A-Z of Teaching and Learning
A
Accessibility Resources to help make teaching and learning accessible to all staff and students. A core part of Teaching Enhancement.
Assessment and Feedback (see also ASSET: Moving Forward with Feedback, Engage in Feedback and Engage in Assessment)
ASSET: Moving Forward with Feedback A JISC-funded project to explore the use of video for enhancing the feedback experience for staff and students.
B
Blackboard is a Virtual Learning Environment and web-based learning system. It comprises course management tools that enable instructors to provide their students with course materials, discussion boards, virtual chat and online assessment.
C
CCMS-CETL A HEFCE funded 5 year initiative focusing on developing and enhancing Career Management Skills at Reading and beyond.
CETL-AURS Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning in Applied Undergraduate Research Skills. This was a five-year HEFCE-funded Centre (2005-2010) developed to integrate research-based learning into the curriculum. The CETL-AURS funded a range of projects across the University to encourage active engagement of undergraduates with primary research resources. One of these projects led to the development of the UROP (Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme).
CSTD (Centre for Staff Training and Development) A central part of the Centre's activities is a programme of over 500 workshops and courses covering a wide range of professional and personal developmental tools.
D
Destinations is a career learning website that has been specifically developed for undergraduate students in higher education, and taught postgraduates, by the Centre for Career Management Skills at the University of Reading.
DEVELOP A JISC-funded project running from July 2010-December 2011, looking at adding functionality to Blackboard and what pedagogical effect this has.
E
ECTFS A branch of the University Teaching Fellowship Scheme (UTFS) which aims to encourage new teaching and support staff to develop their skills.
Using Technology Education which is enhanced by the use of technology. The e-Learning team in CDoTL supports the growth of technology based learning resources.
e-Learning Strategy 2005-10 (PDF - 231KB) An outline of aims concerning the development of e-Learning at Reading.
Employability The University of Reading enthusiastically seeks to enhance the employability of all of our students. We are committed to providing opportunities for students to enhance their employability, both within and outside of the curriculum.
Learning and Teaching Enhancement Priorities The University of Reading's corporate strategy into all aspects of learning and teaching maintenance and development. Currently the strategy is renewed every 3 years.
Engage in Feedback a website developed at Reading for staff to enhance feedback practices with a wide range of evidence-based resources, tools and top tips covering areas such as: evaluating feedback provision, rapid feedback for first year students, providing feedback on presentations and written work and getting students to engage with feedback
Engage in Research a website developed as part of the CETL-AURS to support students' research in the sciences. It covers areas such as reviewing literature, research planning, scientific writing and presentation, using statistics and publishing research.
Engage in Assessment: a new evidence-based website for staff developed at the University with a range of generic and subject-specific resources covering areas such as: assessment design, the use of technologies for supporting assessment, self- and peer-assessment, diversifying assessment methods, assessing group work and assessing large groups.
Enquiry-Based Learning this is where learning is effectively driven by a process of enquiry driven by students. EBL spans a range of approaches, including problem-based learning and research projects
F
Faculty Directors of Teaching and Learning (FDTLs) FDTLs have a number of responsibilities, including the admission and progression of students and the development of new academic programmes.
Formative assessment: assessment that is used to 'form' students learning and to provide opportunities for improvement; it generally takes place throughout a course/module and is reliant upon prompt, quality feedback.
Feed forward: this is an element of 'good' feedback that clearly signposts where and how a student can improve their performance in subsequent assignments.
Feedback: can take a wide variety of formats: oral, online, video, audio, written. 'Good' feedback gives a clear indication of how a students' performance relates to the assessment criteria, provides direction (feeds-forward) on how to improve subsequent performances and is given in a timeframe that allows sufficient time for the student to act on the feedback.
I
Internationalisation CDoTL is working to support the University's current thematic review on internationalisation, and we are developing our expertise in this area to support colleagues across the University as they consider their teaching and learning in the context of a global university.
L
LearnHigher – Excellence in Learning Development A HEFCE funded 5 year initiative focusing on the development of a website containing useful resources for staff and students in the area of academic and study skills. The website is open access and well worth a look.
