An academic’s guide to Bluesky
With many HE professionals making the switch to Bluesky, here are the steps you need to take to get started
The pros and cons of peer reviewing
Weighing up whether to take on the role of peer reviewer? Arina Ziganshina draws on her own experience to outline the upsides and downsides
Class exercises that use ChatGPT to strengthen students’ learning
To foster engagement, comprehension and knowledge retention in the classroom, educators should find a balance between leveraging AI tools such as…
Using literature to increase students’ empathy
Asking students to reflect on emotions through literary works can enhance their empathy. Here are some tried and tested methods
A practical guide to better public speaking: part one
Getting through long, not-so-interesting talks is a common experience in academia. But if we all agree it can be done better, how can we start delivering better…
It’s time to embrace digital equity
Ensuring digital equity at your institution requires prioritising accessibility and championing digital literacy, among other initiatives
Three ways professional certifications can boost student outcomes
Professional certifications not only align students’ skills with real-world industry demands but can also lead to unexpected improvements in academic outcomes. …
Tax Taylor Swift
Is sustainability a ‘blank space’ in professional music education? Not exactly. Music students want to make an impact and some music academics are embedding …
‘Students need to take responsibility for class participation’
Questions to encourage undergraduates to contribute to class content or in discussion help them develop skills for academia and the workplace. Mariano Carrera…
Engaging students through poster presentations: a case study
Read about how a poster presentation task can promote students’ engagement with course content and each other
How strategic sustainability can foster innovation
Sustainability is much more than a set of policies or practices. Here’s how it can be a transformational strategy for achieving a university’s mission
What Frankenstein’s monster can teach researchers about the dark side of ‘impact’
What can a 19th-century novelist tell academics about research ethics? Taking time to see the impact of research on ourselves is a good place to start measuring the social…
Setting up an in-house mediation service at your university
Want to prevent conflict escalation? Make mediation a “first resort” option
Eight steps to launch a student-led peer-review journal
To help PhD students gain the skills required for publication and improve research literacy, consider an in-house academic journal
As students become more ‘distant’, can feedback still hit the mark?
Whether they are behind a computer screen or behind bars, all students need support with making effective use of feedback – whether or not the process is a two-way street
How living with blepharospasm helped me become a better teacher
Read about a strategy that helped an educator living with an eye condition build emotional resilience and create a more inclusive classroom environment
Six tips when undertaking a curriculum framework review
For a curriculum framework to deliver for both students and educators, it must be regularly updated. Here are six things to remember when embarking on a framework review
‘Uncertainty is part of co-production’
Flexibility and an open mindset can help health researchers work with healthcare professionals and patients to create better adapted services. Here, Gary Hickey…
We have to rethink academic integrity in a ‘post-plagiarism era’
What is the future of plagiarism as a concept in the AI age and what are the implications for academic integrity? This resource seeks to answer these questions,…
The small steps that can make a big difference to student parents
Juggling academic and parental commitments is no easy feat. Here’s how universities can make small, programme-level adjustments to relieve the pressure on…
Why transfer student programmes are key to expanding access
Students need and want flexible, affordable pathways into higher education, so universities need to support non-traditional avenues, remove barriers and take …
Yes, empathy can be taught – here’s how
Find out how evidence-based methods can be used to provide empathy training, bringing huge potential benefits for healthcare outcomes and busting the…
GenAI can help literature students think more critically
Is ChatGPT destroying critical thinking, or is it allowing us to reconsider how we teach it? This resource explores some ways to empower literature students to use it to deepen…
How to support neurodivergent postgraduate researchers
How can universities ensure PhD students of all neurotypes can thrive? Here’s how to provide neurodiversity-affirmative supervision
‘Researchers have a responsibility to publish’
Without publication, advancements in knowledge will be stifled or even halted altogether, writes Walid Saad. Here he explains the many benefits to publishing for…
Will AI revolutionise marking?
Artificial intelligence has the potential to improve speed, consistency and detail in feedback for educators grading students’ assignments, writes Rohim…
The foundations of a successful knowledge transfer partnership
By collaborating with businesses, researchers can apply their expertise to real-world problems with tangible outcomes. Here, academics outline how they established…
Using directional reflection to stimulate students’ evaluative thinking
Many students struggle to understand and engage with the concepts and practices associated with reflection. This is where directional reflection comes in
How to encourage reuse and recycling on campus
Universities generate a significant amount of waste. Here’s how to encourage students and staff to reuse and recycle
Can non-assessed creative play help students develop confidence and critical thinking?
Supporting and enhancing students’ drawing skills improves not only their visual communication but also their mental health and well-being. Chris Wright and Zoë Allman…
Rethinking online learning to tackle global injustices
A critical look at how online learning can be used to decolonise global development curricula
Why academics are losing sleep
Struggling to balance academic life with healthy sleep habits? Whether it’s a well-placed nap or giving grant writing a rest, this science-backed guide will help…
A four-step process to transform everyone into a fact-checker
The 4-Check strategy can help combat misinformation in the digital age. Here’s how to use it
Reduce admin burden with AI
How teachers can use AI to respond to student enquiries, provide feedback and create engaging learning content
Trying to decide what, where and when to publish research?
It’s a strategic balancing act, writes Walid Saad. While academic researchers often know why it’s important to publish their work, the timing, location and medium can be…
On climate change, are universities part of the problem or part of the solution?
As the effects of climate change become increasingly more extreme, fossil fuel interests are preventing transformative change. Where do universities stand?
How universities can use research to develop effective digital products
Tips on developing a user-led digital approach at your institution, based on the University of Exeter’s success
Five actions to drive your career forward in the third space
Third spaces professionals can often find themselves excluded from traditional academic promotion or career development opportunities. Here’s how to carve your …
Escape the class! Tips for creating virtual educational escape rooms
With games, tasks and a story, a virtual escape room can make ‘dry’ subjects more engaging for students working outside their majors, writes Cecilia Teng. Here, she gives…
How can we better support our postgraduate students?
The challenges postgraduate taught students face are different from those of their undergraduate counterparts. Here are some ways to help them overcome them
Five ways coaching can improve the university experience of Black students
The ethnicity awarding gap continues to be an issue in UK universities, especially for Black students. Could coaching be the answer?
Creativity and innovation are the keys to reshaping learning
To keep education relevant and students engaged, classrooms have to move with the times. Here are several ways to keep pace with technological change
‘Generic prompts give students autonomy and flexibility to expand their ideas’
Leaving space for students to bring their prior knowledge and experience to a question can help with comprehension in STEM courses
We should be using social media more to understand students
How to use netnography to improve communication with prospective and current students
Three ways to develop students’ AI literacy
Is higher education prepared for a future defined by AI, or do we need to do more to align education with technology’s changing landscape? Here are three…
How can universities encourage active ageing?
As life expectancies rise, universities must prepare to welcome more older students. Here are some ways to ensure institutions are inclusive spaces for these learners
Using documentary film to communicate your social research
Film can humanise your research and make it accessible to an audience beyond your field. Here are five key takeaways from our experience of bringing…
How to align AI tools with teaching philosophies: a practical guide
Lucy Gill-Simmen provides a practical framework for integrating AI into teaching, while remaining true to your pedagogical principles
How can we use microlearning to enhance university teaching?
What are the benefits of microlearning and how can institutions ensure their courses suit the needs of digital natives?
Four ways to use gamification to engage your students in learning
What if learning was as addictive as gaming? Motivate your students and engage them to learn with these four teaching innovations
