There is a really good takedown of a recent Centre for Policy Studies report on student finance in WonkeHE. While the post provides good arguments for a shift away from human capital theory-based justifications for public investment in higher education, this quote really resonated with me: “I have no glib solution to which you might … Read more
This post summarises a ‘think piece’ I wrote in 2021 for the QAA Scotland Enhancement Theme of Resilient Learning Communities on Understanding Micro-Credentials and Small Qualifications. The full paper examines micro-credentials from the perspective of students and is available here. You can read my earlier posts on the wider challenges of micro-credentials here and on … Read more
Here is a sketchnote of the podcast discussion on education and neuroscience between Neil Selwyn and Michael Thomas as part of the Meet the Education Researcher podcast. The podcast itself was really interesting for someone, like me, who knows little about neuroscience and its applications to education. In particular, the challenges of near and far … Read more
The Manifesto for Teaching Online highlights the perceived complicity of digital education in the neoliberalisation of higher education. You can see a recording of my presentation on this topic for the launch seminars of the book here. While digital education does not need to be complicit in a neoliberalisation of higher education, it can appear … Read more
As a follow-up to my earlier post on the difficulties of defining micro-credentials, this post outlines two key challenges of micro-credentials to the purposes of education. The claimed benefits of micro-credentials include enabling a closer linkage between education provision and labour market needs and workforce development. Such linkages both improve the employability of students while … Read more
I have a chapter in this new book on digital learning to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030. Good timing with COP26 starting in Glasgow shortly. As outlined in the abstract below, this chapter explores some of the issues raised in the Manifesto for Teaching Online in relation to attaining … Read more
In a recent blog post on WonkHE, David Kernohan states that micro-credentials should be distinguished by referring to discrete or standalone learning experiences “…not just a possible component of something bigger”. So a micro-credential is not a single module of a larger degree, or various degree programmes. While the rest of his post raises many … Read more
Here is a small sketchnote of the main approach set out in the book Strategic Doing that I’m enjoying for its simpleness but not simplicity.
I have been looking at teaching groups in relation to a broader project on enhancing institutional resilience in teaching and learning. As noted previously, resilience is about adaptability to thrive in fluidly changing contexts while maintaining the core purposes of the university – in this case, teaching. Strong teaching groups appear to be a particularly … Read more
In the current pandemic, there is obvious interest in the resilience of higher education institutions. This is regularly framed in terms of financial robustness and the ability to bounce-back to a state of normalcy. But as I’ve argued before, resilience is about being able to adapt and thrive in a changing environment. Resilience is a … Read more