Five ways universities can protect faculty from online harassmentWith more online engagement and interaction have come increased threats and attacks against faculty, staff and students. Here are measures institutions can take to raise awareness and provide supportAlexis MartinezGeorgia Tech’s Center for 21st Century Universities
New students leaving care need extra support to beat the odds (again)Corin Barton says universities must recognise the various impacts a lack of family support can have on care-experienced students and offers simple steps to promote success Corin BartonThe University of Law
Teaching how to use numbers as a tool for justiceStatistics are not neutral, writes Wendy Castillo. Here, she explains how to use QuantCrit to show students the effect that historic racism and bias have on data collection and analysisWendy CastilloPrinceton University
The power and the peril of virtual reality in higher educationFrom investing in training to identifying educational objectives, Mark Milliron offers advice on fully realising VR’s promise for universitiesMark MillironNational University
How to select and monitor climate adaptations for universitiesIn the fourth and final part of their series, Rob Wilby and Shona Smith explain how universities can implement adaptation measures and monitor their progress towards resilient net zeroRobert Wilby, Shona SmithLoughborough University, University of Leeds
How to teach creative writing even if you’ve never done any yourselfA successful writing workshop depends on respect, which is a two-way street, observes Toby Litt. Refrain from sneering at bad writing and offer praise to offset the critiquesToby LIttUniversity of Southampton
Learning by doing: practical tips from a decade of making MoocsLessons gained during a decade of developing and refining massive open online courses from two online learning experts Stuart Nicol , Fiona BucklandThe University of Edinburgh
How to design and build microcredentials in four stepsA team from Tecnológico de Monterrey explains how to plan, design, deliver and measure microcredentials at your universityVerónica Alejandra Pérez Aguirre , Laura Patricia Aldape , Karla Margarita Banda MartínezTecnológico de Monterrey
An academic’s advice for navigating riskFrom publication to grant applications, the rites of academia come with unfavourable odds. Yet researchers are rarely taught how to deal with uncertainty. Here, Yaniv Hanoch offers mitigation strategiesYaniv HanochUniversity of Southampton
A checklist for advancing equity, diversity and inclusion in medical sciences and education, part oneThree questions that lecturers in medical sciences should ask when revising their curricula to promote diverse representation and health equityMusarrat Maisha Reza, Mia-Rose GillisonThe University of Exeter
How humour stimulates critical thinking, creativity and communication skills After assigning students to write comedy scripts instead of seminar papers, André Martinuzzi and Angelo Spoerk explain how humour has great potential as a learning methodAndré Martinuzzi, Angelo SpoerkVienna University of Economics and Business
Help your students to become assessment literate Practical suggestions to address a staff-student disconnect relating to the purpose and practice of assessment and to enhance assessment literacy on your courses Eleanor Aspey, Gillian UlphThe University of Manchester
Embracing generative AI as a co-design partner for designing and developing coursesGenerative AI is here to stay, so what opportunities are there for educational developers and learning designers to leverage it as a partner when designing courses?Richard McInnesAdelaide University
How mentor and mentee can help each otherMentorship is a symbiotic relationship. Here, two scientists look at steps in the meeting process and benefits from both sidesGreta Faccio, Maria KoumouriIndependent academic, University of Cyprus
Help students make the most of studying overseas at branch campuses and beyondChris Pirie offers advice on how to run a smooth international student exchange programmeChris PirieHeriot-Watt University
A reflexive writing workshop to enhance engagement with learningReflexive writing workshops can help boost students’ interest and motivation in relation to their studies. Aspasia Eleni Paltoglou explains how these can workAspasia Eleni Paltoglou Manchester Metropolitan University
Using co-creation to make young people equal research partnersBased on her experience developing a youth panel, Kathryn Woods-Townsend explains how her team collaborated with, employed and learned from the teenagers who are their lived-experience expertsKathryn Woods-TownsendUniversity of Southampton
Student ambassadors, key players in widening participationHow to design and run an effective student ambassador programme to support widening participation initiatives Ellie NikUniversity of Technology Sydney
The art of bringing humour into the classroomA laugh or smile can lighten a lecture and make students more willing to speak up in class. Here are tips for using this nuanced, subjective tool in your teachingCheong FanMacau University of Science and Technology
How to make your university more neurodiverse friendlyWith one in seven people in the UK being neurodiverse, a group of lecturers and students from Arden University lists ways in which universities can better cater to neurodiverse studentsFinola Farrant, Emma OwenArden University
Alumni as a benchmark of student successThree focal areas by which universities can track student success by looking at what graduates go on to do after completing their coursesAdeola A. Matthew The University of the West Indies
Tips for applying universal design for learning in healthcare practice placementsAilish Malone and Fiona Daly offer tips on implementing UDL in the busy and variable environment of students’ practical placements Ailish Malone, Fiona DalyRCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences
Universities, AI and the common good Higher education must find paths for meaningful engagement with artificial intelligence, to leverage its potential, explain the problems and mitigate the hazards, writes Rajani Naidoo Rajani NaidooUniversity of Bath
Seven questions about storytelling in the classroom Ng Lee Keng explains why and how telling stories in class can transform student engagement and make your lessons more interestingNg Lee KengSingapore Institute of Technology
How can universities disrupt the gender investment gap?Engaging with stakeholders beyond higher education and debunking myths around women and innovation can open spin-out opportunities to more women, writes Simonetta ManfrediSimonetta Manfredi Oxford Brookes University
Inclusivity versus devotion to the cult of STEM Is an underlying global STEM culture of devotion getting in the way of a more inclusive academy, asks Andrew PyeAndrew PyeThe University of Exeter
