Fostering critical thinking with reflective journalsTimely, frequent and constructive feedback has a powerful influence on student achievement. However, its impact on higher education students is hotly debated and often highly variable Lesley Gardner, Udayangi MuthupoltotageUniversity of Auckland
Creating an impactful social group for neurodivergent studentsMeet-ups can support neurodivergent students (mostly those with autism and ADHD) to navigate the social complexities of student life and the workplace. Here, Brooke Szücs and Ben Roden-Cohen share tips for creating inclusive neurodivergent settings, based on their experienceBrooke Szücs, Ben Roden-CohenThe University of Queensland
Curriculum reform to boost under-represented students’ success in higher education Large-scale transition from traditional curricula to a block model can have a positive impact on student achievement. Here, Thomas Roche, Erica Wilson and Liz Goode describe five steps to implement whole-institution reform, based on a study of a regional public university in Australia Thomas Roche, Erica Wilson, Liz GoodeSouthern Cross University
A tailored onboarding programme can help set neurodivergent students up for successThe recent introduction of an early entry programme at the University of Newcastle created an unexpected but welcome opportunity to respond to a growing population of neurodivergent students commencing their studiesScott LaingThe University of Newcastle, Australia
Three principles for leadership in academiaReflecting on her personal journey, Catherine Moran shares the key guidelines that have shaped her leadership as a woman in higher education in times of changeCatherine MoranTe Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury
Empowering ambition: student affairs’ role in supporting women studentsStudent affairs departments, often the heartbeat of campus life and well-being, can significantly influence the personal and professional development of women university students. Here, Frances Keene looks at proven ways to nurture and support female studentsFrances KeeneVirginia Tech
Get real about hiring people with disabilitiesFor too long ‘lived experience’ has been an inadequate requirement for jobs that make decisions for people with disabilities, and recruitment practices need to change, write Paul Harpur and Brooke SzücsPaul Harpur, Brooke SzücsThe University of Queensland
To give female students an equal educational experience, we need to promote womenFemale representation in leadership roles is crucial to show young women that success can be theirs too. Catherine Branson explains how her life and career have helped her succeed in a male-dominated worldCatherine BransonThe University of Adelaide
Cut down your marking time by using whole-class feedbackWhole-class feedback offers three advantages – it’s time saving, it encourages self-regulation and will help identify any weaknesses in the rubric. Paul Moss shows how it’s donePaul MossThe University of Adelaide
How mathematical practices can improve your writingWriting is similar to three specific mathematical practices: modelling, problem-solving and proving, writes Caroline Yoon. Here, she gives some tips on how to use these to improve academic writingCaroline YoonUniversity of Auckland
Can academics tell the difference between AI-generated and human-authored content?A recent study asked students and academics to distinguish between scientific abstracts generated by ChatGPT and those written by humans. Omar Siddique analyses the resultsOmar SiddiqueThe University of Adelaide
Heart skills to future-proof studentsThese 10 skills might sound as soft as the centre of a Valentine’s Day chocolate, but they are essential for the careers and employability of our students, writes Elizabeth Reid BoydElizabeth Reid BoydEdith Cowan University
Campus webinar: Can universities keep pace with digital transformation?Three Australian digital education experts from the Campus+ network explore the benefits and risks of AI and VR in teaching and learning, and gauge higher education’s pace of digital transformationEdward Palmer, Julie Lindsay, Karen BlackmoreThe University of Adelaide, University of Southern Queensland , The University of Newcastle, Australia
How academics can ‘stay put’ without ‘staying still’Moving universities for career advancement is a common practice in academia. But what happens if you want to remain in the same institution? Here, Doune Macdonald shares how to keep progressing into new roles and responsibilitiesDoune MacdonaldThe University of Queensland
Finger on the pulse: establish a culture of communication for better feedbackWhy wait until the end of the course to hear from your students? Sasha Lanyon encourages a real-time, authentic approach to student evaluationSasha LanyonThe University of Adelaide
Why press releases are a waste of your comms team’s timeMost universities will track press release output as part of overall communications metrics – but, asks Kylie Ahern, have you considered other ways to generate media coverage, awareness of your brand or better relationships with journalists? Kylie AhernSTEM Matters
