University course design and delivery

How to design in-person, hybrid and online courses that maximise student engagement, inclusion and learning. Here, you can find advice on instructional design including lesson planning, creation and organisation of educational materials and effective use of digital technologies; as well as teaching methods and styles to help you achieve specific learning outcomes.

Are we overlooking the power of autonomy when it comes to motivating students?

Educators fear giving students too much choice in their learning will see them making the wrong decisions. But structuring choice without dictating the answers could be the way forward

Danny Oppenheimer

Carnegie Mellon University

Two people gently hold a tiny sprouting plant

How to collaborate on eco education – and how not to

When embedding sustainability education into the curriculum, barriers to interdisciplinary collaboration can limit progress. So, what needs to change?

Aideen Foley, Dale Mineshima-Lowe

Birkbeck, University of London, Parami University

Students discussing a group project in class

How I teach students to assess each other’s work

Peer marking helps students build valuable skills and reflect on their own work. Here’s how to make the process smooth and effective

Anirudha Poria

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

How a collaborative portfolio review can help faculties streamline their teaching offering

How one school fostered cross-team collaboration to conduct a portfolio review and the lessons those involved learned along the way

Multiple authors

Cranfield University

How to overcome ‘forum fatigue’ with activities that students enjoy

While online forums have been shown to boost learning and retention, if ‘forum fatigue’ sets in, students disengage. Here, Emilie Rutledge proposes a way to design activities that are most likely to elicit student participation

Emilie Rutledge

The Open University

Generation Z students against yellow background

Reimagining connection and communication for Gen Z students

Generation Z students relate, communicate and build belonging in ways shaped by digital fluency, disrupted in-person learning and evolving social norms. This gives educators an opportunity to rethink how they teach

Gary F. Fisher, Dean Fido

University of Derby

Less is more when it comes to AI in teaching

As more educators adopt AI, the risk of becoming overwhelmed by the tools increases. Here are four practical strategies to prevent this

Bin Feng, Garth Elzerman

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

An illustration of a heart passing from one hand to another

Four ways to balance service and learning

Community-engaged pedagogies such as service learning are widely practised in universities, but how to achieve a lasting impact on both students and communities? Here are four strategies to do so

Grace Ngai, Rina Camus

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

How combining VR with cultural identity can make interdisciplinary learning more impactful

A project that involved students designing human settlements on the Moon shows how combining cultural identity with VR technology can unite learners across disciplines and campuses to imagine and shape the future

Rubén Vázquez, Antonio Juárez

Tecnológico de Monterrey

An illustration of hands putting together a jigsaw puzzle

A step-by-step guide to developing a high-impact online course

Want to design an online course that your students engage with, that supports diverse learning styles and is seamless to navigate for both educator and student? Here’s how to structure the process

Michael Okrent , Susan Weese

Colorado State University Global

Traditional ecological knowledge can inspire students to take climate action

Combining ancient wisdom with modern knowledge does not just broaden perspectives, it can also prompt climate action. Discover more benefits, and read advice on how to integrate traditional ecological knowledge into curricula

Daniel Yonto, Bin Feng

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

A student filling in a questionnaire at their laptop

Use weekly class surveys to support learning

How regular student surveys help you understand their needs, adapt your teaching content and encourage active classroom discussions

Adrian Man-Ho Lam

The University of Hong Kong

The importance of educational cultural awareness in the multicultural classroom

What happens when you mix contrasting worldviews and pedagogies in one university classroom? Find out how to balance students’ biases – and your own – to prepare them for a globalised world

Marie N. Bernal

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Female college professor helping male student

Only a human will do: when to eschew AI in teaching and research

Artificial intelligence tools have streamlined processes and accelerated innovations – efficiencies not lost on higher education. But at times, we need to prioritise human judgement and involvement, as Qin Zhu explains

Qin Zhu

Virginia Tech

A lecturer at the front of class presenting to students

Student insight can shape the way we use GenAI in teaching

Students tend to be more comfortable with teachers using GenAI to support, rather than fully generate, learning materials. The key is to use it effectively and communicate your approach transparently

Svetoslav G. Georgiev, Joseph Tinsley

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

How to build competency-based assessment into a clinical supervision course

Changes in Singapore’s healthcare sector meant health professionals needed extra skills for the workplace. Here’s how a clinical supervision certificate helped them learn on the job

Heidi Tan, Celestine Seet

Singapore Institute of Technology

A tutor talks to apprenticeships in a carpentry workshop

Graduate apprenticeships need link tutors – but who’s looking after them?

