September will see the start of the LLB In Legal Practice. This is a new degree which has a number of specific features to it and opens up some opportunities for the School. The programme is to be run in conjunction with CILEX Law School (CxLS) on a distance learning basis. CxLS have extensive experience…Continue Reading City Law School’s new distance learning course (LLB in Legal Practice)
Poll Everywhere User Group, meeting #1

On 8 February I attended the inaugural Poll Everywhere User Group meeting at Regent’s University. The group was set up by Matt.Lingard@uwl.ac.uk and Anna.Armstrong@uwl.ac.uk of the University of West London, “for educational users of Poll Everywhere in the UK…. primarily for staff in FE & HE”*. Matt had shown me Poll Everywhere when he worked…Continue Reading Poll Everywhere User Group, meeting #1
Down the Rabbit Hole: HEA Social Sciences Conference 2015

Last week, I attended the Higher Education Academy ‘Inspire’ Conference for the Social Sciences in Manchester. My free passport to this great conference was as a member of the “BlogSquad” to live-tweet and blog about the event. I will first say just how valuable it is to attend the occasional conference or talk that is…Continue Reading Down the Rabbit Hole: HEA Social Sciences Conference 2015
Audience response using Poll Everywhere

This year I have been using Poll Everywhere in my teaching. Poll Everywhere is an audience response system which allows students to answer a variety of questions in class using their own phones, tablets or laptops, via the web using a data or wifi connection, or via twitter or text message. Here I describe…Continue Reading Audience response using Poll Everywhere
Two meanings of “critically analyse”

As an academic skills tutor, I’m often faced with a student clutching a set of assessment criteria containing the phrase “critically analyse”, or a synonym of that instruction. In my experience, many students understand the broad concept of critical analysis (e.g. being sceptical, not taking information on face value, evaluating evidence, etc), but have difficulty…Continue Reading Two meanings of “critically analyse”
New Learning Spaces at the Franklin Building

About five minutes from Northampton Square, nestled above the recently opened CitySport, lie two floors of recently launched City learning spaces. Part of the new Franklin Building, there are eight rooms available for all schools to use for teaching and learning, as well as a meeting room and some social spaces. The space overall…Continue Reading New Learning Spaces at the Franklin Building
Is Learning for Everyone? – Booking now open

The Annual Learning at City Conference will be taking place on Wednesday 3rd June 2015 at The Hatton in Hatton Gardens. The conference, now in its seventh year, is gaining popularity every year and attracts staff from City University London and colleagues from other HE institutions who welcome a day of sessions based on themes…Continue Reading Is Learning for Everyone? – Booking now open
‘Is learning for all?’ – a conference on inclusive learning.

The theme for this year’s Learning at City Conference will focus on inclusive learning and the call for abstracts is now open to City University Staff. This year will mark the 7th successful year of the annual conference and will see it being held off-site and open to external presenters and delegates for the second year…Continue Reading ‘Is learning for all?’ – a conference on inclusive learning.
Rethinking the lecture theatre

To enable collaboration and flexibility; the design of a traditional lecture theatre will alter dramatically to enable working together in groups and for the teacher to move between groups. I envisage future lecture space to be more open, with flexible furniture that will allow for reconfiguration and for students and teachers to move around freely….Continue Reading Rethinking the lecture theatre
Learning Spaces, the new frontier…

I was rather pleased to be the keynote speaker at Newcastle University’s Learning Technology event last week. I was asked to present City’s Learning Spaces project, and it was a great opportunity to promote the work we are doing, and share our experiences with the wider academic community. The event was attended by academics, Learning…Continue Reading Learning Spaces, the new frontier…