Pedagogy

Learn more about pedagogy and how different theories of teaching and learning work across higher education. Here, academics offer insights into a variety of pedagogies, drawing on their own teaching experience alongside research, to provide practical advice on what instructional methods work best for different university contexts, disciplines and classes.

Young Asian female students giving presentation

Machine v human skills: what do we teach now?

Human-centred abilities such as curiosity, adaptability and self-reflection are rising in importance as AI threatens to automate routine tasks. Here are ways educators can prepare students for the workforce of the future

Lynda Wee

Nanyang Technological University

A virtual illustration of a book guides a student working on a laptop

What do students want from AI-assisted teaching?

In an age of AI, educators and students need ways to ensure the technology complements learning rather than detracts from or homogenises it

Omar Merlo , Nai Li

Imperial College London

A group of students working on a project together in a classroom

Three ways to get students using GenAI in project-based learning

How to use project-based learning to address ethical concerns and improve students’ AI literacy, including key questions to ask yourself before introducing the tools

Ka Ho To

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Arms wave international flags

A practical guide to creating a linguistically inclusive classroom

Here’s how to embrace the cultural and linguistic perspectives of your students and prepare them to thrive in an interconnected world

Eilidh Singh, Amanda Wallace

Simon Fraser University

A group of students having a discussion in class

How to use think-pair-share to improve classroom discussions

Educators can modify the think-pair-share strategy to help students craft more detailed responses and take greater ownership of discussions. Learn how

Xingyi Ouyang

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

A student presenting to class

AI-proof project-based assessments by making them context-specific

Project-based assessments rooted in real-world, institution-specific contexts help reduce over-reliance on GenAI by emphasising collaboration, oral defence and critical thinking. Learn how to design one effectively

Oliver Jarvest , Ying Zhou, Simon Sheridan

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

A close-up of a hand painting on a canvas, a paint palette in the background

Use art to cultivate business students’ understanding of climate change

Find out how a transdisciplinary project using drawing and art deepens business students’ understanding of sustainability, inspiring them to become climate champions

Ryan Man

Hong Kong Baptist University

A logistics student working at her laptop

Active, applied and authentic learning: a model that builds skills and agency

Learn how the AAA model improved student engagement and learning outcomes in a logistics and supply chain programme, and how its principles apply across disciplines

Irfan Ul Haq , Hung Nguyen

RMIT University Vietnam

University professor teaching with laptop

Flip-Zoom-open: how Covid and AI transformed my classroom

Maybe the uncertainty of the pandemic resulted in a few positives to university teaching? Here, Perry Binder reflects on lockdown’s seismic shifts

Perry Binder

Georgia State University

Students and a teacher having a discussion in the classroom

Teaching your first course? Follow these steps

Just landed your first adjunct teaching role and don’t know where to start? Here’s how to make the most of your strengths, design a clear syllabus and deliver engaging, manageable sessions

Daniel Martínez, Robert Sanford

Independent academic

Spotlight guide: AI and assessment

AI and assessment in higher education

Threat or opportunity? Advice for using, managing and embedding artificial intelligence in university assessment, skills development and task design

Campus contributors

Campus

Prometheus concept of technological innovation

Cultivating a responsible innovation mindset among future tech leaders

The classroom is a perfect place to discuss the messy, real-world consequences of technological discoveries, writes Andreas Alexiou. Beyond ‘How?’, students should be asking ‘Should we…?’ and ‘What if…?’ questions around ethics and responsibility

Andreas Alexiou

University of Southampton

Two film students working on a project together

Use peer assessment to give students more accountability in group projects

Structured peer assessment can significantly improve student engagement and accountability in group work. Read about two methods that led film students to produce better-quality work

Qian Zhuang

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Uncertainty concept

Creativity is buffering: why curiosity struggles in a world obsessed with certainty

Creative work demands exploration and uncertainty, but students today have been conditioned to expect fixed outcomes and instant answers. David Thompson explores how that mindset is stalling curiosity and what educators can do to restore it

David Thompson

University of Lincoln

Generation Z students against yellow background

Reimagining connection and communication for Gen Z students

Generation Z students relate, communicate and build belonging in ways shaped by digital fluency, disrupted in-person learning and evolving social norms. This gives educators an opportunity to rethink how they teach

Gary F. Fisher, Dean Fido

University of Derby

A teacher with students in a classroom

Less is more when it comes to AI in teaching

As more educators adopt AI, the risk of becoming overwhelmed by the tools increases. Here are four practical strategies to prevent this

Bin Feng, Garth Elzerman

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

A robot types on a laptop while a bored student slumps beside it

In the AI era, how do we battle cognitive laziness in students?