Give students the tools to judge difficult materials in contextAfter Osama bin Laden’s viral 'Letter to America', Nicholas Chan provides a pedagogical pathway to tackling difficult materialNicholas ChanAustralian National University
Stay in your lane or swim sideways: working respectfully in the third spaceLearning designers and subject matter experts often have to navigate the choppy waters of course co-creation. Here, Jay Cohen offers six tips for collaborating successfullyJay CohenThe University of Adelaide
How to engage students using public advocacyUse real-world events to help students join the dots in their learning. Cornelia Koch outlines howCornelia KochThe University of Adelaide
Using communication before content to develop cognitive presenceCognitive presence goes beyond physical presence and enables students to feel comfortable in the learning environment, writes Alison Thirlwall. It puts the educator in students’ minds as a supporter and guideAlison ThirlwallUniversity of Wollongong
It can be different: managing time, tasks and well-being in academiaAcademic careers are often associated with long hours, overwhelming workload and burnout – but it doesn’t have to be that way. Understanding the nature of knowledge work can help, says Katrina McChesneyKatrina McChesneyUniversity of Waikato
Leverage careers educators’ academic expertise to improve careers educationCareers-focused learning can benefit when careers educators bring their academic expertise into the equation. Anna Branford and Luella Leon of RMIT explain howAnna Branford , Luella LeonRMIT University
All’s fair in large-class grading When courses have so many students that multiple tutors are required for marking, consistency with assessment grading is a key concern. Here, Temesgen Kifle offers ways to support tutors to give fair grades and feedbackTemesgen KifleThe University of Queensland
Students’ life stories can bridge the gap between theory and practiceDrawing from lived experience can help build students’ self-efficacy and develop learning skills. Ankit Agarwal explains howAnkit AgarwalThe University of Adelaide
Ease the transition for international students with a holistic peer-mentoring programmeEnlist peer mentors to help make international students’ transition on to your campus a smooth one. Naia Robinson shows howNaia RobinsonAustralian National University
Love and money: why the search for funding is like romanceFunding is a relationship of sorts. You and your research project funder will enter into a finite symbiosis. It’s a joyful, exciting, uncomfortable and occasionally scary co-dependency, writes Laura Berrisford Laura BerrisfordTe Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury
How consensus grading can help build a generation of critical thinkers Instead of punitive testing and high-stakes exams, consensus grading helps students learn how to critique their own work. James Thompson encourages a real-time reflective approach to assessmentJames ThompsonThe University of Adelaide
Let’s make the international student experience as valuable as the degreeGiven the unique challenges international students face, how can universities create an inclusive and supportive community? Educators share suggestions for helping international students thriveAlistair Standish, Catherine Irving, Danijela MenicaninThe University of Adelaide
Animating education: a teaching tool that brings learning to lifeThrough animation, educators can transform complicated or abstract subjects into accessible narratives, facilitating students’ comprehension and enhancing the learning experience, writes Nigel BairstowNigel Bairstow University of Technology Sydney
What will it take to ensure that international students are treated fairly?Treatment of international students needs to shift to a social justice approach, and the interim report from Australia’s Universities Accord Panel doesn’t go far enough. Here’s how we can do moreCarly Steele, Sender Dovchin, Ana TankosićCurtin University
How hard can it be? Testing the dependability of AI detection toolsStudents are using artificial intelligence to write essays and other assessment tasks, but can they fool the AI detection tools? Daniel Lee and Edward Palmer put a few to the testDaniel Lee, Edward PalmerThe University of Adelaide
How to lose a grant in 10 waysWant your funding application to be rejected? Have we got some advice for you. But, seriously, don’t do these things and you might just find your perfect grant matchKathryn MackinvenTe Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury
How to support international students’ smooth transition to a new countryOrientation is an ongoing process for international students, so welcome programmes need to extend further than a single day. Here, Mengping Cheng explains how to support new arrivals throughout their adjustmentMengping ChengTe Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury
How to strengthen your metacognitive skills to collaborate effectively with AI To follow their previous piece on why metacognition is crucial for collaborating with Generative AI, Sidra and Claire Mason reveal how to boost those specific metacognitive skillsSidra, Claire MasonCommonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
