Active

A blended and interactive approach to learning and teaching will be adopted across all programmes.

The rapid transformation of our provision in 2020 demonstrated how technology can be effective in making education more flexible and inclusive. While we will remain a University focused on delivering an excellent experience on campus, we want to build on our achievements to offer a blended approach to learning and teaching that combines the digital and physical environments. This will allow us to benefit from digital transformation and investment in online teaching, and offer flexibility to students, allowing time on campus to be dedicated to high-quality in-person interactive provision that can fit around their lives.

Actions and Priorities

What are we trying to achieve?

A blended, technology-enabled approach to all our provision, introducing flexibility for students and giving them the ability to take ownership of their studies and become partners in curriculum design and delivery.

Why?

The best learning experience is one in which students are actively engaged, and technology provides flexibility and efficient use of resources such that campus can be dedicated to high-quality in-person interactive teaching.

Progress in 2021/2022

We have agreed definitions of blended and active learning and started developing case studies for how these approaches are used in different subject contexts. Our new virtual learning platform, Brightspace, was launched on 1 September 2022 and will facilitate embedding blended and active learning within our programmes to engage students in their learning. Progress has been made in streamlining the timetabling process, which helps support flexible delivery.

Our Priorities for 2022/2023

Engage academic staff in using the VLE as a starting point for interactive curriculum design
Ensure our educational aspirations are reflected in the estate and future technology investments
Improve timetabling process to facilitate flexible delivery