While there has always been a strong partnership between academic and professional services staff, over the last 5 years there has been more emphasis on the partnership in areas such as academic engagement and technical enhanced learning. This has seen new types of roles emerging such as student experience roles, professional services welfare tutors, technology … Continue reading “The partnership between academic and professional services staff – Charlotte Jarvis”
Tilting at the Dark Satanic (Essay) Mills
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”
Supporting research based learning in a ‘born-digital’ world. Christopher Cipkin, Library Services
As technology increasingly drives the way education is delivered, the library of the future will need to rise to the challenge of collecting and archiving a wider range of digital formats – music, news media, gaming software, research data etc. We may need to adapt our library and IT infrastructure to better reflect an educational … Continue reading “Supporting research based learning in a ‘born-digital’ world. Christopher Cipkin, Library Services”
Skills for the Information Revolution. Christopher Cipkin, Library Services
Ability to access information is not the same as the ability to evaluate, synthesise and reference it, especially in this age of post-truth, alternative facts and information obesity. Academic libraries have already shifted their focus from being repositories of paper-based information to becoming services which facilitate access to digital content, whether that access is to … Continue reading “Skills for the Information Revolution. Christopher Cipkin, Library Services”
An Affair… by Dr. Tom Harrison
I have developed and run a MOOC; and have another in development. I run a fully distance learning MA. I did my PhD on a theme related to the Internet. You would think I would be in love with new technology and eLearning. My secret confession is… I have never been in love with it. … Continue reading “An Affair… by Dr. Tom Harrison”
Will the Race Equality Charter make a difference to the white academy? by Prof. Kalwant Bhopal
See this interesting post from Professor Kalwant Bhopal, Bridge Professorial Research Fellow, Centre for Research in Race and Education (CRRE), School of Education, University of Birmingham. So, will it make a difference? Will it help us to build a more diverse leadership by 2026?
Driving Feedback Forward. Nicki Smith (POLSIS) & Sarah King (CLAD)
Picture the scene. You want to learn how to drive, and so you sign up for a course. Except it’s not what you expected – no-one sits in the car with you. Instead, you’re shown photographs of people driving, and given books on clutch use. You start to feel anxious. ‘This is all very helpful,’ … Continue reading “Driving Feedback Forward. Nicki Smith (POLSIS) & Sarah King (CLAD)”
A community of scholars or a community hub? Celia Greenway
The focus of the future of a city based University provides an opportunity to debate its civic function. The University currently contributes to the region’s economic growth and development and works in partnership with businesses, local schools, health and social service provision. Since the EU referendum in June Universities UK has suggested that there could … Continue reading “A community of scholars or a community hub? Celia Greenway”
The Future of Higher Education; what do students think?
The Guild of Students hosted the Big Conversation recently, looking to further understand the future of Higher Education. Students were invited to stretch their minds and offer their inspirational views on the future of the University of Birmingham. What did our students have to say? Who knows how to teach better, the university or you? … Continue reading “The Future of Higher Education; what do students think?”
Interesting stuff in the NMC Horizon Report: 2017 Higher Education Edition
It’s worth taking a look at this if you are interested in digitech and learning. The Exec Summary is only one page if you don’t have time for the whole report. The 10 key points chime with much of what has been said in the Digital strand of our Big Conversation The NMC Horizon Report: … Continue reading “Interesting stuff in the NMC Horizon Report: 2017 Higher Education Edition”