Blended learning in the biosciences ­ how can technology help staff and students?

Abstract: Technology is taking an increasingly important role in Higher Education and can enhance student learning opportunities dramatically.

However, it also provides many challenges for institutions, teachers and students, particularly in the areas of IT competence, rapid pace of change, pedagogic advantage and time investment. In this seminar, I shall explore some technologies which are proven to enhance students¹ learning and engagement and which are easy to deploy and scale up to a departmental, faculty of institutional level, providing evidence of their effectiveness. I shall also ask which current and future technologies are likely to offer long-term, realistic and sustainable improvements in student learning.

About the speaker: Neil Morris is the academic lead for digital learning at the University of Leeds. Neil¹s research interests are in educational technology and he has conducted a number of research studies investigating the impact of technology on students¹ learning experiences. Neil's background is in neuroscience and he is the former director of the Undergraduate School in Biological Sciences, and has led implementations of the VLE, student voting handsets, lecture audio recordings and generic video feedback within the Faculty. Neil heads the University of Leeds Bioscience Education Research Group and is the Editor-in-Chief of Bioscience Horizons, the National Undergraduate Bioscience Research Journal. Neil has won a number of awards for teaching excellence, including the Society of Biology HE Teacher of the Year Award, the Otto Hutter Teaching award from The Physiological Society and the Most Innovative Teacher award at the Leeds University Union Student Choice Awards. Neil is a National Teaching Fellow and chairs the University of Leeds Blended Learning and Learning Technology Innovation Group. Neil¹s recent book, with Dr Stella Cottrell, is 'Study Skills Connected: Using technology to support your studies' (Palgrave MacMillan).

Lunch provided.

ASDO