With the latest AI technology now able to handle complex problem-solving processes, will students risk losing their own cognitive engagement? Metacognitive scaffolding could be the answer, writes Sean McMinn

Sean McMinn

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

An illustration of a heart passing from one hand to another

Four ways to balance service and learning

Community-engaged pedagogies such as service learning are widely practised in universities, but how to achieve a lasting impact on both students and communities? Here are four strategies to do so

Grace Ngai, Rina Camus

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Young female Asian university student in white coat

Using design-thinking to train the next generation of engineers

A ‘triple helix’ teaching approach shows how engineering educators can combine theoretical rigour with practical problem-solving to prepare students to innovate in the real world. Here, Chen Xiaodong explains how it evolved

Chen Xiaodong

Nanyang Technological University

Multiracial hands in fist bump circle

Ubuntu philosophy: how embracing cultural heritage in the classroom can enhance teaching

Teaching that incorporates this African value system prioritises relationship building and authenticity. Here’s how to put it into practice

Chipo Simbi

University of Southampton

Multiracial group of young people

Why inclusion in EAP needs a rethink

Teaching English for academic purposes should be inclusive by its very nature. Here’s how to centre student voices, challenge assumptions about academic language, and design learning for meaningful participation and belonging

Angelos Bakogiannis

Independent academic

Young woman surrounded by light bulbs, creative concept

‘Creative students need environments where risk feels possible, not paralysing’

Creative students are often encouraged to be bold and brave, but it’s hard when doubt, perfectionism and fear of judgement cloud their minds. David Thompson explores what educators can do to help them reconnect with curiosity and play

David Thompson

University of Lincoln

A futuristic digital classroom in the metaverse where students, represented as diverse avatars, engage in an interactive lesson. A teacher, using holographic AI tools, guides them through immersive learning experiences. Floating virtual screens display storytelling prompts, character designs, and business concepts. The background features a blend of virtual reality elements

Use AI and the metaverse to keep your students engaged online

AI and virtual reality technology enables diverse learning experiences for online students. Discover how by applying universal design for learning principles

Angeles Carolina Aguirre-Acosta , Gloria Anahí Molina Barrón , Rebeca Elizabeth Alvarado Ramírez

Monterrey Institute of Technology

Think like a physicist concept

Thinking like a physicist can prepare students for life’s challenges

Technology and peer learning can be used to optimise classroom time and enhance problem-solving skills. Here, Teck Seng Koh uses a sample lesson to illustrate how to develop students’ analysis capacity

Teck Seng Koh

Nanyang Technological University

A student putting their hand up in class

Give everyone a chance to speak in class

Implementing turn-taking protocols and allowing students time to prepare are two strategies that ensure every student has an equal opportunity to participate in class discussions

Yishi Lin

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Students in a classroom smiling to camera

AI over-personalisation can hinder learning

In the rush towards ever-greater personalisation, we must not lose sight of what makes learning meaningful, writes Kathy Charles. Here, she shares her insights on fostering ‘productive struggle’ to deepen learning

Kathy Charles

Nottingham Trent University

Asian woman drinking coffee at laptop

Tips for successful asynchronous teaching: supporting students, part two

As the most remote form of teaching, asynchronous courses require well-managed communication so students stay on-board and engaged – and understand all the requirements

Figen Mekik

Grand Valley State University

podcast graphic

THE podcast: the tricky relationship between assessment and learning

Hear three US academic experts discuss what role assessment should play in higher education and how it can be improved

Susan D. Blum, Catherine Wehlburg, Josh Eyler

University of Notre Dame, Athens State University, University of Mississippi

A group of students on their laptops in the library

Digital humanities 101

What makes ‘digital humanities’ different from ‘traditional humanities’, and how could it make your classroom more collaborative and creative?