Academic link tutors are a crucial cog in the mechanism of graduate apprenticeships, yet they perform this role with little support. Here’s how to invest in them instead

Elaine Jackson, Gary Gillon

University of the West of Scotland

If AI were a DJ…

This class exercise uses metaphor to help non-technical students gain a clearer understanding of what artificial intelligence is – and what this complex, opaque technology isn’t

Pablo Sanguinetti

IE University

A hand places a wooden block atop three others

Are module leaders missing out on professional development?

Let’s support module leaders with effective and engaging training opportunities. Here are five ways to do it

Gustavo Espinoza Ramos , Louis Spring

University of Westminster

Thinking like a physicist can prepare students for life’s challenges

Technology and peer learning can be used to optimise classroom time and enhance problem-solving skills. Here, Teck Seng Koh uses a sample lesson to illustrate how to develop students’ analysis capacity

Teck Seng Koh

Nanyang Technological University

How to enhance the accuracy of GenAI models

Generative AI seems to offer ways to provide individualised feedback to large cohorts but can these models be relied on to give students accurate, relevant responses? Here are three approaches for educators to try

Nazim Ali, Sarah Aynsley, Linda Becker

Keele University, Bochum University of Applied Sciences

Spotlight guide: Get students workplace ready

Get your students workplace-ready

With the shape of the future job market harder to predict than ever before, here’s how to prepare your students with transferable skills and digital literacy, ready them for job applications and strengthen your university career services

Campus contributors

Campus

A student putting their hand up in class

Give everyone a chance to speak in class

Implementing turn-taking protocols and allowing students time to prepare are two strategies that ensure every student has an equal opportunity to participate in class discussions

Yishi Lin

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

A young woman works intently on a laptop

How industry certification can energise learning

With the IT sector changing too rapidly for traditional university teaching to keep up, why not try industry-aligned certifications? Find out how they can help students meet the demands of the workplace

Amine Abouaomar

Al Akhawayn University

Students engage in a lively classroom debate

Let’s make the university a safe space to discuss sensitive topics

Public debate is becoming ever more polarised, both on and offline. But higher education has an opportunity to lay out a blueprint for healthy dialogue, starting in our classrooms – here’s how to do it

Carolina Sanchez-Agostini, Juan Pablo Cannata

Universidad Austral

A laptop screen shows a cursor hovering above copy and paste options

Copy, paste, learn: lessons from code programmers for the AI-enhanced classroom

Copying and pasting can be a powerful learning tool, whether it involves mindless copying or mindful reuse. Here’s how to use it without compromising academic integrity

Xiangen Hu

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Campus talks: the tricky relationship between assessment and learning

Hear three US academic experts discuss what role assessment should play in higher education and how it can be improved

Susan D. Blum, Catherine Wehlburg, Josh Eyler

University of Notre Dame, Athens State University, University of Mississippi

Hands type on a laptop with "AI" on the screen

Let’s look at AI as a reasoning partner, not a shortcut

The latest reasoning AI models, such as DeepSeek, offer an opportunity for universities to strengthen critical thinking in the next generation of workers

Xiangen Hu

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

A group of people listen to a lanyard-wearing speaker

A comprehensive model for interdisciplinary teaching

Interdisciplinarity is crucial for preparing students for a complicated world. Adopting a dual focus on both faculty development and student engagement could be the way forward

Ana Corbacho

Universidad de la República

Young black student in headphones at laptop

Tips for successful asynchronous teaching: creating engaging content, part one

Despite its flexibility and ability to reach across distance and time zones, asynchronous teaching is still seen as subpar when compared with in-person or even synchronous online courses. However, done well, it offers surprising advantages, as Figen Mekik explains

Figen Mekik

Grand Valley State University

A happy group of students pose for a photo

Diversity isn’t a one-off task, it’s a learning journey

With diversity practices under threat, where can universities go from here? Ibiyemi Omeihe and Kingsley O. Omeihe outline the path to truly inclusive learning

Ibiyemi Omeihe , Kingsley Omeihe

University of the West of Scotland

Equip students with interdisciplinary skills for the future with the Inner Development Goals

To navigate today’s complex challenges, students need more than just knowledge – they need transformative skills. Here’s how to embed the Inner Development Goals into your teaching

Debby Gerritsen, Rosanne van Wieringen , Belle Jansen, Jasper ter Schegget, Linda de Greef, Katusha Sol

