Back to the basics of pedagogy

Higher education may have gone through a disruptive decade, but many of the theories and building blocks that underpin good teaching are still relevant today. How can we use established theories of learning and pedagogical models to engage the 21st-century student? 

This collection of resources looks at how to adapt and apply well-known pedagogies for today’s in-person and online classes. You will find advice on how to make your teaching interactive, foster collaboration and use play to deepen learning, and delve into techniques such as the flipped classroom, and experiential and affective learning.

The chalk-and-talk method of lecturing sits at odds with what is known about student learning – that students need to apply information in context for themselves to gain proper understanding. But there are plenty of ways to make lectures more interactive and engaging, as these resources explain.

Working as part of groups has been shown to deepen learning as well as helping students develop valuable transferrable skills, such as teamwork, emotional intelligence and communication skills. Find out how to structure and guide group projects, discussion and collaboration.

Young children first learn skills such as communication and information processing through toys and games, and the power of play remains an indispensable tool in higher education. It’s time to get the Lego bricks back out – spark student engagement and deepen their understanding with the techniques shared here.

Four years after Covid-19 changed the world, online and hybrid teaching methods are here to stay. This means rethinking traditional models of the classroom, teacher and student with the live class now just one component among many in the learning process. University educators should make the most of digital platforms to support pedagogical approaches such as flipped learning, described in these resources. 

Experiential learning is essentially learning by doing. When students interact with an environment, it allows them to put what they’ve learned in class into context and translate theory into practice. Get your students engaged and transform their learning experiences with these tips.

Is there a skill more essential than critical thinking? In the fast-changing world of digital information overload and deep fakes that we now inhabit, probably not. Learn how to use affective learning to foster critical thinking, respond to critical questions, harness the power of humour and develop cognitive presence among your students.