HigherEd Heroes - Blake McKimmie On How To Redesign Your Courses Around The Way Students Learn Higher Ed Heroes podcast

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Al Stark and special co-host Katrina Lee Koo talk to Hassan Khosravi, an Associate Professor in Data Science and Learning Analytics at UQ. In response to ever bigger class sizes and the need for students to have learning tailored for their individual needs, Hassan decided to build RiPPLE, an app for in-class teaching. They also talk about other useful apps and tech that helps student learning in big or small classes.…

Higher Ed Heroes

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The benefits of seeking in-class feedback from students 15:16

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In this episode, Al and Lynda talk to Associate Professor Morgan Brigg (from the School of Political Science and International Studies at The University of Queensland) about inviting feedback from students in class. Not at the end of a course, but while the course is running. Morgan talks about how it took courage to make himself vulnerable, but also how this practice enabled him to make changes to student learning, and how it positively changed the dynamic in his classroom. Listeners might also be interested in our 2021 recording with John Hattie, the guru on feedback (season 3, episode 3). You can also follow us on Bluesky now: https://bsky.app/profile/higheredheroes.bsky.social…

Higher Ed Heroes

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Indigenizing the Curriculum 20:32

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20:32

In this episode, we talk to Associate Professor Katelyn Barney and Professor Tracey Bunda (both from The University of Queensland) about indigenizing the curriculum. We talk about the biggest challenges educators face when embarking on this this process as well as some practical and effective steps that can guide them along the way. With special co-host Lynda Shevellar.…

Higher Ed Heroes

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Being accessible and approachable to students 14:35

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14:35

In this episode, we talk to Dr Michael Thai, a Lecturer in Psychology at UQ and an award-winning teacher. Michael shares how he replaced his formal consultation hours with a weekly outdoor picnic. This format enables the breaking down of barriers and a different type of conversation between students and teacher that ultimately has enabled Michael to become a better teacher.…

Higher Ed Heroes

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The dos and don’ts of learning design 19:29

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In this episode, we talk to Carrie Finn, an experienced educational designer (Business School, The University of Queensland), about the how to design courses. Carrie not only talks about the most common mistakes uni teachers do when designing their courses, but also how to get it right by following some easy-to-implement steps.…

Higher Ed Heroes

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‘Teaching as Theatre': Engaging in trauma as a form of learning 24:48

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24:48

In this episode, Al and special co-host Lynda Shevellar talk to Lindy Andren and Prof Norm Sheehan (both from the University of Queensland). Their topic is about ‘teaching as theatre’ and how – from their respective student and teacher perspectives - a particular, traumatic, but deliberately staged event in the classroom profoundly changed students’ lives. Trigger warning: this episode contains references to violence, the brutality of settler colonialism, and traumatic indigenous experiences.…

Higher Ed Heroes

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‘“Show your working”: Using AI as part of student learning’ 20:22

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In this episode, we talk to Professor Jason Lodge (Educational Psychology and Deputy Associate Dean [Academic] in the Faculty of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences at The University of Queensland). Jason shares his way of allowing students to use AI as part of their essay writing which, in combination with the ‘show me your working’ concept, facilitates student learning.…

Higher Ed Heroes

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'Apply first, explain later': using a photo treasure hunt to draw out core academic concepts for student learning 20:08

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20:08

In this episode, we talk to Paul Treschman, who teaches in the School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences here at UQ. Paul makes his students learn according to the motto ‘apply first – explain later’ and he illustrates this through the example of a photo treasure hunt his students do on campus.…

Higher Ed Heroes

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Using film documentary making for student learning and assessment 15:31

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In this episode, we talk to Associate Professor Peter Walters, who is an urban sociologist and an expert in urban community at The University of Queensland. Peter has won numerous awards for teaching excellence and has integrated film documentary making in his courses for both student learning and assessment.…

Higher Ed Heroes

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Preparing students for the cognitive and emotional uncertainties they will face in their future professions 20:01

for 1 year siden20:01

20:01

In this episode, we talk to Dr Roma Forbes. Roma is a Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at UQ. And one of motivations that drive her teaching is the question of how to enhance the students’ experience, in particular, how to get them better prepared for the uncertainties they will face once they join the workforce.…

