University course design and delivery

How to design in-person, hybrid and online courses that maximise student engagement, inclusion and learning. Here, you can find advice on instructional design including lesson planning, creation and organisation of educational materials and effective use of digital technologies; as well as teaching methods and styles to help you achieve specific learning outcomes.

By Miranda Prynne, 16 May, 2022

Introducing an activeflex teaching model into pre-existing online courses

Image of a student taking part in a live online class

Steps for designing and implementing an activeflex model of teaching in pre-existing online courses, shared by Marla Williams

Reading time

3minutes

By Miranda Prynne, 9 May, 2022

How humanities and social sciences PhD programmes can adapt to a challenging job landscape

Image showing a hand unlocking a door with a giant key to represent how a PhD can unlock students' potential

Postgraduate studies in humanities and social sciences help graduates build skills that are applicable across multiple sectors and career paths. Ray Haberski Jr explains how to shape relevant and adaptable PhD programmes in these disciplines

Reading time

3minutes

By Eliza.Compton, 5 May, 2022

Enhancing learning from digital, audio and video resources

Print textbooks have serious competitors from digital texts, podcasts, audiobooks and video. The medium – and how each is used – can affect how much students learn, as Naomi Baron explains

Reading time

4minutes

By Miranda Prynne, 3 May, 2022

Using ‘spaced learning’ to aid students’ retention of new information

Image depicting a student sitting on top of a pile of books while working on a computer

Repeating information in chunks with breaks in between improves students’ ability to remember it. Stephen Braybrook explains how to translate this into the classroom

Reading time

2minutes

By sara.custer, 2 May, 2022

Don’t lose sight of learning outcomes in pursuit of digital innovation, counsels task force

Institutions should also think carefully about what is considered ‘innovative’

Reading time

5minutes

By dene.mullen, 2 May, 2022

Academics must resist the creeping degradation of academic freedom

Hand holding megaphone to signify academic freedom

Unless an academic is exceptionally bloody-minded, they will eventually take the path of least resistance, which is subtle erosion in action, says Arif Ahmed

Reading time

4minutes

By Eliza.Compton, 29 April, 2022

Block teaching: what it is, how to do it and why

With its short, intense courses, is block teaching the way to boost student success and engagement? John Weldon gives seven tips for switching to the block model and examples of what it offers university educators

Reading time

4minutes

By Miranda Prynne, 29 April, 2022

Revolving roles: creating inclusive, engaging, participant-led learning activities

A student playing the part of a teacher to represent the revolving roles pedagogy

‘Revolving roles’ is a simple, adaptable method for designing learning activities that challenge and change conventional ‘leader’ and ‘participant’ responsibilities, embrace students’ diverse needs, and develop their unique attributes, as Pablo Dalby explains

By Miranda Prynne, 29 April, 2022

Personalised learning in higher education: laying the foundations

A more personalised approach to higher education provision should empower students to learn at their own pace in ways that suit their specific needs, as Chitisha Gunnoo explains

By Miranda Prynne, 28 April, 2022

Developing interstate course sharing to boost graduation rates

Image depicting US interstate connections

Expanding course sharing between higher education institutions in different US states would help students pursue more flexible learning pathways and transfer credits to complete their studies and secure a degree, as Jay Field explains

Reading time

3minutes

University course design and delivery