Reflection: An Approach to Teaching and Learning

Reflection is an approach that encourages deep thinking by an individual about their existing knowledge and capabilities, how it has been supported or challenged by new learning and experience, and the identification of strengths to promote and weaknesses/limitations to address. While most people have an instinctive reflective process that we use to learn from our actions, a…

Case Study: Enhancing Employability Skills through Electronic Portfolios

This case study outlines the way in which a tutor has used PebblePad and Blackboard to support students in developing their employability skills and reflective capability. When applying for graduate employment, nursing students are required to write personal statements outlining the skills and experience that makes them suitable for the position. The quality of these statements…

Debate: An Approach to Teaching and Learning

Debate refers to a discussion in which two or more people advocate opposing positions on a topic or question in an attempt to make an audience (or the other advocates) accept their position. Most people are familiar with participating in informal debates, such as trying to persuade friends why a particular film, song, book, artist, etc. is better than another; however, as…

Simulation: An Approach to Teaching and Learning

Simulation refers to the imitation of real-world activities and processes in a safe environment. Simulations aim to provide an experience as close to the ‘real thing’ as possible; however, a simulated activity has the advantage of allowing learners to ‘reset’ the scenario and try alternative strategies and approaches. This allows learners to develop experience of specific situations by applying their wider learning…

CPD Event: Bring Your Own Devices for Learning (BYOD4L)

On the week of 14 – 18 July, SHU is running this open online blended course about using smart phones and tablet PCs to enhance and transform teaching and learning. The course is running concurrently at other universities over the 5 day period and uses social media, video scenarios, and face-to-face peer-enhanced activities . BYOD4L focuses on: Connecting Communicating Curating Collaborating…

Online Training with Lynda.com

Lynda.com, recently made available to all staff and students at SHU, is a site containing high-quality video training on common and specialist software packages. There are videos on a wide range of software, from general tools, such as Microsoft Word and Google Drive, to specialist tools, such as Final Cut Pro and SPSS. In addition…

Supported time sessions for preparing 2014/15 Blackboard sites

Over the summer months, staff will be preparing their 2014/15 Blackboard sites so they are ready to use with students. Supported time sessions will be available from June through to September where you can prepare your site with a member of the central and/or faculty Technology Enhanced Learning teams on hand to explain the process and…

Places are still available for ’roundtable’ discussions on different technologies and different teaching approaches

There are still places available on the current series of ‘roundtable’ events. The events provide an opportunity for informal discussion about enhancing teaching through the use of technology. Discussions are scheduled that focus on the application of specific technologies (such as Blackboard Collaborate, electronic voting systems, and Google apps), and there are those that concentrate…

Roundtable discussions on different technologies and different teaching approaches – places still available

There are still places available on the current series of ‘roundtable’ events (scheduled through to April 2014), with extra dates added. These events provide an opportunity for informal discussion about enhancing teaching through the use of technology. There are discussions that focus on the application of specific technologies (such as Blackboard Collaborate, open badges, electronic…