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…
student engagement
Designing assessment as a learning journey in language studies
byIn 2018, I found myself reflecting on a question that many language teachers have probably asked at some point: How do we create opportunities…
Goodbye slide decks? Rethinking group presentations through a classroom mini-conference
byIn many group presentations, only one part of the room is really active: the group at the front. The rest of the class is…
Using an AI practice bank to support formative assessment in economics
byIn a large first-year economics unit, students kept asking for the same thing: more exam-style practice. Generative AI gave us a way to provide…
How weekly group randomisation transformed student collaboration and belonging
byGroup work is a fundamental aspect of active learning, providing students with opportunities to collaborate, problem-solve, and develop essential teamwork skills. It enables students…
How Padlet supports relational feedback
byMid-semester is a tricky time. Students are deep in the rhythm of the unit, assessments are looming, and any feedback we gather needs to…
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….
Using storytelling and decision-making to create active learning experiences
byEveryone loves a good story and using storytelling in teaching is a powerful tool. With their relatable characters and vivid details, stories can engage…
Delivering personalised feedback at scale using peer videos
byIn a cohort of large numbers of students, feedback can easily become impersonal. But what if the most powerful feedback didn’t come from us,…
Taking the plunge together: A student’s journey in co-designing with staff
byIn Semester 1 2025 I joined a project in my home area of study, the University of Sydney Business School, to help educators navigate…