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Program level assessment design and the two-lane approach
byThe University’s ‘two-lane approach’ to assessment, summarised below in Table 1, focuses attention on the legislated need to ensure our graduates have met the…
Latest Posts
The Course Design Institute comes to Sydney: February 2025
byThe University of Sydney is committed to delivering a student-focused, transformative learning experience that evolves to meet global educational challenges. As part of this…
Early Feedback Tasks – Design ideas from Arts and Social Sciences
byThis year, all 1000-level units at the University are introducing an Early Feedback Task (EFT) as part of the new Support for Students Policy…
Increased student engagement and belonging through continually randomised in-class activity groups
byImagine: It is week one of the semester, and the classroom is buzzing with students eager to engage and learn. In small group activities,…
Leveraging AI for enhanced financial analysis: A case study with GPT-4 through Cogniti
byRecognising the escalating integration of AI in the financial markets, we identified the need for students to develop the ability to critically evaluate AI-processed…
Designing for authenticity: early feedback in music
byIn 2024, the Support for Students Policy introduced early feedback tasks across all 1000-level units at the University of Sydney. These tasks aim to identify students at…
What does excellent scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) look like?
byMy journey as a scholar of teaching in learning In a companion article, I reflected on how satisfying my career as an education focused…
Research for education focused academics: A current conversation
byMy journey as an education focused academic Education focused (EF) pathways enable academics to build and sustain identities and careers that capitalise on their…
Reflective journals as meaningful authentic asessments in art history fieldwork
byWith the advance of generative AI and its integration into both the classroom and assessments, teachers are exploring approaches evaluate students’ authentic learning. Here,…
Everyday innovation in assessment
byThe emergence and acceleration of generative AI necessitates reflection on what’s valuable for students to learn, and how this learning can be assessed. The…
Increasing students’ engagement with feedback
byProviding positive and constructive feedback can be the most effective way to support students. This takes various forms, such as in-class discussions or written…
Using AI to provide feedback on an Early Feedback Writing Task (EFT)
byThe introduction in semester 1, 2024, of an early feedback task (EFT) in all 1000-level units was a welcome innovation to assist students in a…
Padlet and Cogniti: A scaffolded approach to writing practice
byIn Semester 1, 2024, I coordinated FRNC2603 French 3, a core language unit in the Introductory and Intermediate French and Francophone Studies major and…
Transforming veterinary histology education: A personal journey from struggle to innovation
byMy experience with histology as a veterinary student was far from ideal. In a large lecture hall with 140 students, we had a single…
Bridging the gap between technology and empathy
byAt the intersection of lived experience and engineering innovation, a quiet revolution is unfolding. Working alongside people with lived experiences opens the minds of…
Using generative AI as part of assessments: Cheating or opportunity?
byWhat do you want students to learn and achieve when they complete assessments? Are there opportunities for AI to improve how students achieve these…
Making groupwork meaningful and authentic – Assessment for learning in High Performance in Sport
byIn April 2023, Dr. Rhonda Orr from Exercise and Sport Science approached the Educational Innovation team to collaborate on the design of a group…
Program level assessment design and the two-lane approach
byThe University’s ‘two-lane approach’ to assessment, summarised below in Table 1, focuses attention on the legislated need to ensure our graduates have met the…
Tailoring peer observation for your tutors at Sydney
byIn our previous post, Supporting Tutors through Peer Observation, we explored the concept of peer observation, its benefits for tutors, and key features of…
Supporting tutors through Peer Observation
byTutors are often the first point of contact for our students, playing a crucial role in their learning journey. However, these educators, especially those…
To grade or not to grade – is it time to go gradeless?
byAt Sydney, almost all units of study use a graded system for assessment; that is students’ work is assessed as being on the scale…
Unravelling the sensory campus experience – A unique perspective of autistic academics
byHave you ever wondered what it is like for autistic academics to navigate a sensory-rich campus? In academia, individuals must navigate diverse physical and…
Access for all in the chemistry laboratory: The case of blind students
byScience has much to learn from sport when it comes to accessibility of participation. The Paralympics, just opened in Paris, is currently showcasing the…
Partnering with students to transform teaching and learning
byThe University of Sydney has a long history of staff and students working in partnership. In 2023 the nominated practitioners in student-faculty partnership came…
What do Law students really need? Students talk to students!
byIn this article, student partner Cherie Tse, student in the Bachelor of Arts/Law IV cohort, shares how she and her peer, Edward Ford, led…