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Downtime on Hadrian’s Wall @VindolandaTrust

As we move into the weekend and we start to think about how we are going to spend our downtime, and pursue leisure activities, we’d like to share a video with you which gives a lovely insight into leisure time on Hadrian’s Wall.

Meet Dr Andrew Birley, one of our guest contributors to Hadrian’s Wall: Life on the Roman Frontier. We asked Andrew to talk about his one of his favourite objects at Vindolanda where he is Director of Excavations.

Hadrian’s Wall: Life on the Roman Frontier is a Newcastle University free online course lasting 6 weeks which starts on Monday 19 February (www.futurelearn.com/courses/hadrians-wall)

We can’t wait for Monday! Can you?

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Learning and Teaching Workshop: 8th-9th March

Following the introduction of the Teaching Excellence Framework in 2017, UK Universities are required to demonstrate a culture of continuous improvement in the quality of learning, teaching and student experience that students receive.

The University aims to achieve this by delivering an educational experience within a research informed, supportive and engaging academic environment that adds value to learning. Such added value will ultimately provide students with opportunities to develop both personal and professional skills and attributes, enhance their career prospects, and prepare them for active participation in society as responsible and ethical global citizens.

The learning and teaching workshop (8th – 9th March) will be hosted by Newcastle University Business School but is open to colleagues from any discipline within business, management or social science. Continue reading “Learning and Teaching Workshop: 8th-9th March”

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Education Strategy – consultation Open Forum

Last week we launched a University wide consultation on the draft of a new Education Strategy – further details of the Strategy are in this blog post.

We said then that we would be arranging a number of Forums to give colleagues across the University the opportunity to discuss and give feedback on the current draft.  Each of these Forum meetings will be led by Suzanne Cholerton as PVC – Learning and Teaching, and they will take place between 12:00 and 13:00 on 5, 15 and 22 March 2018.

 

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National Teaching Fellowship Scheme 2018

The Higher Education Academy’s National Teaching Fellowship Scheme (NTFS) celebrates excellent practice and outstanding achievement in learning and teaching in higher education. The awards support individuals’ professional development in learning and teaching and provides a national focus for institutional teaching and learning excellence schemes.

More details about the scheme can be found on the HEA’s website.

We are pleased to announce the launch of the 2018 National Teaching Fellowship Scheme. The HEA has announced that the 2018 round will open on the 12th February and will close on the 30th of April. This closing date refers to when applications need to be submitted to the HEA by the University. If you are considering applying, please note the earlier submission date below.

Application to be an institutional nominee

Nominations are welcomed from all members of staff who feel their work has a major, positive impact on student teaching and learning. Staff who would like to be considered should provide a maximum of 1000 words which address the following criteria.

    • Your personal practice and why this should be recognised as outstanding,
    • Your impact on colleagues, both internally and externally,
    • Your reflection on the above.

Nominations should be sent electronically to ltds@ncl.ac.uk by 12 noon on Friday the 23rd February.

View the LTDS website for more information.

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Draft programme: Learning and Teaching Conference 2018: Education for Life: Celebrating partnership, encouraging innovation

Wednesday 21 March 2018
The Boiler House

Draft programme

09:00 Arrival and registration

09:30  Welcome
Prof Chris Day, Vice Chancellor

09:40  Keynote: Newcastle University education strategy     
Prof Suzanne Cholerton, PVC Learning and Teaching

10:30  Choose from a range of parallel sessions

11:15  Break

11:30  Integrated work study programme at Singapore Institute of Technology
Associate Prof Foo Yong Lim
Assistant Prof May Lim
Singapore Institute of Technology

12:30  Inclusive learning
Dr Ruth Graham, Dean of Undergraduate Studies, HaSS
Sandy Alden, Team Leader, Student Wellbeing Service

13:00  Lunch

14:00  Choose from a range of parallel sessions

15:00  Break

15:15  Keynote: Learning gain
Dr Camille Kandiko Howson
Academic Head of Student Engagement, King’s College London

16:00   Reflecting on partnership: Articulating the purpose of academic representation at Newcastle University
Rowan South, Education Officer,
Dr Joe Barton, Representation &Research Coordinator
George Watkins, Representation & Democracy Manager
Newcastle University Student Union

17:00  Presentations and awards, followed by drinks reception 

You can also download a PDF version of the programme here.

Further information about the conference is available here.

If you would like to attend please fill in the registration form. We look forward to seeing you there.

 

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Active Learning Workshop: Transforming students from rebellious prisoners to engaged learners

The School of Pharmacy is organising a one-day workshop on active learning, open to all Newcastle University staff, on 27 June 2018.
The workshop will focus on strategies to promote active learning such as:
  • team-based learning
  • flipped classroom
  • technology-enhanced learning.
Facilitators on the day include:
  • Professor Simon Lancaster, Professor of Chemistry Education, School of Chemistry, University of East Anglia
  • Steve Wheeler, Associate Professor in Information & Computing Technology, Plymouth Institute of Education, Plymouth University
  • Simon Tweddell, Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy Practice, School of Pharmacy, University of Bradford

The event will showcase innovative and pedagogically-informed practice across undergraduate healthcare education, but will have effective practice to share across many disciplines.

Please complete this form to indicate your attendance.

If you have any questions about the event, please contact Dr Hamde Nazar, or Prof Andy Husband.

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Draft Education Strategy – consultation launches

Since September 2016 a new University education strategy has been under development to replace the University’s existing Learning, Teaching and Student Experience Strategy (which was approved in 2013).  This work has been led by Suzanne Cholerton, as PVC – Learning and Teaching, and has been carried out on the basis of a significant amount of work and consultation with colleagues across the University – including as part of the development of the new University Strategic Vision.

In December ULTSEC considered a first draft of a new University Education Strategy, and agreed that the Draft Education Strategy should now go out across the University for consultation.  This draft too consultation is therefore available to all members of the University at this link – Draft University Education Strategy, to 2023.

The consultation is open until the end of this term.  As part of this consultation the Draft Education Strategy will be discussed at Faculty Executive Boards, FLTSECs and Faculty Graduate School Committees.

We will also be running three open forums at the Newcastle campus, where colleagues can come to discuss and feedback on the Draft Education Strategy.  And we will run webinar/videoconferencing forums for all three of the University’s branch campuses, so that all members of the University have the opportunity to contribute to the consultation.  Details of these sessions and how to book on them will be published shortly.

We’re also keen to receive feedback directly from schools, subject areas and individual colleagues as well. If you want to pass on your views on the draft, please comment below this blog post or alternatively send any feedback directly via ltds@ncl.ac.uk

The consultation closes at the end of 23 March 2018.

 

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Learning and Teaching Conference 2018: Newcastle University Students’ Union Workshop

Photo of Dr Joe Barton

by Dr Joe Barton, Newcastle University Students’ Union

Dr Joe Barton is the Representation & Research Coordinator at Newcastle University Students’ Union (NUSU). His main responsibilities are providing training and support to Academic Student Reps, assisting NUSU’s Education Officer with initiatives to improve the learning experience of students and reporting on student opinion to the University through analysing surveys, running focus groups and writing reports. Continue reading “Learning and Teaching Conference 2018: Newcastle University Students’ Union Workshop”