Professional insight from the University of Queensland

The University of Queensland (UQ) is one of Australia’s leading research and teaching institutions and is Australia’s most awarded university for teaching excellence. UQ’s skilled and motivated teachers are integral to providing positive teaching, learning and employability outcomes for more than 55,000 students.

Students at the University of Queensland

Students doing group work

Rethinking course design to enliven student engagement

To foster students’ meaningful learning, educators should be using class time to maximise the benefits of the in-person experience, as Nasreen Sultana explains

Nasreen Sultana

The University of Queensland

Young female Asian student doing an online course

Identifying and addressing accessibility issues in courses that use LaTeX

Learn how to use digital tools to solve accessibility issues with online learning materials at the source. Iliria Stenning and Paul Vrbik discuss a pilot programme to improve accessibility using tools such as Blackboard Ally

Iliria Stenning, Paul Vrbik

The University of Queensland

Asian man working at laptop

Six assessment types that support deep, real-world learning

If traditional assessment methods feel limited, Temesgen Kifle shares alternative ways to measure students’ understanding and ability to apply learning to authentic problems

Temesgen Kifle

The University of Queensland

Toy robots in a fight

The best way to teach students to think critically about AI? Make them argue with it

Educators might treat AI as an integrity problem, but employers don’t. They need graduates who can decide when to trust the machine – and when not to. And that’s why you should design assessment that forces students to argue against AI

Reihaneh Bidar

The University of Queensland

A bush turkey outside a building

What bush turkeys can teach us about adaptability at work

When ‘wildlife relocation’ became an unexpected part of her role, Liisa Partanen found the experience came with insight into workplace resilience and problem-solving

Liisa Partanen

The University of Queensland

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Campus webinar: Co-creation and tapping into the student voice

Hear experts from four Australian universities discuss how educators, course designers, professional development teams and institutions can embed the skills for effective co-creation in the classroom

Kathleen Mahon, Joseph Wenta, Lorelle Burton, Iven Mareels

The University of Queensland , The University of Newcastle, Australia, The University of Southern Queensland , Federation University Australia

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Campus Talks: How to turn vulnerability into a teaching superpower

Authenticity and connection are key to supporting students in the classroom. This means it is important for educators to develop the skills to show up as their whole selves but also understand how to protect their boundaries

Marissa Edwards, Eliza Compton

The University of Queensland

University teacher helping two multiracial students

Making student experience a core part of academic work

A student and an academic outline how universities must make student experience an explicit part of academic roles, from workloads to resourcing and recognition

Roma Forbes, Benjamin Ong

The University of Queensland

Tick box to acknowledge AI use

Four common arguments for acknowledging AI use (and why they are wrong)

Educators may want AI to be used well or to go away entirely, write Chloe Salisbury and Luke Zaphir. Here, they take on a central piece of AI lore and offer ways forward

Chloe Salisbury, Luke Zaphir

The University of Queensland

Woman asleep on a snail

What happened to creativity in the classroom?

When generative AI leads 150 students to submit the same ‘creative’ work, something is afoot in arts and humanities education. Here, Leah Henrickson and Luke Zaphir turn insights from cognitive science into ways to use AI to boost students’ creativity

Leah Henrickson, Luke Zaphir

The University of Queensland

Guest speaker addressing college class

Be my guest speaker

Incorporating guest speaker presentations as part of work-integrated learning helps university educators as well as students, writes Temesgen Kifle. It can enhance teaching practice, build stronger connections with industry, and keep courses up to date with evolving workforce needs

Temesgen Kifle

The University of Queensland

Balloons, meritocracy concept illustration

EDI is meritocracy – why is that hard to understand?

Equity, diversity and inclusion is misunderstood when it is seen as valuing identity instead of skill within the systems that determine academic career progression. But it is in the sector’s interest to recognise and support talent, no matter what it looks like, writes Brooke Szücs

Brooke Szücs

The University of Queensland

Multiracial group of young people

Creating a visual story to demystify the university experience

Visual stories can help make universities’ complex array of services and experiences more accessible and less mysterious to staff, students and community members

Brooke Szücs, Ben Roden-Cohen

The University of Queensland

Nurse entering information into computer

Supporting pathways for nurses into clinical research

Organisational support for clinician researchers is an effective way to ensure that healthcare research is translated into clinical practice. Here’s how a partnership between an Australian university and a local health service aims to amplify impact

Natasha Roberts

The University of Queensland

Should we kill the essay?

Should we kill the essay?

Long-form writing seems to have become a battleground for the showdown between AI and academic integrity. With technology exposing the essay’s flaws, Luke Zaphir offers ways to reinforce this storied assessment task

Luke Zaphir

The University of Queensland

Hands pointing to pie chart

Authentic assessment in postgraduate statistics courses

Using anonymous student data for assessment tasks enhances engagement with learning, fosters practical skill development and makes business and economics concepts more memorable

Temesgen Kifle

The University of Queensland

Student writing in library

Enhancing the thesis experience: insights from master’s students

Early preparation is essential for students’ successful thesis journey – so postgraduate course coordinators and programme leaders should put supports in place from the beginning

Shino Takayama, Ransi Jayawardena

The University of Queensland

Female mature age student at graduation

Imagine an age-inclusive university sector

Age inclusion should be part of universities’ mission, as well as their day-to-day operations. To not support staff and students at all stages of their academic life is an opportunity missed

Paul Harpur, Brooke Szücs, Nancy A. Pachana

The University of Queensland

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Campus Talks: What constitutes good teaching in higher education?

