Session #4 - 10.10am - 11.00am
1 - Maintaining student satisfaction and embracing new technologies whilst in lockdown - Darshna Vaidya (CU Group), Faye Mundy
Abstract: This presentation will discuss how the professional accounting team collectively embraced new technologies in lockdown and how this transition helped enhance teaching and learning practices. A number of the online tools that were used to support the learning experience will be showcased and demonstrated. The presentation also addresses how paper based exams, which are mapped to professional standards, had to be successfully transitioned to a digital format in a short time period to prevent disruption to assessment practices.
2 - Reducing Barriers for Disadvantaged Students While in Lockdown - Melissa Mclaughlin (CU Group)
Abstract: How do we continue to reduce barriers for our students from the most disadvantaged backgrounds? Through team collaboration on this project I will be providing an overview of best practice and methods taken from the Access team. This will explore key challenges students currently face, how to overcome these barriers and what this means for our retention after Covid-19 has shifted out educational landscape to an online intensive model. This will consider wider impacts on student engagement, success, wellbeing and implementing practical skills via online teaching. A final thought will be given to student motivation and implementing this into practice.
3 - Cross-Cultural Online Live Debates in Higher Education; Can They Increase Student Engagement and Motivation? - Georgia Niolaki and Laura Taylor (HLS)
Abstract: Higher Education has seen an increase in the diversity of teaching methods used. The study aimed to evaluate an Online International Learning (COIL) project that involved students in the UK and Turkey. Motivation and Engagement was; semi-structured interviews were conducted to evaluate students’ perceptions of the academic benefits of the project. The quantitative analysis showed an increase in student motivation and engagement; a finding confirmed by the interview data. In addition, the interviews provided a better understanding of what indeed worked and what was less effective. The outcome of the project is discussed, and suggestions for future research are made.
4 - Virtual Reality in Psychology: enhancing digital fluency and interaction - Aris Terzopoulos, Georgia Niolaki, Sean Graham and Anthony McGuffie (HLS)
Abstract: The project aimed to use Virtual Reality headsets in Psychology seminars as a tool to enhance digital fluency, hands-on student experience and interactive learning. VR technology bridges the gap between real life settings and traditional academic teaching making it ideal for situated methods of learning and teaching.