Flipped Classroom: An Approach to Teaching and Learning

‘Flipped Classroom‘ is a term that refers to the restructuring of teaching in order to maximise the benefit of contact time between students and tutors. In a ‘flipped classroom’ the’ homework’ and ‘lecture’ elements of a traditional teaching approach are reversed, with the students engaging with the required information as pre-work so that the contact time can focus on…

OU’s Innovating Pedagogy 2015 report published

The 2015 edition of the Open University’s annual Innovating Pedagogy report has recently been published. Once again, the report offers overviews of a variety of new and emerging teaching approaches and pedagogies, along with information on technologies that are being use to support them. As usual, the report includes 10 pedagogies, their potential impact, and…

Man listening to a can on a string phone

Webinar on SHU’s Teaching Approaches menu – resources

Brian and I were recently invited by Blackboard to host a webinar on the Teaching Approaches menu that was created here at SHU. The session took place today and a recording is available online. During the session, we stated that we are happy to share the resources for other institutions to use and adapt to…

Innovating Pedagogy 2014 report released

The 2014 edition of the Open University’s annual Innovating Pedagogy report was recently released. In a slight, but very welcome, departure from previous editions, the 2014 report focuses more on the underlying pedagogies rather than the technologies that could be used to achieve them. This makes a lot of sense (and echoes our own Teaching Approaches…

Case Study: Encouraging ‘Rehearsal for Life’ through cross-disciplinary role-play

This case study outlines a cross-disciplinary collaboration to support authentic learning for Law students by using Performance students to play the role of the client in a practice simulation. Simulated practice is a major element of the Law degree at Sheffield Hallam University, but is typically only practical in the final stages of the programme. It was felt that…

Problem-based Learning: An Approach to Teaching and Learning

Problem-based Learning (PBL) involves students being challenged to solve genuine problems from their discipline. In addition to developing general skills such as critical thinking and abstract reasoning, PBL is an ideal way for students to apply their theoretical knowledge in an authentic way. PBL is often used as a way for students to develop experience…

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…

Work-based Learning: An Approach to Teaching and Learning

Work-Based Learning (WBL) refers to students applying their existing knowledge and skills in a real workplace, while at the same time gaining new knowledge and skills. In many disciplines, particularly those with a clear vocational focus, WBL takes the form of placements, where students work in an organisation for a defined period of time while undertaking tasks related to…

Self-directed Learning: An Approach to Teaching and Learning

Self-directed Learning (SDL) is an approach where students select and investigate topics of their own choosing, often using methods, information sources and/or tools that they have also selected for themselves. The intention behind the approach is that students will be more engaged and motivated when they are able to focus on those topics where they have a personal…