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Professional Services
14 August 2023
4 minutes to readPodcasting to build learning communities
Helping students to feel part of a community was been one of the main challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a Researcher Development Manager, I worked with postgraduate researchers (PGRs), who already experienced high levels of isolation as they are not part of a teaching cohort. They do not have timetabled sessions with…
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26 July 2022
5 minutes to readThe Great (Digital) Escape: creating virtual escape rooms using Microsoft OneNote
Rachel Sloan and Dr Lisa Alberici are well known at the University of Exeter for their dedication to supporting student learning and their passion for puzzles. Here they explain the wonderful world of virtual escape rooms…
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14 October 2021
4 minutes to readPlayful purpose: using games to connect and inspire
Except amongst the youngest of students, playfulness is not usually a characteristic promoted by the curriculum or encouraged by teachers. In fact, play is often seen as a distraction from rigorous learning activities, or a sign that students are lacking in focus.
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22 September 2021
2 minutes to readTransforming our education during the pandemic
At the start of a new academic year, now is a good time to pause and reflect for a moment on how the University responded to the unprecedented challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic, and what we can learn from that response.
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24 June 2021
4 minutes to readBringing learning back to campus through The Festival of Discovery
Over 400 events took place on campus in the University’s inaugural Festival of Discovery. Held over a 2-week period from late May, the event aimed to bring our whole university community closer together to enjoy a range of on-campus and online activities. “I loved the…
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9 June 2021
3 minutes to readHow enhancing the AV in teaching spaces can create a more seamless student experience
One of the many challenges faced by educators over the last year is delivering teaching concurrently to both students present in the room and also joining online through Teams or Zoom. Teaching rooms are rarely equipped to enable this concurrent teaching effectively, with limited camera and audio coverage
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12 May 2021
3 minutes to readIs it time to take a fresh look at MOOCs?
The COVID-19 pandemic has placed a sharp focus on online learning, so where do Massive Open Online Courses – MOOCs – fit into the picture? Lisa Harris and Steph Comley take a look… Now that an increasing number of educators and learners are discovering the benefits of inclusive and accessible online learning,…
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29 April 2021
4 minutes to readMaking the case for online conferences: The UG Research Showcase
This year marked two important milestones for the University’s Undergraduate Research Showcase: the annual event celebrated its fifth birthday, and, for the first time ever, it took place all online. The exhibition offers an opportunity for undergraduates to share projects they’ve undertaken during their time at the university
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15 April 2021
4 minutes to readFinding the ‘write path’: how writing groups help postgraduate researchers
Pandemic-era higher education conversations have tended to focus more on the issues of undergraduates and taught postgraduates, rather than postgraduate researchers (PGRs) – an issue repeatedly raised on a national stage by Professor Andrew McRae, Dean of Postgraduate Research and the Exeter Doctoral College.
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17 March 2021
4 minutes to readTaking Grand Challenges online to create engaging learning experiences
Grand Challenges week plays a key role in the Exeter calendar, giving students the opportunity to work in cross-discipline groups to design innovative solutions to real world challenges. But in COVID-19 times, Grand Challenges has adapted to become Challenges Online.
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3 March 2021
3 minutes to readSerious Play: how LEGO® can help build learning communities and knowledge
Back-to-school supply lists commonly include items like notebooks and pens, but these days you might find an unexpected addition: LEGO® bricks. LEGO® is thought to be the world’s most popular building toy, and is a highly recognisable brand. Yet that wouldn’t usually recommend it for use in an educational setting. However, LEGO®…
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3 March 2021
3 minutes to readUsing technology to facilitate flexible approaches to academic personal tutoring
At the University of Exeter, the Academic Personal Tutor plays a key role as the first point of contact for students. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, new tools have been needed to facilitate those important conversations.
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1 March 2021
3 minutes to readPartnering with current and recent students to create compelling blended learning programmes
In April 2020, the University of Exeter faced the same dilemma as most other universities: how to move most or all of its teaching online in just a few months?
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