In 2026 will academia be undermined by essay mills? There is increasing worry that the growing opportunities for students to buy plagiarism-proof essays from the web will allow cheats to prosper and undermine confidence in degree classification. Concern has even reached the higher echelons, with Universities Minister Jo Johnson asking the sector to consider ways … Continue reading “Tilting at the Dark Satanic (Essay) Mills”
Author: Jeremy Pritchard
A Brave New World of Timetabling
I went to a meeting about timetabling the other day with a heavy heart, thinking that it would be a wasted two hours. However, I was wrong; once you get away for the idea that timetabling is not about room booking and all about delivering the curriculum, then enhancement and innovation are on the agenda. … Continue reading “A Brave New World of Timetabling”
Separating Formative and Summative assessment into module and programme level.
It’s all about the assessment: In 2026 we should have separated formative and summative assessment. In breaking the covalent bond between these two unequal twins we allow each to do it’s proper job, unencumbered by the other. I recently asked my students why they were not engaging with all the wonderful and innovative formative assessment … Continue reading “Separating Formative and Summative assessment into module and programme level.”
RIT 2026: the interplay between research and teaching
Birmingham University is a Research Intensive Institution and will be in 2026. We do research from atoms to the atmosphere, from sharks to Shakespeare. Research permeates all our teaching and students are engaged in research and research related activities at all levels. Our research success and our investment in research directly and explicitly benefits our … Continue reading “RIT 2026: the interplay between research and teaching”
Computer says no: Automatic assessments for rapid feedback?
In 2026 I hope that the routine feedback we give students has been computerised, so increasing students’ access and speed of feedback. If you are marking 100 essays how many times are you correcting the basic errors of incorrect referencing, use of the first persons, incorrect grammar, and inappropriate subheadings … the list goes on. … Continue reading “Computer says no: Automatic assessments for rapid feedback?”
Teaching, Assessment and Learning Outcomes (LOs): Put these in the right order!
What do I think education should look like at Birmingham in 2026? I would be very happy if the words in the title were rearranged into the order: 1) Learning outcomes 2) Assessments 3) Teaching. I would be even happier if we had a situation where the students define their own learning outcomes. After their … Continue reading “Teaching, Assessment and Learning Outcomes (LOs): Put these in the right order!”