The second year slump – ideas for motivating second year students
byI, Ruth, lived in a student hall of residence during my first year at university and generally attended most lectures and seminars, excited by…
Transition
Belonging first: creating space for connection in learning and teaching
byLarge higher education institutions can be exciting and energising places to work, but they can also feel fragmented and, at times, isolating. Learning and…
Improving first-year teaching: Insights from students on what works
byThe transition to higher education is never an easy or simple process. Being thrust into independent adult learning is a dizzying shift for Sydney’s…
Engagement doesn’t have to be visible
byWhen we picture an engaged student, we tend to envisage the similar things: a hand raised, a question answered, a contribution offered without hesitation….
Assessments for learning, equity, and agency in a first-year unit
byAssessment redesign is rarely driven by a single factor. In a first-year, first-semester Occupational Therapy unit at the University of Sydney, several pressures and…
Five ways to help first year students become better learners
byThe University of Sydney’s 2026 Transition Symposium* asked a deceptively simple question: Do we actually teach students how to learn? Keynote speaker Professor Sally…
The many firsts of the first-year experience
byIn the first week of semester, a student stopped me on campus. My staff lanyard must have been a beacon to this nervous student…
Active Learning Anywhere
byPractical techniques for effective engagement in flatÔÇæfloor, tiered, online, and hybrid classes The start of the academic year is always an exciting time for…
Supporting first-year transition to university at Sydney
byA student’s first year at university is the springboard to their learning journey. Making a successful transition to university is crucial to helping students…
Mapping students’ assumed mathematical knowledge with the Learning Hub’s Mathematics Academic Planner
byIn 2025, the University of Sydney removed HSC Mathematics Advanced as a compulsory prerequisite for several degrees, including Commerce, Economics, Science, Medicine, and Psychology….