Learning and Teaching Enhancement Priorities The University of Reading's corporate strategy into all aspects of learning and teaching maintenance and development. Currently the strategy is renewed every 3 years.
Learning and Teaching Strategy 2008-2013 (PDF - 27.1KB) An outline of aims concerning the development oflearning and teachingat Reading.
Learning and Teaching Strategy Implementation Plan 2008-2013 (PDF - 180KB) An outline of the method by which the University plans to implement developments in learning and teaching.
Learning Outcomes: brief statements that clearly set out the learning that students are expected to have acquired upon successful completion of a course of study/module.
N
National Teaching Fellowship Scheme (NTFS) An HEA scheme which rewards excellence in teaching and learning.
P
Pathfinder An HEA funded initiative which supports Schools through Periodic Review in order to ensure the process is a positive experience and enhancement-focused.
Personal Tutors Most members of staff will have the important task of being a Personal Tutor. Use the link to find out about the support services available to you and your tutees.
Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP) This programme is designed specifically to meet the continuing professional development (CPD) needs of new lecturers. The programme is accredited by the Higher Education Academy (HEA); those who complete successfully are qualified for Fellow status of the HEA.
piCETL The Physics Innovations Centre of Excellence in Teaching and Learning, which involves jointly the University of Reading, the Open University and Leicester University, awarded in recognition of the long-established record of excellence in physics teaching in these institutions.
Policies and procedures Information about the regulatory aspect of teaching and learning. (Links to QSO website).
Pro-Vice Chancellor (Teaching and Learning) – Professor Rob Robson
Peer-assessment: involves students taking responsibility for assessing the work of their peers against set assessment criteria. Students can therefore be engaged in providing feedback to their peers (sometimes referred to as peer review). It is a powerful way for students to act as the 'assessor' and to gain an opportunity to better understand assessment criteria.
R
Red Award The Reading Experience and Development (RED) Award is a new university scheme that rewards students for undertaking extra-curricular activities as well as helping students get the most out of their experiences in terms of their professional and personal development.
Retention The area of teaching and learning which monitors the rate of early student withdrawal.
S
School Directors of Teaching and Learning (SDTLs) have a number of responsibilities, including the development and co-ordination of the School's learning and teaching strategy.
School e-Learning Co-ordinators (SeLCs) SeLCs co-ordinate the implementation of e-Learning initiatives within their respective Schools.
Senior Tutors Every School has a Senior Tutor who supports the Personal Tutorial System. Senior Tutors support Personal Tutors, facilitate PDP in their School and co-ordinate administrative duties
SOAR (Skills Opportunities at Reading) A web-based portal designed to direct students through the skills opportunities available at Reading. The site focuses on the seven transferable skills which the University sees as central to learning.
Student Stories An innovative web resource developed at Reading by the Centre for Career Management Skills (CCMS-CETL) offering students and other young people access to honest accounts of student and university life from those who have experienced it first hand. The website consists of hundreds of audio clips, generated from informal interviews with current students and recent graduates from a range of UK universities about their undergraduate experience.
Student Development encompasses reflective and independent learning and planning ahead in academic and extra-curricular contexts. Use the link to learn about the various tools available at Reading.
Summative assessment: assessment that 'sums' how much a student has learnt and therefore generally takes place towards the end of a course/module.
Self-assessment: requires students to reflect on their own work and judge how well they have performed in relation to the assessment criteria. The focus of self-assessment is providing opportunities for students to be able to identify what constitutes a good (or poor!) piece of work.
T
TLDF The TLDF enables the development of new initiatives, the enhancement of existing teaching and learning activities and the dissemination of these in fulfilment of the University's Strategy for Learning and Teaching.
Teaching in linked lecture theatres Hints and tips for teaching in linked lecture theatres.
Teaching Matters A termly magazine produced by CDoTL to provide information for staff about teaching and learning developments.
U
UTFS The UTFS is a prestigious award and funding opportunity conferred on an individual who has demonstrated individual excellence and contributed to the development of teaching and learning within the University.
UROP (Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme) UROP offers placements for undergraduates to work with academic staff on University research projects.
W
Work Related and Placement Learning: (see also Employability) Curricular and co-curricular work-related learning and placements encompass both work and academic placements and the terminology of "placement opportunities"