Two academics with experience in delivering and researching teaching in varied educational contexts discuss the complexities of effective instruction

Leon Tikly, Jason M. Lodge

The University of Bristol, The University of Queensland

human intelligence v AI on scales illustration

Assessments that maintain fairness and authenticity without AI

In-person, reflective and analytical tasks require students to apply their learning in real-world ways that AI can’t easily replicate. Here are eight ways to tailor AI-resistant assessment

Temesgen Kifle

The University of Queensland

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Campus webinar: The evolution and innovation of interdisciplinarity

Join three experts from Campus+ partner institutions in Australia as they discuss interdisciplinarity, how to implement it in teaching and research and why it’s important for the future

Kyle Jenkins, Louise Kuchel, Rohan Walker

The University of Queensland , The University of Southern Queensland , The University of Newcastle, Australia

Student demonstrating CAD technology

Connecting adult learning principles, assessment and academic integrity

Adult learning principles and authentic assessment can offer ways for educators to not only prevent academic misconduct but also give students a chance to demonstrate skills that employers want to see in graduates

Carl Sherwood, John Raiti

The University of Queensland

line of students showing LGBTQ+ allyship

What you can do today for a meaningful Pride Month

Fear of being tokenistic, or feeling they don’t know enough to start, can stop many people from engaging with queer inclusion. Here, Brooke Szücs offers first steps towards allyship

Brooke Szücs

The University of Queensland

Two male Asian students working together

An assessment design that promotes learning and academic integrity

Identity-verified assessment can be used alongside online tasks to check students’ understanding and foster collaborative learning, writes Carl Sherwood

Carl Sherwood

The University of Queensland

Arrows diverting into two streams

The trouble with Bloom’s taxonomy in an age of AI

When using large language models to create learning tasks, educators should be careful with their prompts if the LLM relies on Bloom’s taxonomy as a supporting dataset. Luke Zaphir and Dale Hansen break down the issues

Luke Zaphir , Dale Hansen

The University of Queensland

students playing a board game

Creating an impactful social group for neurodivergent students

Meet-ups can support neurodivergent students (mostly those with autism and ADHD) to navigate the social complexities of student life and the workplace. Here, Brooke Szücs and Ben Roden-Cohen share tips for creating inclusive neurodivergent settings, based on their experience

Ben Roden-Cohen, Brooke Szücs

The University of Queensland

job interview candidate in wheelchair

Get real about hiring people with disabilities

For too long ‘lived experience’ has been an inadequate requirement for jobs that make decisions for people with disabilities, and recruitment practices need to change, write Paul Harpur and Brooke Szücs

Paul Harpur, Brooke Szücs

The University of Queensland

Plant growing from seedling to flower

How academics can ‘stay put’ without ‘staying still’

Moving universities for career advancement is a common practice in academia. But what happens if you want to remain in the same institution? Here, Doune Macdonald shares how to keep progressing into new roles and responsibilities

Doune Macdonald

The University of Queensland

Man teaching a university class

All’s fair in large-class grading

When courses have so many students that multiple tutors are required for marking, consistency with assessment grading is a key concern. Here, Temesgen Kifle offers ways to support tutors to give fair grades and feedback

Temesgen Kifle

The University of Queensland

Students raising hands in class

‘Well…what do you think?’ Responding to challenging questions in the moment

While daunting, tough questions from learners can be a catalyst for collaborative learning and critical thinking. Roma Forbes offers practical advice for how to respond in the classroom or the corridor

Roma Forbes

The University of Queensland

Engineers working on a drone

The three Cs of the 21st-century workplace: cognition, character and career

Changing skill demands require a lifelong approach to education that prioritises self-efficacy, critical thinking and a growth mindset. Here is how these elements can fit together in learning and career preparation

Vijayakumari Seevaratnam, Russell Manfield

The University of Queensland

man ticking virtual list on laptop

What makes an effective microcredential programme?

