Critical Practice in Higher Education – serie

This insightful text is aimed specifically at educationalists and Higher Education lecturers who wish to adopt a more balanced, holistic, and inclusive approach to designing learning experiences. As lecturers are urged to adopt research-based teaching, it recognises the complexity of student learning and explains how knowledge can be constructed in various ways, not just socially and culturally, but also, for example, psychologically, emotionally, sensorially, biologically, and cognitively. The content covers design structures and formats that harness student capacities for learning, practical examples illustrating the core design principles for learning, and integrative designs for learning, well-being, and transformation. It provides a reflective space for readers to develop their teaching practice and expand their skills to embrace inclusive learning design to positively impact student engagement, understanding, and memory retention.The Critical Practice in Higher Education series provides a scholarly and practical entry point for academics into key areas of Higher Education practice. Each book in the series explores an individual topic in depth, providing an overview in relation to current thinking and practice, informed by recent research. The series will be of interest to those engaged in the study of Higher Education, those involved in leading learning and teaching or working in academic development, and individuals seeking to explore particular topics of professional interest. Through critical engagement, this series aims to promote an expanded notion of being an academic – connecting research, teaching, scholarship, community engagement, and leadership – while developing confidence and authority.

Critical Practice in Higher Education provides a scholarly and practical entry point for academics into key areas of higher education practice. Each book in the series explores an individual topic in depth, providing an overview in relation to current thinking and practice, informed by recent research. The series will be of interest to those engaged in the study of higher education, those involved in leading learning and teaching or working in academic development, and individuals seeking to explore particular topics of professional interest.This essential text focuses on the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and how they should underpin thinking in embedding inclusive practice. The Covid-19 pandemic meant the higher education sector had to rethink curriculum delivery and now has the opportunity to build on this momentum towards full UDL. The book translates the principles of UDL into research-informed inclusive practice, looking at UDL from the perspectives of various marginalised groups, including but not limited to categories protected by the Equality Act 2010. Curriculum content and delivery is considered as well as factors such as digital poverty. Readers are invited to consider a more nuanced understanding of teaching and learning which celebrates and accommodates diversity.

An innovative take on the controversial question of teaching excellence in Higher Education (HE). After critiquing the very idea of 'measuring' teaching excellence, Hayes and Garnett offer a critical approach to re-conceptualising and measuring teaching excellence and the controversies surrounding current teaching excellence rankings in the UK and internationally.The book proposes a shift in conceptualising the ways in which ‘evidence’ of teaching excellence can be produced by higher education providers. It suggests that measurement can be approached as developmental and can create agency for university leaders in making decisions about teaching and learning, in contrast to the performativity of current approaches. It emphasises the impact of teaching and learning processes on student outcomes and the skills required. The book guides readers through statistical approaches which allow exploration of the relationality of epistemic frames of teaching excellence in institutions, ie, how it is comprised of relationships an connections of what happens in classrooms and across the institution.Written in an accessible style tailored for HE leaders at all levels, this book is packed with real-world examples and opportunities for critical reflection, and can be understood by readers who have no prior knowledge of statistics.