Higher Ed Heroes

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What can generative AI bring to our classroom? 23:30

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23:30

In this episode, we talk to Dr Dan Levy who teaches courses in quantitative methods, policy analysis, and program evaluation in the John F Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University . There are lots of worries, discussions, and myths surrounding generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), such as ChatGPT, and the impact it has on our teaching. While acknowledging these, Dan identifies the possibilities generative AI can bring to our classrooms, in particular to the way we as faculty teach and the way our students learn.…

Higher Ed Heroes

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Catering for students who are struggling or are at the risk of failing 13:19

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13:19

In this episode, we talk to Dr Poh Wah Hillock. Poh is a senior lecturer in the School of Mathematics and Physics here at The University of Queensland. Facing high failure rates in her first year mathematics course, Poh has responded by specifically designing a support tutorial for her students and by using forms of community building and peer to peer support which help students bond over common struggles and, ultimately, succeed.…

Higher Ed Heroes

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Using board games, digital escape rooms, and online scenario games in your classroom 20:26

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20:26

In this episode, we talk to UQ’s Shakira Moss and Russell Richards about how they integrate educational board games, digital escape rooms, and online scenario games into their courses, and even design these games for learning themselves.

Higher Ed Heroes

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The dos and don’ts of PowerPoint presentations 19:38

for 2 years siden19:38

19:38

In this episode, we talk to Jo’Anne Langham (UQ Ventures) about how to design your slides in the right way and why it really matters to design with the mind in mind. If you want to avoid death by PowerPoint and move towards designing your visuals or slides like a pro, this is the episode for you! It offers you small, practical steps that will make a big difference.…

Higher Ed Heroes

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Helping students learn through cohort building and a strong sense of belonging 19:55

for 2 years siden19:55

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In this episode, we talk with A/Prof Zala Volcic (School of Media, Film and Journalism at Monash University, Australia) about how student learning can be enhanced through care, compassion, and a sense of belonging. By talking about what we would call ‘compassionate pedagogy’, Zala shares many practical ideas of how teachers can build cohorts and generate connections that ultimate help their students learn.…

Higher Ed Heroes

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Learning across cultures 21:56

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21:56

Peter Lewis teamed up with colleagues from 18 unis across the world to co-teach one common course, in real time and online, for the benefit of cross-cultural learning on topics ranging from COVID to climate change. In this episode, Peter recounts how his team built this course step by step, how it has evolved, and what anyone can do to replicate elements of this in their own classroom. Peter is an Associate Professor in the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work at The University of Queensland. He has won several awards for his innovation around cross-cultural pedagogy and online learning.…

Higher Ed Heroes

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Integrating regular practical, self-experiential, and collaborative spaces (‘MediaLabs’) into your courses to deepen student learning 19:08

for 3 years siden19:08

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In this episode, Dr Seb Kaempf (usually one of our podcast co-hosts) turns interviewee to share with us how he integrates regular, 3-hour-long practical, self-experiential spaces (called ‘MediaLabs’) into his course to deepen student learning. It’s about enabling students to ‘get their hands’ dirty, to collaborate, research, discuss, and ultimately learn through practice.…

Higher Ed Heroes

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Learning through ‘trench warfare’ and wicked problems: Students as proper consultants with real world business clients 16:33

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16:33

Our guest in this episode is Dr Sarel Gronum (Business School at the University of Queensland), whose Masters students get thrown into proper, several week long, consultancy projects with real world business clients. Besides the challenge of building this flagship course and how he had to fine tune his own teaching role within it, Sarel talks about the centrality of ambiguity and ‘trench warfare’ for student learning.…

Higher Ed Heroes

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Reassuring students, reducing uncertainty, and building student confidence and competence 19:41

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19:41

In this episode, we talk to A/Prof Allison Mandrusiak (School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at The University of Queensland). Coordinating a cardiorespiratory physiotherapy course, Allie has built a model hospital to replicate real clinical practices and even lets her student play cardio karaoke. But central to Allie’s teaching are the ideas of building scaffolding and safety nets into her course that help reassure her students, reduce uncertainty, and build their confidence and competence. Tune in and listen to the tips and tricks from Allie whose teaching was recognized with a UQ excellence award last year.…

Higher Ed Heroes

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The iron law of teaching: Bringing a buzz and energy into the lecture room 22:01

for 3 years siden22:01

22:01

In this episode, we talk to Professor Chris Reus-Smit (University of Queensland) about lecturing as a performance art, about the essence of being physical, animated, and enthusiastic in order to draw students into the learning content.