Short, flexible and skills-focused, microcredentials must balance the needs of students and industry. Here are tips on how to develop courses that achieve this

Temesgen Kifle

The University of Queensland

AI and academic integrity webinar

Campus webinar: Artificial intelligence and academic integrity

Academics from Campus+ partner institutions discuss the impact that generative AI such as ChatGPT is having, and will have, on academic integrity

Jenny Davis, Christine Slade, Benjamin Liu , Daniel Zhengkui Wang

Australian National University, The University of Queensland , The University of Auckland, Singapore Institute of Technology

Students drinking coffee

From cohort to community: how to support student-led initiatives

Building a strong cohort starts with supporting students directly. Here, we, as student and staff co-authors in the humanities, share insights on how to encourage solutions designed for students by students

Ranita Thompson, Joanne Walmsley, Ben Graham

The University of Queensland

blurred hands at a keyboard

Assessment tasks that minimise students’ motivation to cheat

Academic dishonesty occurs for reasons that include students’ fear of missing deadlines, being overwhelmed and lack of language skills. Here are ways to reframe assessment

Temesgen Kifle

The University of Queensland

Diverse group of people around a table

Making an inclusive ‘unconference’

Many people in minority communities within our universities do not have enough opportunities to be platformed or validated, or to share their lived expertise within our institutions. An ‘unconference’ could cultivate these voices for positive impact

Brooke Szücs, Joanne Walmsley

The University of Queensland

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Campus Talks: How to use generative AI in your teaching and research

Higher education is only beginning to understand the impact that generative AI tools such as ChatGPT will have on teaching and research. Three intrepid explorers join us in this episode to share what useful functions they’ve discovered for the technology

Jennifer Rose, David Nicol, Brooke Szücs

The University of Manchester, University of Glasgow, The University of Queensland

Three The Thinker statues around a laptop

Is critical thinking the answer to generative AI?

Designing assessment that tests critical thinking has value and practicality, so the challenge is figuring out questions that flummox the AI without creating wildly difficult problems for students, write Luke Zaphir and Jason M. Lodge

Luke Zaphir , Jason M. Lodge

The University of Queensland

Australian Aboriginal flag

Decolonisation to Indigenisation: how can institutions centre Indigenous knowledge?

Beyond the concept of decolonisation is the process of Indigenisation. Here, Raelee Lancaster provides four reflective questions that institutions can ask themselves when considering how to respect and elevate Indigenous knowledge

Raelee Lancaster

The University of Queensland

Young female health professional supervises older woman doing weights exercises

Real-world education: embracing project-based learning

Project-based learning benefits both healthcare students and host organisations during clinical placements. Roma Forbes and Michael Donovan outline the practicalities of supporting authentic workforce experience

Roma Forbes, Michael Donovan

The University of Queensland

Illustration of robot framed by screen acting as editor to writer at laptop

Not replacing but enhancing: using ChatGPT for academic writing

Generative AI and how it can be used for plagiarism has provoked fear in higher education. However, the technology can also improve and accelerate your writing process if it is applied in a constructive, positive manner

Brooke Szücs

The University of Queensland

university students working in a group

Successful group work is all in the selection process

For students, group work can boost learning, critical thinking and problem-solving skills, but the benefits of collaboration may depend on how teachers put individuals together

Temesgen Kifle, Suzanne Bonner

The University of Queensland

Illustration of man doing online course

Tips for adopting the right technology for blended learning

Start simple, practise and consider what IT support is available when choosing online tools for blended courses, advise Carl Sherwood and John Raiti, among other aspects to consider

John Raiti, Carl Sherwood

The University of Queensland

Young Asian woman in red top happy in front of laptop

Using gamification as an incentive for revision

Novelty, competition and engagement give gamification an edge when it comes to getting students to revise. Here, Teegan Green, Iliria Stenning and Rasheda Keane explain how they use The Chase from H5P in a hybrid course

Teegan Green, Iliria Stenning, Rasheda Keane

The University of Queensland

Illustration of young woman doing an online course

Three features that will make your Mooc stand out

Learning designers and educators should focus on creating value for learners that goes beyond Mooc content. In this article, Temesgen Kifle and Ben Cossalter share innovative features that drive belonging and engagement

Temesgen Kifle, Ben Cossalter

The University of Queensland

Young woman looks to horizon with binoculars

Towards 2035: a future view of university education

What will higher education be like by 2035? Four early-career academics at Australian universities, from different discipline areas, offer a vision of how universities might evolve and adapt to future technologies and workplace demands

Isaac Akefe, Lauren Carpenter, Graham Lee, Jessica Leonard

The University of Queensland , Queensland University of Technology

Man climbs scaffolding

Managing cognitive load for EAL – and all – students

Extraneous cognitive load weighs especially heavily on students who have English as an additional language. Kate Power shares four ways in which you can support them while benefiting all students

Kate Power

The University of Queensland

Students working together

It takes a village: using a trading game to teach economics

Large-group interactive classroom games can bring learning alive. Here, Suzanne Bonner, K. K. Tang and Terence Yeo share how a scalable trading game uses social interactions to enhance learning

Suzanne Bonner, K. K. Tang, Terence Yeo

The University of Queensland

laptop with images representing e-learning, blended learning

Tips for teachers who are new to blended learning

Blended learning is not going away, so where do educators start when they want to create a blended course? In this video, Carl Sherwood shares tips for best practice

Carl Sherwood, John Raiti

The University of Queensland

illustration of laptop with speech bubbles oral examinations

Can online oral exams prevent cheating?

Online checking tools often flag non-suspicious behaviour along with suspected academic misconduct. Here, educators share lessons learned from using an online oral exam to check students’ understanding

Temesgen Kifle, Anthony Jacobs

The University of Queensland