University of Amsterdam

A lecturer explains a concept to students using a whiteboard

Connect with your students inside and outside the classroom

Empathy is essential for creating a supportive learning environment. Here’s how to cultivate compassion in your teaching and address common challenges faced by students

Philip Y Lam

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

How we reassure accounting students that AI won’t take their jobs

Hearing first-hand from industry professionals about AI’s impact on workplaces can alleviate career anxiety. Here is how to organise firm visits and prompt post-activity reflection

Multiple authors

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University , Mila University

How to reimagine an existing subject

Immersive technology and student co-creation allowed educators to revamp a general education course. Here’s how they did it

Kai Pan Mark, Wai Chi Rodney Chu

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Kickstart your educational research journey

Educational research can help elevate your teaching to the next level. Here’s how to get started

Oran Devilly, Kenan Kok Xiao-Feng , Ching Yee Pua, Shermain Puah

Singapore Institute of Technology

A teacher giving a PowerPoint presentation

Say goodbye to boring presentations

GenAI can supercharge your PowerPoint presentations to offer students interactive opportunities that increase participation and deepen learning. Here’s how

Chaonan Xu

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

How to balance tension in interdisciplinary teaching and learning

An interdisciplinary approach to programme development comes with inherent tensions, which need to be balanced and worked through. Here are our tips

Adam Matthews

University of Birmingham

Multiracial group sitting around housing plans

Navigating uncertainty with interdisciplinary teaching

The siloed approach to education – where students in technical, business, humanities and arts disciplines learn separately – is no longer adequate, writes Lisa McNair

Lisa McNair

Virginia Tech

Students work together in an outdoor setting

Give students the skills to communicate across disciplines

In sustainability education, inter- and transdisciplinary teaching alone is not enough – students need to develop the skills to learn in a cross-disciplinary way. Co-creation could be the answer.

Julia Myatt

University of Birmingham

A cheerful student waves hello on a Zoom call

What’s the crucial element for interdisciplinary teamwork? Psychological safety

Foster a sense of radical openness in your interdisciplinary online learning environment by establishing psychological safety – here’s how

Helena Robinson, Fabian Held

University of Technology Sydney, University of Sydney

Four questions to ask when bringing students from different disciplines together

With interdisciplinary teaching, we need to look at ‘how’ as well as ‘what’. Focus on these four elements of course design to create a space where integration and interdisciplinarity can flourish

Jessica Oudenampsen

Utrecht University

Campus talks: the pros and cons of AI in higher education

How should universities manage the rapid uptake of artificial intelligence across all aspects of higher education? We talk to three experts about AI’s impact on teaching, governance and the environment

Shaolei Ren, José Antonio Bowen, Shushma Patel

University of California, Riverside, Bowen Innovation Group, De Montfort University

Students working on an interdisciplinary project

Can you teach interdisciplinarity in 10 weeks?

Interdisciplinarity is an ambitious and rewarding research process, but how realistic can we be in a 10-week module? Here is how to frame the task, structure the process and balance workloads

Simon Scott

University of Birmingham

Tap the mine of library data to help enhance your courses

University libraries offer a rich well of data for course enhancement teams, on everything from student engagement to which resources they’re using most. Here’s how to make the most of it

Steve Briggs, Carly Ramirez-Herelle , Jo Myhill

University of Bedfordshire

What can module leaders learn from Toyota?

How to use the plan-do-check-act cycle to improve student success, satisfaction and grades

Sercan Demiralay

Nottingham Trent University

An illustration of a robot hand supporting a human brain

How to integrate AI into strategy and business education

Incorporate AI into your teaching or ignore it and hope it fades from view? Let’s balance these two attitudes by raising our expectations of students

Guillaume Carton , Julia Parigot

EMLyon Business School, Institut Supérieur de Gestion

Tips for designing interprofessional education courses in healthcare

Adapting to and collaborating with other professionals is essential in medicine. Here’s how to nurture an interdisciplinary mindset from the very start

Hajer N. Sheikh, Umamah Rehman

Dubai Medical University

Active, flipped, micro, virtual learning: a toolbox for interdisciplinary teaching

Young engineers need interdisciplinary skills more than ever to communicate science clearly, both to inform the public and to protect shared resources such as the environment. Here are lessons from a cross-course project

Martin Morgeneyer, Esteban Zúñiga Domínguez

Université de Technologie de Compiègne

Unlock the potential of internationalisation in higher education

Let’s smash through the barriers to effective internationalisation. Here’s a four-part framework to do so

Wafa El Garah

Al Akhawayn University

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