Think big: Successfully scaling higher education

How can universities extend teaching and research to serve wider student populations and enhance their educational role in society?

Advice on scaling higher education while retaining teaching quality

Demand for higher education is rising fast across the globe, far outstripping the current supply. However, new models of teaching embraced during the pandemic supported by advancing technology could extend the reach of universities and open access to higher education to much wider populations. This collection of resources looks at how to scale up higher education and reach students further afield, while retaining teaching quality.

Embedding peer support among students in large online lectures

David Quinn explains how strategies that work in person to facilitate active participation and peer support among students can be adapted to large online lectures

David Quinn

The University of Edinburgh

Serving large student cohorts

Strategies for scaling up quality online courses in higher education

Strategies for scaling up quality online courses in higher education

As remote and blended learning models look set to remain in place, universities need to consider how to scale online courses while maintaining quality. Michael Fried and Jenna Joo outline three effective scaling strategies

Michael Fried , Jenna Joo

Ithaka S+R

Advice on teaching large classes to try and keep all students actively engaged in learning

Teaching at scale: reaching all your students in large classes

Heather McQueen explains how lecturers can fulfil their responsibility to facilitate learning for all students, particularly in large classes where individual student contact is minimal

Heather McQueen

The University of Edinburgh

Advice on teaching big classes by getting students doing rather than listening

Big-class energy: how to get large groups learning by doing, not just listening

Charlie Reis shares advice on successfully teaching large cohorts by getting students actively involved in learning activities rather than passively listening

Charlie Reis

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Advice on scaling higher education while retaining teaching quality

Blended learning should be embraced for the benefit of all

By using online capabilities, higher education could be transformed from a privilege into a basic human right for anyone who wants it, says Sir Tim O’Shea

Tim O'Shea

Kortext

Online review exercises to improve student performance in large courses

Online review exercises, used in combination with other learning activities, improve student engagement and learning performance in large online courses, Peng Cheng and Rui Ding explain

Peng Cheng, Rui Ding

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Supportive learning for all

A framework for an equity oriented pedagogy that improves student grades

Equitable teaching that creates pathways to success for all students

Andrew Estrada Phuong and co-authors present a framework for an adaptive equity-oriented pedagogy that helps diverse students achieve better results

Andrew Estrada Phuong, Judy Nguyen, Fabrizio Mejia, Christopher Hunn, Dena Marie

University of California, Berkeley, Stanford University, Orinda Academy

Promoting community and inclusivity to dispersed and diverse students through your online teaching

Promoting community and inclusiveness to diverse and dispersed students

Three psychology lecturers share insight into how to create inclusive learning communities and courses that work for dispersed and diverse students

Chiara Horlin, Emily Nordmann, Heather Cleland-Woods

University of Glasgow

Advice on successfully scaling up student support services

Scaling up student support services

Suzanne Mitchell advises on how to scale up student support services, using technology that provides multiple communications channels and early warning systems to assist specialist staff teams

Suzanne Mitchell

Arden University

Advice on how to approach hybrid teaching to overcome key challenges

Guiding principles to support students on campus and overseas through hybrid teaching

Markus Davis explains how three guiding principles of flexibility, inclusion and empathy have helped shape a hybrid teaching model that serves both on-campus and overseas students effectively

Markus Davis

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Delivering blended learning to work for all students, everywhere

Blended learning enables universities to serve students on campus and overseas with a quality education but requires careful planning and delivery, as Eddy S Fang, Ewout van der Schaft and Patricia Pieterse explain

Eddy S Fang, Ewout van der Schaft, Patricia Pieterse

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Leading the expansion of institutions

Build peer support networks to help staff navigate digital teaching

Building peer support networks to help staff navigate digital teaching

Kay Yeoman and Alicia McConnell explain how the University of East Anglia has used peer support networks to ensure all university staff have access to the advice, support and training they need to deliver quality online teaching

Kay Yeoman, Alicia McConnell

University of East Anglia

Underpinning change with strong stable values that remain constant

How strong, stable values can enable sustainable teaching transformation

Change can be disorienting but if it is underpinned by strong, stable values that remain constant, it is more likely to get staff buy-in and prove successful, Claire Taylor explains

Claire Taylor

Wrexham Glyndŵr University

Advice on building meaningful collaborations for better community and civic engagement

How universities can build meaningful collaborations to solve societal challenges

For universities to extend their impact and community engagement, they need to form strong partnerships with external organisations and individuals. Alicia Wilson shares seven guiding principles that support successful collaboration

Alicia Wilson

Johns Hopkins University