggest ways that the conference experience can be more welcoming and inclusive.
  • Share your ideas and best practices with us.
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May 2018 Learning and Teaching Newsletter

Advance HE continuing to support the HEA Fellowship network

As you’ll probably have seen in the press Advance HE is the new agency formed from the merger of the Equality Challenge Unit, the Higher Education Academy and the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education.

However your Fellowship post-nominals to demonstrate Fellowship status: AFHEA, FHEA, SFHEA, PFHEA will stay the same. If you’re just going through the process of applying for fellowship, it too is not changing and our accreditation for programmes is continuing.

New or innovative approaches to Learning and Teaching

The ULTSEC Innovation fund provides a fantastic opportunity for you to propose and develop projects with real benefit to learning. Continue reading “May 2018 Learning and Teaching Newsletter”

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The Digital Scholar Webinar

By Laura Delgaty, Senior Lecturer and Chair of NUTELA

Martin Weller,  Professor of Educational Technology at the Open University gave us an excellent update on the digital scholar during a webinar held on 30 April 2018.

Picture of audience participating in The Digital Scholar Webinar
Attendees at The Digital Scholar Webinar

Using Boyer’s model of scholarship  as a framework, he explained that digital scholarship increases student recruitment, engagement and research impact. By addressing scholarship and increasing open resources, we are able to attract different and larger audiences and this in itself can be a valuable research tool and method.  He reviewed some valuable opportunities and threats and highlighted the value of digital scholarship for early career researchers, academics and encouraged collaboration for both staff and students.

Overall, fantastic presentation and  great questions. You can find the recording here

Find out more information about NUTELA

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Student research success at the British Conference of Undergraduate Research

Thirteen Newcastle University undergraduate students brilliantly represented all three faculties and their own research at this year’s British Conference of Undergraduate Research (BCUR).

This annual event is going from strength to strength with over 250 presentations and 180 posters over two days at this year’s host institution, the University of Sheffield.

Recognising that this was a fantastic opportunity for students to demonstrate their learning and develop key employability skills, Professor Suzanne Cholerton (Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Learning and Teaching) sponsored eleven students to attend.  An extra two students successfully applied for funding from their Schools, so Newcastle was very well represented.

Delegation of staff and students at the BCUR
Delegation of staff and students at the BCUR

 

Continue reading “Student research success at the British Conference of Undergraduate Research”