Sarah Ketchley

University of Washington, University of Maryland Global Campus

Diamond held in tweezers

When essay feedback does more harm than good

Tired of asking for more scope, depth and flow with no improvement in students’ writing? Maybe the problem is not the students but your feedback

Alice Stinetorf

University of Southampton

Young male teacher at whiteboard

How to be empathetic when teaching first-year students

Creating a supportive and understanding learning environment can build trust, lessen anxiety and improve learning outcomes for students entering university. These practical actions will help educators incorporate empathy into their teaching

Abdulhusein Mizhir Almaamuri

Al-Mustaqbal University

Young Asian woman looking tired at laptop

‘We shouldn’t sleepwalk into a “tech knows best” approach to university teaching’

As GenAI is used by almost nine in 10 students, these practical strategies help educators to rethink assessment and integrate AI as a collaborative tool in academic work

Rebecca Mace, Viktoria Magne, Sarah Hooper, Sharon Vince

University of Worcester, University of West London

A woman writing in a journal on some steps

Using AI to foster self-directed learning

You can promote self-directed learning by breaking down tasks and integrating an AI chatbot into your course management system. Here’s how

Ying Shao, Xue Yao

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Asian student thinking

Brainstorming benefits of an AI writing assistant app

User needs, smart prompts and functionality were central to creating an AI tool that supports student writing and thinking. Here, Joanne Chia and Angela Frattarola share the pedagogical and technical considerations involved in the process

Joanne Chia, Angela Frattarola

Nanyang Technological University

Robot and human hand

When to use an AI professor (and why you might not need one)

Selective embrace of artificial intelligence is key to its success in supporting student learning. Here, Leonard Ng Wei Tat shares lessons from building an effective AI teaching assistant

Leonard Ng Wei Tat

Nanyang Technological University

Three Asian university students in a classroom

‘We should focus on the effect of the technology rather than the technology itself’

How much tech is helpful in the classroom? Highlighting both benefits and drawbacks, John Komar explains how computer vision and AI can reinforce personal connections and interactions between teacher and students

John Komar

Nanyang Technological University

Woman working at laptop with coffee

Online should not mean offline for business lecturers

When online courses are delivered more or less to a prescribed script, this leaves little space for an educator’s personalised contribution and autonomy, writes Anita Wheeldon. Here, she makes the case against ‘teacherless pedagogy’

Anita Wheeldon

The University of Southern Queensland

Students working on an interdisciplinary project

Can you teach interdisciplinarity in 10 weeks?

Interdisciplinarity is an ambitious and rewarding research process, but how realistic can we be in a 10-week module? Here is how to frame the task, structure the process and balance workloads

Simon Scott

University of Birmingham

AI and creativity concept

‘Generative AI is making our students more creative than ever’

The real opportunity of AI isn’t automation, it’s the potential to democratise innovation, writes Ramona Pistol. And teaching practices need to catch up to this reality

Ramona Pistol

University of Hertfordshire

Students learning about sustainability

Three ways to ensure you are teaching for lasting societal impact

Multidisciplinary courses, applied learning and personalisation will all help business schools prepare graduates to serve the needs of the global community. Baback Yazdani explains how to make them work

Baback Yazdani

Nottingham Trent University

A jumble of everyday objects, including a calculator

Use everyday objects to educate student teachers

By using simple, familiar items and fostering open dialogue, we can encourage critical reflection in our students, transforming traditional teaching models into more inclusive learning experiences

Daniel Gutiérrez-Ujaque

University of Lleida

Empathetic teaching

Teaching with empathy: a practical guide for university educators

By making consistent efforts to understand and support students, university teachers create a learning environment where they feel capable and appreciated, writes Dianne Stratton-Maher

Dianne Stratton-Maher

The University of Southern Queensland

A man takes notes as he watches an online lecture on his laptop

Tips for fostering student engagement in blended learning

Students can often feel disengaged in a blended learning environment. Here’s how to spark their curiosity and give them ownership of their learning journey

Ching Yee Pua, Kenan Kok Xiao-Feng , Oran Devilly, Shermain Puah

Singapore Institute of Technology

A student studying at his desk

Assessing the GenAI process, not the output

A framework for building AI literacy in a literature-review-type assessment

Paul McDermott, Leoni Palmer , Rosemary Norton

The University of East Anglia

Robot student

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 GenAI to strengthen learning while also preserving their own guiding role

Nikolas Dietis

University of Cyprus

Raised hand in class

‘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 shares his experience from teaching in Thailand

Mariano Carrera

King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok

Medical professional talking to a female patient

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 myth that it can’t be taught

Jeremy Howick

University of Leicester

Old books

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 their understanding

Shuri Mariasih Gietty Tambunan

The University of Indonesia

A pair of legs following an arrow on asphalt

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

Simon Brownhill

The University of Bristol

Coloured pencils

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 offer low-stakes ways to use creativity to build community

Chris Wright, Zoë Allman

De Montfort University