Maintaining engagement in a large online unit with a diverse cohort
In 2021 we launched a new 6cp Open Learning Environment unit: OLES1602 The Apocalypse in Science and Culture. The unit was designed to be…
supporting students
Getting back into the physical classroom 2022 – tips for teachers
This semester, most of us will be heading back into the physical classroom. It’s an exciting time, but may be a bit unfamiliar for…
A snapshot of student diversity at Sydney
Our students come from a variety of countries, backgrounds, and life experiences. The University of Sydney is committed through its visions and values to…
A shared sense of place – empowering culturally responsive teaching
What is culturally responsive teaching? To be a culturally responsive teacher is to be “able to understand and consider the different cultural backgrounds of the people (we) teach“. The University of Sydney is an…
An early support system in response to the Job-ready Graduates Package
In semester 2, 2021 we piloted an approach to find and support students who may have been struggling across multiple units of study in…
Assessment in first year – what the evidence tells us
Transition to university in 2022 Throughout 2020 and much of 2021, students will have had variable school experiences, with fewer opportunities to learn study skills,…
Encouraging collaborative learning
What is collaborative learning? Recently, a fantastic new resource for staff has been launched on the hows and whys of using collaborative learning with…
Embedding Universal Design for Learning in an online course and creation of a faculty resource
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a set of principles for curriculum development that give all individuals equal opportunities to learn. UDL was developed…
Referencing in first year – what’s the point?
Being able to reference correctly is often taken to be a fundamental academic competency and core to the values of academic scholarship. In assessments…
Working it out for themselves: the effect of active learning on student outcomes
There are many definitions of what active learning is. One of the simplest comes from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) in North…