In the next episode of our award winners podcast miniseries, Sophia Speakman interviews Miko Pescott and Savi Bains from Activate Learning, alongside Jonathan Hofgartner from Jisc, discussing Activate Learning's award-winning approach to digital technology in further education.

This episode, hosted by Sophia Speakman, celebrates award winners for their innovative use of digital technology and sharing standout practices from tertiary education exploring Activate Learning's approach to supporting adult learners through remote education.

In this episode, Savi and Miko discuss Activate Learning’s unique learning philosophy which moves away from focusing solely on the traditional methods of teaching. Miko shares with us the emotion and motivation in the online and remote learning process that is needed to change the nature of the teacher role in an online setting to one that is coaching focused to sustain learner motivation.

The team addresses student challenges such as device access, personal commitments, the pandemic and financial constraints with practical solutions to ensure inclusivity.

Jonathan Hofgartner, the lead assessor for the Jisc Beacon Awards, emphasises how Activate's strategy aligns with criteria like innovation, impact, and sustainability.

Finally, Savi and Miko share the critical role that feedback has in driving learner success. By providing timely feedback within 48 hours, even on evenings and weekends, Activate Learning keeps adult learners engaged and motivated to complete assignments. This commitment to rapid feedback, combined with a coaching-focused teaching model, distinguishes Activate Learning's approach and contributes to its success.

Show notes

· Find out more about Activate Learning and their award-winning learning philosophy.

· Download our framework for digital transformation.

· Find out more about the Association of Colleges Beacon Awards.

· Read our member story sharing Activate Learning’s journey.

· Subscribe to our Headlines newsletter, which has all the latest edtech news, guidance and events tailored to you.

· Get in touch with us at[email protected] if you’d like to come on the show or know someone who might suit the series.

Please note, this episode of the podcast was originally recorded in September 2023, so please bear that in mind when dates and times are mentioned.

This is the fourth in a series of podcasts focused on further education and skills (FE), hosted by Andrew McFadyen and Louisa Stamatelopoulos. Throughout this series Andrew and Louisa are joined by experts from further education colleges to shine a light on how they support digital development through the use of Jisc tools, such as the digital elevation tool, building digital capability service and digital experience insights surveys.

In this episode Andrew and Louisa are joined by Kerry Heathcote, vice principal of curriculum and quality at College of West Anglia.

The discussion begins with a look ay College of West Anglia’s digital elevation strategy and the six elements that comprise the curriculum design and development and learner experience.

Kerry talks about how Jisc’s digital experience insights survey, through student and learner feedback, allows the college to benchmark themselves and really focus on the student voice, leadership, governance and culture.

Next, Kerry shares advice for teachers on using digital technologies in their teaching by keeping the learner at the heart of the experience.

Lastly, Kerry looks to the future and how the role of the FE teacher may change over time.

Show notes

• Subscribe to Headlines- our newsletter which has all the latest edtech news, guidance and events tailored to you
• Get in touch with us at[email protected] if you’d like to come on the show or know someone who might suit the series

In this special episode of Beyond the Technology, recorded live at Digifest 2024, Tom Moule, senior AI specialist in Jisc’s AI team is joined by David Pike, head of digital learning at the Academy for Learning and Teaching Excellence at the University of Bedfordshire, Alina Bajgrowicz, digital learning officer from the University of Bedfordshire, and Scott Hayden, head of teaching and learning and digital at Basingstoke College of Technology to discuss AI and empathy.

The panel begins by looking at the ethical questions that have been raised around using AI at their institutions, and how frequent empathy mapping with students and staff ensures their needs are met. Next, they highlight the benefits and pitfalls of AI for both students and staff, and the need for the sector to define best practice for using AI in education.

David and Alina share examples of ethical dilemmas around generative AI from their session at Digifest and Scott discusses his approach to deepfakes at Basingstoke.

Finally, the group predict where assessment might be heading in the age of AI.

Show notes

Learn more about Jisc’s work on AI.

Be the first to hear our developing plans for Digifest 2025 by signing up to our mailing list

Subscribe to Headlines - our newsletter which has all the latest edtech news, guidance and events tailored to you

Get in touch with us at [email protected] if you’d like to come on the show or know someone who might suit the series.

In this episode of the Beyond the Technology podcast, Elizabeth Newall, senior sector specialist at Jisc invites Dr Tabetha Newman, senior research consultant at Timmus limited, Sharon Perera, head of academic digital skills at the University of Greenwich and Tom Wright, director of digital experience, University of Lincoln, to explore the findings of Jisc’s research investigating the digital experiences of international students studying in UK HE.

Elizabeth invites guests to explore the complexities and challenges faced by international students in navigating the digital landscape of their educational experiences. From discussions on prior access to technology and digital infrastructure across different countries to the integration of digital tools in teaching and learning practices in the UK, the podcast provides valuable insights into how universities can better support their international student community.

Show notes

Find out more about the researching international students' digital experience project.