Higher Ed Heroes

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Make yourself uncomfortable: How making the familiar strange helps students learn 20:29

for 3 years siden20:29

20:29

In this episode, Al and Seb talk to Dr Rebecca Olive (RMIT Australia) about how students in human movement studies learn by taking on an unfamiliar sport for six weeks. It is about experiencing the strangeness of the familiar, about self-reflection, and about the development of (self)compassion.

Higher Ed Heroes

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Higher Ed Heroes: The zen of presentation design and delivery (with Garr Reynolds) 17:43

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17:43

In this episode, Al and Seb talk to Professor Garr Reynolds (University in Osaka) about how to design and deliver powerful presentations, how to avoid death by powerpoint, and how the best learning comes through doing.

Higher Ed Heroes

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Higher Ed Heroes: How can we make those difficult or unpopular topics accessible and fun learning for students? 21:07

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We have all been there: having to teach a topic which is either difficult to grasp or that we know is unpopular with students. How can make these topics accessible and bring them alive in a fun way to help students learn? Dr Suzanna Fay (The University of Queensland) faced these challenges when she first started teaching statistics and probability theory to social science students. Her solution: let her students learn by building these topics around the actor Denzel Washington.…

Higher Ed Heroes

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Higher Ed Heroes: Entering the lecture room for the first time 18:18

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In this episode, Al and Seb talk to Kiri Ingram and Dr Andrew Dougall (both at UQ's School of Political Science and International Studies) about starting out as lecturers, about the nerves, the challenges, imposter syndromes, and the dos and don'ts.

Higher Ed Heroes

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Weekly journal writing to help student reflection, build trusting relations and create nourishing environments 19:10

for 3 years siden19:10

19:10

In this episode, Al and Seb talk to Dr Fabiane Ramos (School of Culture and Languages & School of Education, UQ) and Dr Laura Roberts (Flinders University) about their use of weekly journal writing as a way to help students reflect about course content (and as it relates to their own lives), to build trusting relationships and to foster a nourishing learning environment.…

Higher Ed Heroes

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Higher Ed Heroes: '20 Minute Moments': Opening up your class to place key lessons 22:35

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22:35

In this episode, Associate Professor Al Stark (usually one of our podcast co-hosts) turns interviewee to share with us what he calls '20 Minute Moments': it's about stopping the lecture, exposing students to a practical, fun, interactive, but ultimately meaningful activity that allows students to learn key lessons.…

Higher Ed Heroes

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Higher Ed Heroes: What factors have the biggest impact on student learning? With John Hattie 22:17

for 3 years siden22:17

22:17

In this episode, Al and Seb speak to Prof John Hattie (University of Melbourne) about the few key factors that have the biggest impact on student learning. Based on analysis of more than 300 million students from around the globe (the world’s largest evidence-based study), John Hattie identified the key factors that improve student learning. His findings are equally impressive as they are eye-opening, inviting us to rethink what we – as teachers - do in our uni classrooms.…

Higher Ed Heroes

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Higher Ed Heroes: 'Escape Box' exercise and learning through team work 16:03

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16:03

In this episode, we talk to Dr Leigh Sperka (Lecturer UQ’s School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences) about the ‘escape box’ exercise and learning through team work.

Higher Ed Heroes

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Higher Ed Heroes: 'Me in a Minute' Video 17:53

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17:53

In this episode, we talk to Dr Karin Sellberg (The University of Queensland), who uses the production of short videos – ‘me in a minute’ – as a form of assessment. How does this exercise work and how does it foster student learning?

Higher Ed Heroes

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Higher Ed Heroes: The centrality of role plays in student learning 22:22

for 4 years siden22:22