Six lessons from facilitating a formalised mentoring programmeAn institutional formalised mentoring scheme can offer invaluable career guidance for early- and mid-career academics. Here, based on 15 years of managing a programme for academic staff, Karen Mather offers her key takeawaysKaren MatherUniversity of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha
The benefits of having a web presence as an early career researcherIf you can be easily found online, you’re more likely to raise your research profile, receive media requests, get involved in peer review – or even just get nice emails from the public, writes Ashleigh JohnstoneAshleigh JohnstoneArden University
Bring your learners to life through personasUnderstanding your learners and their needs enables you to develop more engaging courses, and personas are a great tool to help you achieve this, as Andrés Ordorica explainsAndrés Ordorica The University of Edinburgh
Engaging students with careers resources early and oftenHere’s how career centres can reach out to students before they’ve even set foot on campus, and why it matters for their future job search and developmentAmaka Nwoko, Widalys Santiago, Davia Woulard Georgia Tech’s Center for 21st Century Universities
Brainstorming can breathe new life into your classesIn education, brainstorming has been regarded mostly as a classroom engagement tool, but it can be so much more than that, says Mattia MianiMattia MianiThe University of Nottingham Ningbo China
Life after publication: promote your work for maximum impactSeeing your work in print is by no means the end of the story. Chris Tancock offers advice on how you can make your published work stand out and benefit from the broadest visibilityChristopher Tancock Elsevier
Why micro-mentoring works for Generation ZBreaking the support experience into bite-size exchanges does more to increase younger students’ appetite to keep going than the traditional one-to-one mentoring modelRaphaella PrangeMaryville University
Move student communication from passive to active using ‘I like, I wish, I wonder’ Rebeca Elizabeth Alvarado Ramírez introduces a methodology that encourages effective communication in digital learning processesRebeca Elizabeth Alvarado Ramírez Tecnológico de Monterrey
Circular impact: a call to action for research on grand societal challengesHow to enact a ‘circular’ approach to research and impact so outcomes feed back into the work to inform ongoing planning and improvementRyan Nolan The University of Exeter, Universities Policy Engagement Network (UPEN)
Pathways to prosperity in casual academiaThe journey from adjunct to permanent requires adaptability, foresight and self-awareness. Here, Andrew Stapleton offers tips – such as diversifying skills, strategic branding and mobility – to enhance an academic career Andrew StapletonIndependent academic
How can generative AI intersect with Bloom’s taxonomy? Like in a video game, AI allows us to jump multiple levels, but that doesn’t mean the much-used framework becomes obsolete – we might just need a new approachChristine Rivers, Anna HollandUniversity of Surrey
Using active learning to increase student engagement and understandingCreating an active learning environment in a large group setting is challenging. Ingrid Sierp shares ways to increase engagement, encourage attendance and gauge understanding in real timeIngrid SierpAdelaide University
Free your content! A guide to creating sustainable open licensed mediaA guide to creating teaching and learning materials as open educational resources that can be shared and reused by allLorna CampbellThe University of Edinburgh
Perfect doesn’t exist and other lessons from developing a whole-university well-being strategyChallenges to staff and student well-being are part of university life, regardless of how much support is in place. But iterative strategies can improve the entire community’s experience, write Ben Goose and Cassie WilsonBen Goose, Cassie WilsonUniversity of Bath
How to support more international student applications UK universities can increase their appeal for international students with better transparency and support through the application and enrolment process, Christina Matthews explainsChristina Matthews Aston University
Teaching from the heart in 13 steps Engaging your students through empathy requires teachers to share their own stories and vulnerabilities and foster a safe space for learning. Here, Beiting He offers 13 ways to create a caring classroomBeiting HeMacau University of Science and Technology
Using film to prompt discussion in legal studiesMovies and television programmes can challenge students’ perceptions and enrich their understanding of the law. But designing an effective module requires more than a must-watch list, writes Michael RandallMichael Randall University of Strathclyde
How ‘service learning’ can improve outcomes for students, educators and local communities A guide to using service learning, in which students oversee projects in the community, to enhance theoretical classroom teachingTachagorn Chansema Siam University
Collaborating with artificial intelligence? Use your metacognitive skills Metacognition in humans holds the key to ‘collaborative intelligence’ – making the most effective use of the complementary strengths of human and artificial intelligenceClaire Mason, Sidra, Andrew Reeson, Cécile Paris Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
A look back over 10 years of MoocsLessons learned over a decade of developing and delivering massive open online courses (Moocs)Melissa HightonThe University of Edinburgh
Show students that the flipped classroom is much more than self-directed learningTan Bhing Leet provides three suggestions to help educators maximise the benefits of flipped classroomsTan Bhing Leet Singapore Institute of Technology
It’s time to change the narrative on affirmative actionPublic institutions are doing the heavy lifting of levelling the playing field, writes Jonathan Koppell, so let’s amplify access-oriented institutions as instruments of social mobility and equityJonathan KoppellMontclair State University
Four strategies that rethink whole-group discussionsA guide to organising class discussions in different formats so that all students feel able to participate, based on insight from Harvard educatorsJeremy T. Murphy , Meira LevinsonCollege of the Holy Cross, Harvard University
Online teachers need professional development, tooTeacher presence significantly influences students’ engagement, satisfaction and learning. So educators need professional development focused on adjusting their classroom teaching skills to online learning environmentsJay Cohen, Andrew VincentLa Trobe University, Australian Catholic University