Briefing paper 1 | Facilitating holistic conversations about the student experience with international students

Briefing paper 2 | Supporting international students’ digital experience: a checklist for providing an equitable and inclusive experience

Briefing paper 3 | Comparing international and UK-domiciled student responses in Jisc’s digital experience insights (DEI) survey

Read up on the International students’ digital experience phase one: a review of policy, academic literature and views from UK higher education and the International students’ digital experience phase two: experiences and expectations

Register your interest to stay informed of our research into international students’ digital experience

Subscribe to Headlines - our newsletter which has all the latest edtech news, guidance and events tailored to you

Get in touch with us at [email protected] if you’d like to come on the show or know someone who might suit the series.

In this episode of the Beyond the Technology podcast, Fiona Steel, graduate teaching assistant at Leeds Beckett University, joins Heidi Fraser-Krauss, Jisc’s CEO, to discuss using virtual reality (VR) to tackle the gender disparity in STEM education. Fiona is delivering a lightning talk session on this topic atDigifest. So, if you enjoy this conversation, be sure to attend her talk at 11:30 on Wednesday 13 March at the Digifest event, taking place in Birmingham and online.

Fiona begins by looking at the complex issue of gender disparity in STEM education and careers and why they still remain male-dominated. She tells us about her hopes for encouraging more women, girls and non-binary learners to engage in STEM subjects, without alienating anyone else, to move society forwards.

Fiona explains how VR can be used in the classroom to tackle gender disparity by making learning content more inclusive, accessible and engaging, showcasing diverse role models and perspectives and challenging stereotypes.

Listen to the full episode now, and if you enjoy this episode, look out for Fiona’s lightning talk at Digifest on 13 March.

Show notes

• Find out more about Digifest 2024 and imagine the future of education and research
• Subscribe to Headlines- our newsletter which has all the latest edtech news, guidance and events tailored to you
• Get in touch with us at[email protected] if you’d like to come on the show or know someone who might suit the series

Host Simon Birkett is joined by Helen Cocks from the University of Exeter to discuss how their agile culture is paying off for digital transformation.

In this episode of the Beyond the Technology podcast, Helen Cocks, Head of Digital Strategy and Engagement, joins us to discuss the approach powering digital transformation at the University of Exeter. The university is already reaping the rewards of the digital strategy they implemented less than two years ago, with a vision of becoming the most accessible and connected university destination for any user.

Helen touches on subjects ranging from recruitment and data infrastructure to digital initiatives and a motto of ‘practice what you teach’. She tells us about the lessons learned along the way, explaining why data in particular has been so crucial to their progress.

We also hear about the user-led approach taken to try and make processes easier and more responsive for a user base of digital natives wanting to replicate the polished experience they get with the likes of Netflix and Amazon.

Listen to the episode in full for all this and more, including Helen’s best advice for other higher education leaders looking to make progress on their digital transformation journeys.

Show notes:

• Read University of Exeter’s Strategy 2030
• Exeter’s Digital Strategy
• Access Exeter’s Digital Team site, covering products and services, roles and responsibilities, blogs and much more
• Check out our framework for digital transformation in higher education and explore a comprehensive perspective on how the digital environment can support positive work, research and learning experiences, and promote a sense of belonging and wellbeing
• Subscribe to Headlines - our newsletter which has all the latest edtech news, guidance and events tailored to you
• Get in touch with us at [email protected] if you’d like to come on the show or know someone who might suit the series

In the third of our further education and skills focused podcasts, we’re joined by Stevie Emmanuel and Yusuf Ibrahim from Cardiff and Vale College.

This is the third in a series of podcasts focused on further education and skills (FE), hosted by Andrew McFadyen and Louisa Stamatelopoulos. Throughout this series Andrew and Louisa are joined by experts from further education colleges to shine a light on how they support digital development through the use of Jisc tools, such as the digital elevation tool, building digital capability service and digital experience insights surveys.

In this edition our hosts welcome Stevie Emmanuel, head of technology enhanced learning, and Yusuf Ibrahim, Assistant Principal, from Cardiff and Vale College to the show to discuss how new technologies are driving their digital strategy.

Stevie begins by talking about the move from a TEL strategy to a full college digital transformation and how the Jisc digital elevation tool has helped to craft that strategy.

Next, Stevie looks at the impact on staff and learners of embracing change in a digital world and how a student-led project, TEL Talks, has increased engagement.

Yusuf and Stevie give an example of how their student digital leaders have collaborated to gain future-ready skills.

The guests also share their advice for teachers looking to use new digital technology in the classroom and look to the future at how the role of the FE teacher may change over time.

Finally, Yusuf discusses how Cardiff and Vale College are removing the barriers from equity, quality and diversity through the use of technology.

Show notes

· See how our digital capability service can help you

· Find out more about how the digital elevation tool can elevate FE and skillsproviders’ digital ambitions

· Discover how the digital experience insights service works

· Explore our further education and skills hub

· Subscribe to our Headlines newsletter, which has all the latest edtech news, guidance and events tailored to you

· Get in touch with us at[email protected] if you’d like to come on the show or know someone who might suit the series

On this episode of Beyond the Technology, Sophia Speakman hosts Professor Niamh Nic Daeid, Vincenzo Rinaldi and Heather Doran from the University of Dundee, winners of the innovative use of technology award at the Herald Higher Education Awards, to discuss the exciting project surrounding virtual reality (VR) being carried out at the Leverhulme Research Centre.

