Practical learning

Reflection and advice for hands-on university teaching practices and experiential learning. These resources offer expert tips to support quality teaching through lab work, fieldwork and work placements as well as community-based learning, project-based learning and simulations.

By Miranda Prynne , 6 September, 2022

The fundamentals of successful student knowledge exchange

What basics must be considered in order to build a successful student knowledge exchange project? Sharon Ingram shares insight based on supporting a student-led chemistry consultancy

Reading time

3minutes

By Miranda Prynne , 29 August, 2022

Tutor training for architect-educators: twinning, observation, reflection and testing

Image of a lecturer teaching a class of adult students

Staff development and training for architecture tutors is very limited. This resource looks back at a tutor training programme that ran from 1996 to 2002, and draws lessons for future architect-educators

Reading time

4minutes

By Miranda Prynne , 26 July, 2022

Lessons in running workshops to train students in basic electronics

Workshops that train pre-university students in open-source electronics and programming platform Arduino can broaden access to and knowledge of readily available technology. Here‘s a guide for how to design them

Reading time

3minutes

By Miranda Prynne , 29 June, 2022

Lessons in helping remote students obtain practical work experience

A remote student working in a group with other students via an online meeting

Universities face obstacles in helping distance learners access practical work experience. Ewout van der Schaft and Alex Mackrell share insight from initiatives at their business school

Reading time

4minutes

By dene.mullen , 13 June, 2022

Starting from scratch to promote critical thinking in your classes

Critical thinking is a crucial skill for students to be taught at university

Critical thinking is a crucial skill for all areas of life. Adriana González Nava and Paulo Mendoza Rivera explain how to promote it in course design

Reading time

3minutes

By dene.mullen , 30 May, 2022

We started a commercial software company at our university – and you should too

Giving students the chance to work in a professional company housed in a university has benefits for all

Staffed by students, epiGenesys provides profits for the university and allows students to work in a lively, supportive and successful business environment

Reading time

4minutes

By dene.mullen , 6 May, 2022

Is that overseas field trip you’re looking forward to really necessary?

Outside help for local communities can have unintended negative consequences

However well-intentioned, outside interventions can have unintended consequences for local communities if carried out without rigorous research, says James Derounian

Reading time

3minutes

By dene.mullen , 20 April, 2022

Don’t forget that the ‘academic’ and the ‘vocational’ are deeply intertwined

University staff and leadership should not forget that the academic and the vocational are deeply intertwined

It’s not enough to focus solely on academic mission, but neither is it enough to think of universities as little more than training schools, says Sir Chris Husbands

Reading time

4minutes

By dene.mullen , 11 April, 2022

Challenge-based learning: design and delivery in undergraduate courses

Courses that incorporate real problems from real companies offer students a rare chance to acquire knowledge while also developing useful professional skills

Reading time

3minutes

By dene.mullen , 23 March, 2022

Health workers need tech training – for themselves and their patients

Healthcare professionals need help from universities and higher education when implementing new tech into their practice

There are huge risks involved if current and future healthcare professionals have to take up new forms of practice such as video consultations without sufficient training

Reading time

4minutes

Practical learning