What about lifelong learning for international students?International students might not be comfortable with the student-centred mindset that underpins continuous, self-directed learning. We must prepare them for lifelong learning so they are not left behind, argues Graham WiseGraham WiseTe Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury
ChatGPT and generative AI: 25 applications to support researchIn the fifth and final part of their series looking at 100 ways to use ChatGPT in higher education, Seb Dianati and Suman Laudari share 25 prompts for the AI tool to support researchSeb Dianati, Suman Laudari Charles Darwin University
‘Well…what do you think?’ Responding to challenging questions in the moment While daunting, tough questions from learners can be a catalyst for collaborative learning and critical thinking. Roma Forbes offers practical advice for how to respond in the classroom or the corridorRoma ForbesThe University of Queensland
ChatGPT and generative AI: 25 applications to support student engagementIn the fourth part of their series looking at 100 ways to use ChatGPT in higher education, Seb Dianati and Suman Laudari share 25 prompts for the AI tool to boost student engagementSeb Dianati, Suman Laudari Charles Darwin University
Mastering generative AI: crafting reusable prompts for effective learning designRichard McInnes and Ajay Kulkarni discuss how to get consistent quality and replicable results when using generative AI to support course design and developmentRichard McInnes, Ajay Kulkarni The University of Adelaide
ChatGPT and generative AI: 25 applications to support administrative tasks In the third part of their series looking at 100 ways to use ChatGPT in higher education, Seb Dianati and Suman Laudari share 25 prompts for the AI tool to assist with administrative dutiesSeb Dianati, Suman Laudari Charles Darwin University
Higher apprenticeships reimagined for lifelong learnersIf Australia is serious about addressing pressing skills shortages and rapidly changing technology and labour markets, lifelong learning must become a practical reality, not an abstract goal, says Mish EastmanMish EastmanRMIT University
The three Cs of the 21st-century workplace: cognition, character and careerChanging skill demands require a lifelong approach to education that prioritises self-efficacy, critical thinking and a growth mindset. Here is how these elements can fit together in learning and career preparationVijayakumari Seevaratnam, Russell ManfieldThe University of Queensland
Why we need a new model for professional development credentialsClose collaboration between universities and industry can help higher education address the ‘skills emergency’ and rebuild trust in university qualifications, writes Mick GrimleyMick GrimleyTe Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury
An introduction to creating escape roomsBernardo Pereira Nunes offers tips on how to get started on an escape room experience that will boost students’ teamwork, leadership, communication and problem-solving skills Bernardo Pereira Nunes Australian National University
What makes an effective microcredential programme?Short, flexible and skills-focused, microcredentials must balance the needs of students and industry. Here are tips on how to develop courses that achieve thisTemesgen KifleThe University of Queensland
Equitable access to work-integrated learning is finally on the agenda in AustraliaA group of Australian academics discusses what changes could ameliorate the issues faced by students from equity groups when it comes to accessing internshipsAnne Hewitt , Craig Cameron , Deanna Grant-Smith , Laura Grenfell The University of Adelaide, University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland University of Technology
Embracing generative AI as a co-design partner for designing and developing coursesGenerative AI is here to stay, so what opportunities are there for educational developers and learning designers to leverage it as a partner when designing courses?Richard McInnesThe University of Adelaide
Student ambassadors, key players in widening participationHow to design and run an effective student ambassador programme to support widening participation initiatives Ellie NikUniversity of Technology Sydney
Six lessons from facilitating a formalised mentoring programmeAn institutional formalised mentoring scheme can offer invaluable career guidance for early- and mid-career academics. Here, based on 15 years of managing a programme for academic staff, Karen Mather offers her key takeawaysKaren MatherTe Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury
THE podcast: an interview with Ngiare Brown, chancellor of James Cook University Ngiare Brown is the first female and the first Indigenous chancellor of James Cook University. Here, she shares what she hopes to achieve during her tenure, including making higher education a place for Indigenous students Ngiare BrownJames Cook University