Niamh and Vincenzo outline how the team aims to revolutionise crime scene investigations and court proceedings using VR. Having already worked with the Danish police, the project is focused on creating a systematic approach to turn crime scene images into a VR environment, providing a more immersive decision-making tool. The team envisions a future where VR brings crime scenes to investigators, reducing the need for physical travel.

Heather discusses how the pandemic limited engagement of the tool with public audiences due to the tactile nature of the VR technology and also how the university’s widening access team hope to work with them to share VR with students.

Vincenzo addresses the high costs associated with advanced forensic technologies and how the project aims to focus on cost-effective solutions by repurposing existing tools such as traditional cameras and commercial-grade VR devices.

To close, Vincenzo and Niamh offer advice to other universities seeking to explore innovation in technology.

Show notes

• Read more about the University of Dundee’s ground-breaking project in our member story

• Find out more about theLeverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science at the University of Dundee

• Subscribe to our Headlines newsletter, which has all the latest edtech news, guidance and events tailored to you

• Get in touch with us if you’d like to come on the show or know someone who might suit the series

In our second further education and skills focused podcast, Sheena Murphy-Collett, Petroc College’s Vice Principal of people, organisational development and engagement joins us to discuss digital growth, from seed to flower.

This is the second in a series of podcasts focused on further education and skills (FE), hosted by Andrew McFadyen and Louisa Stamatelopoulos. Throughout this series Andrew and Louisa are joined by experts from further education colleges to shine a light on how they support digital development through the use of Jisc tools, such as the digital elevation tool, building digital capability service and digital experience insights surveys.

Sheena Murphy-Collett, Vice Principal of people, organisational development and engagement at Petroc College, begins by revealing her unconventional route into FE and how her suite of transferable skills benefit her current role.

Next, Sheena discusses the digital focus at Petroc College, orienting herself into three new teams and using Jisc’s digital elevation tool to give structure and priorities to those teams.

Sheena also talks about the excellent contacts she has made through Jisc community events and the opportunities they have opened up.

To close, Sheena shares her advice for teachers looking to utilise digital technology, her views on how the role of the FE teacher may change over time and a look at Petroc College’s digital three year plan.

Show notes

• See how ourdigital capability service can help you
• Find out more about how thedigital elevation tool can elevate FE and skills providers’ digital ambitions
• Discover how thedigital experience insights service works
• Explore ourfurther education and skills hub
• Subscribe to our Headlines newsletter, which has all the latest edtech news, guidance and events tailored to you
• Get in touch with us at [email protected]if you’d like to come on the show or know someone who might suit the series

In this podcast episode, Elizabeth Newall welcomes Helen Beetham and Sheila MacNeill, who discuss rethinking learning and curriculum design in higher education.

Helen Beetham, a researcher in digital education and Sheila MacNeill, an independent consultant with experience in curriculum design talk about the importance of rethinking learning and curriculum design in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to adapt to new challenges.

The conversation explores the evolution of curriculum design pre and post pandemic, emphasising a shift towards a more holistic approach. They introduce the concept of "beyond blended," which focuses on blending of different modes of learning, particularly synchronous and asynchronous, and the impact of technology on time and place within the curriculum.

The discussion also touches on the student experience during the pandemic, highlighting issues related to new technologies such as generative AI, accessibility, and the need for flexibility. Helen and Sheila share that different students have different preferences for learning modes, and the pandemic has highlighted the importance of catering to diverse learning needs.

Helen and Sheila share their work on the six pillars of blended learning. They emphasise the importance of understanding the pedagogic differences between in-place and online learning, the role of pace in learning, and the need to balance flexibility with the specific needs of students. They also introduce the idea of using "lenses" to examine the curriculum from different angles, both at the curriculum and strategic levels.

The conversation concludes by highlighting the need for a robust curriculum design process and the potential for new technologies like generative AI to be accommodated within flexible curriculum design process.

Show notes

· Beyond blended: Post-pandemic curriculum and learning design: lessons from the higher education (HE) sector. Available to download from: https://beta.jisc.ac.uk/reports/beyond-blended

· Sign up to receive advance notice of the Beyond blended web guide: https://emails.jisc.ac.uk/k/Jisc/beyond_blended

· Read the report on Approaches to curriculum and learning design across UK higher education

· Read our member story on blending digital and physical at the University of Northampton

· Check out our framework guide for digital transformation in higher education, and explore a comprehensive perspective on how the digital environment can support positive work, research and learning experiences, and promote a sense of belonging and wellbeing

· Subscribe to Headlines - our newsletter which has all the latest edtech news, guidance and events tailored to you

· Get in touch with us at [email protected] if you’d like to come on the show or know someone who might suit the series