Learning and Teaching in Action: MMU's Journal for the scholarship of teaching and learning

Learning and Teaching in Action
Volume 14, Issue 1

 

This special issue of Learning and Teaching in Action will gather the thoughts, ideas and experiences of colleagues from across Manchester Met as we move to remotely delivered block teaching in the academic year 2020/21, capturing our collective journey via a process where we can learn with and from each other. We will add content throughout the year, charting and chronicling every stage as we move through from planning through to implementation and evaluation.

We welcome submissions from all MMU colleagues, please have a look at the call for contributions. This special issue will remain live until May 2021 and reviewed contributions will be published progressively.

 

See What Can Be Done

Helen Laville
In this opening article, Prof. Helen Laville, our PVC Education, sets the scene for block teaching and her vision. Helen’s words illuminate the opportunities and the need for creative thinking and action to design and offer stimulating and flexible units and programmes in a blended block format. They have the power to liberate our thoughts and set us free to re-imagine the curriculum. Download See What Can Be Done (pdf file)     Share

Decolonising the Curriculum Within a Block Teaching Structure: A Beginning

Hetal Patel
The author reflects on her first experience of diversifying and decolonising the curriculum within a block teaching format. Download Decolonising the Curriculum Within a Block Teaching Structure: A Beginning (pdf file)     Share

Academic Readiness and Collaborative Communities in Online Block Teaching: A Lefebvrian Case Study

Dr Benjamin Harkin
Observations on how tutors and students use and experience the pedagogical approach of online block teaching through the Lefebvrian lens, and how this can generate valuable insights to foster relationship building, interactions and engagement. Download Academic Readiness and Collaborative Communities in Online Block Teaching: A Lefebvrian Case Study (pdf file)     Share

Reflections on block teaching at ManMet during the pandemic: three practitioners, three voices

Chrissi Nerantzi, Gerasimos Chatzidamianos and Nicoletta Di Ciolla
As the end of an academic year approaches when everything about the university experience was affected by the constraints imposed by COVID-19, this article presents the reflections of three academics, offering three different perspectives on what this unprecedented year has implied, and the legacy it is potentially leaving behind. Download Reflections on block teaching at ManMet during the pandemic: three practitioners, three voices (pdf file)     Share

 

If you are interested in contributing, please have a look at the call for contributions.

The editors
Dr Chrissi Nerantzi, Dr Gerasimos Chatzidamianos, Dr Nicoletta Di Ciolla

 

Resources on writing about learning and teaching:

Writing about Learning and Teaching in Higher Education a book by Mick Healey, Kelly E. Matthews, and Alison Cook-Sather (free to download)

Engaging with educational research a free Open University course

Conducting research in classes or with students as participants article on University of Waterloo website