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Using neuroscience research to influence teaching: Could ‘spaced learning’ work in higher education?

By Dr Paul Hubbard, Teaching Fellow, School of Medical Education

Paul Hubbard

Neuroeducation is an emerging educational discipline where a neuroscientific understanding of how the brain learns is used to drive forward current teaching methods or to develop new and innovative methods of teaching and learning.  Whilst neuroeducation does not claim to be a complete solution, it is hoped that an increasing knowledge of the biology behind the process of forming memories in the brain will make teaching methods more efficient.

As this is an interesting topic area for me I decided to submit an abstract to the 2018 learning and teaching conference with the aim to raise the idea of ‘neuroeducation’ and to start a discussion as to whether techniques based on the science of learning could be used in higher education to advance teaching.

Continue reading “Using neuroscience research to influence teaching: Could ‘spaced learning’ work in higher education?”

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Success for NUTELA Small Grants Fund applicants

Sonia Bussey and Dr Jo Matthan are the first successful recipients of the NUTELA Small Grants Fund. The fund was set up this academic year with the aim of helping colleagues explore and embed technology-enhanced practices into their learning and teaching.

Sonia  will be using the funds to support her submission to the Three Rivers Conference where she will be delivering a ‘show and tell’ session to introduce delegates to Adobe Connect web-conferencing software as an innovative platform to support student learning at distance.

Joanna is going to be attending the International Conference AMEE to present the results of The Darkside of Technology Enhanced Learning in Medical Education.

“I am delighted to be one of the first applicants to receive a NUTELA small grant. It will allow me to explore technology-enhanced practices utilised elsewhere, disseminate some of the experiences we have gleaned from our project to a wider audience and help evaluate practices that I hope will enhance the overall student experience. The grant is an important statement to those of us on the shop-floor and, on a very practical level, illustrates that Newcastle University values even the small-scale projects we do to promote innovation in technology-enhanced learning and to evaluate the real implications of these innovations for staff and students.”

Dr Jo Matthan, School of Medical Education Continue reading “Success for NUTELA Small Grants Fund applicants”

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Conference blog: Dr Cindy Lee, Newcastle University in Singapore

Written by Dr Cindy Lee, Assistant Professor and Director of Excellence in Learning and Teaching, Newcastle University in Singapore

Dr Cindy Lee, Assistant Professor and Director of Excellence in Learning and Teaching
Dr Cindy Lee, Assistant Professor and Director of Excellence in Learning and Teaching

Welcomed by a drizzle of snow upon my arrival at Newcastle airport, I must say that attending the learning and teaching conference has been a great experience for me. This has been made possible by the travel bursaries provided this year for participants from Singapore and Malaysia. Presenting in the session on “How might a research intensive environment add value to the education of all students at all stages” broadened my horizon on how to enhance the research-informed learning environment for students. Continue reading “Conference blog: Dr Cindy Lee, Newcastle University in Singapore”

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Conference blog: Dr Hassan Karali, Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia

Written by Hassan Karali Senior Clinical Lecturer in NUMED, Fellow of UKHEA Consultant in Obs& Gyn, Lead of EJR Women’s Health programme

Newcastle Learning and Teaching conference was a remarkable event. We had glamorous reception and warm welcoming in the cold weather those days.

Dr Hassan Karali in front of the arches
Dr Hassan Karali, Senior Clinical Lecturer, Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia

Continue reading “Conference blog: Dr Hassan Karali, Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia”

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NUTELA award winners

Newcastle University Technology Enhanced Learning Advocates  (NUTELA) were busy in advance of this year’s Learning and Teaching Conference, reviewing all submissions relating to Technology Enhanced Learning.

Student engagement, transferability to other areas and innovation were all key in the decisions of the group.

Three fantastic winners were selected, each winning funds to further develop or disseminate their project.

Dr Chris Graham and Dr Laura Delgaty
Dr Chris Graham and Dr Laura Delgaty

Continue reading “NUTELA award winners”

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NUHRI Challenge Labs 2018 Call now open

Newcastle University Humanities Research Institute (NUHRI) invites students to propose an interdisciplinary research challenge
for summer 2018.

The Challenge Labs scheme is:

  • open to all current Newcastle University students (undergraduate or postgraduate);
  • designed to support interdisciplinary approaches to humanities-related research challenges;
  • funding projects up to £3k (incl. student bursaries) over a three-week period in summer vacation 2018.

Continue reading “NUHRI Challenge Labs 2018 Call now open”

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Poster Winners: Learning and Teaching Conference

The high quality of submissions  meant that voters had a tough time choosing their favourite poster submissions at this year’s Learning and Teaching Conference.

Respondents voted for the three posters most inspirational for their own practice, resulting in three winners reflecting some of the diverse teaching practice across the University. The winners, in no particular order, were……. Continue reading “Poster Winners: Learning and Teaching Conference”

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April 2018 Learning and Teaching Newsletter

Vice-Chancellor’s Education Excellence Awards

Applications are now open for the all-new Vice-Chancellor’s Education Excellence Awards – a chance to recognise the exceptional contributions of staff who teach or support students’ learning.

The awards are open to all members of staff, academic and professional services, individuals and teams who have made a marked impact on enhancing our students’ educational experience.
Groups of colleagues who work closely together are invited to apply for the newly-established team award.

For details of the revised criteria, and application process, please see http://www.ncl.ac.uk/ltds/funding/vc/

Deadline for applications: Wednesday the 25th April

Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey

Continue reading “April 2018 Learning and Teaching Newsletter”

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Inclusive Learning: Conference Guest Blog

How considering inclusive learning can help change your mind-set.

Dr Jhoram Funtanares Nufable, Associate Professor, Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia (NUMed) shares his thoughts on the Inclusive Learning session delivered at this year’s Learning and Teaching Conference. This session was led by Dr Ruth Graham, Dean of Undergraduate Studies, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and Sandy Alden, Team Leader, Disability and Specialist Learning, Student Wellbeing Service.

Photo of Dr Jhoram Funtanares Nufable
Dr. Jhoram Funtanares Nufable, Associate Professor, Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia (NUMed)

Inclusive learning interests me a lot to a personal level as I have a child who struggles with learning and has some developmental delay. As parents, we surely want the best for our children. We would support them as much as we can and would really appreciate if teachers would be more sensitive to their needs. Continue reading “Inclusive Learning: Conference Guest Blog”

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Evidencing Teaching Excellence as part of promotion applications

Are you interested in applying for promotion in whole or in part on the basis of your teaching?

Newcastle University has a programme to support staff with their applications.  It may be of particular interest to staff intending to make an application to the 2018-19 or 2019-20 promotion rounds.

You can find full details of the programme on the LTDS website

Marita Grimwood
Marita Grimwood, Learning and Teaching Consultant

 

As part of the programme there are a number of one to one sessions with Marita Grimwood, Learning and Teaching Consultant, arranged for Tuesday 17th and Tuesday 24th April. Continue reading “Evidencing Teaching Excellence as part of promotion applications”