Programme

Time

Session & Room

09:00-09:30

Registration & Poster session

09:30-09:35

Welcome & Introduction   

Professor Steve Tucker, Dean for Quality Assurance & Quality Enhancement (School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition)

09:35-10:30

External Keynote

What do graduates do in Scotland (and particularly around Aberdeen)?
by Dr Charlie Ball, Head of Labour Market Intelligence, Jisc

10:30-10:50

Break

 10:50 – 11:20

Short Parallel Presentations

Advance HE Fellowships: effective practice showcase - Advance HE fellowship demonstrates a commitment to professionalism and provides recognition of practice, impact and leadership in teaching and learning. This session showcases three examples of effective practice presented by recent Advance HE awardees at the University of Aberdeen. Examples are drawn from awardees' own applications, demonstrating the breadth of activity from Associate Fellowship, Fellowship and Senior Fellowship categories.

Presenters

Dr Prachi Singh, AFHEA (Lecturer, Business School) Linking 'real world' examples with educational theory.
Dr Sylvia Vetter, FHEA, (Advanced Research Fellow, School of Biological Sciences) Approaches to including students who are not comfortable speaking in front of others.
Professor Jie Sui, SFHEA, (Chair In Psychology) Working with PGRs and their supervisors as an example of leading and influencing others as a Senior Fellow

Chair: Dr Aaron Thom, Educational Development Adviser, Centre for Academic Development

3-minute presentations: Group 1 Future-ready Assessment

'Authentic Assessment for Employability in the Arts'
 Alan MacPherson, Teaching Fellow, Film & Visual Culture

'Objective Objective Structured Practical Examinations (OSPE) Authentic assessment of science and employability skills'
Professor Alison Jenkinson, Personal Chair, Medical Education

'Navigating your way into a microbiology career: embedding skills into assessment'
Dr Donna M. MacCallum, Reader and BSc Programme Lead, Medical Education

'Reflections: Developing Students' employment skills'
Susan Caie, E-Learning Coordinator, Language Centre

3-minute presentations: Group 2 Professional Practice

'From Surviving to Thriving - Supporting Neurodivergent Student Teachers'
Dr Catherine Francis, Lecturer, Initial Teacher Education (ITE) in collaboration with   Alyson Young, Lecturer, Initial Teacher Education (ITE)

'Modelling Best Practice in Modern Languages Teaching for the Primary School  (P1 to P3)'
Dr Colin Christie., Senior Lecturer, Initial Teacher Education (ITE)

'A Course feedback Evaluation: achievement of intended learning outcomes,  clarity of assessment instructions and grading processes in Work-Based Learning (ACE:WBL)'
Toni Gibson, Teaching Fellow, Other Applied Health Sciences

'Enhancing Student Employability via the SMMSN MSci Programme'
Dr Ian Fleming, Senior Lecturer, Medical Education

11:25 – 11:50

Short Parallel Presentations

Blackboard's Roadmap for Innovation in Teaching and Learning - Join us for an overview of the Blackboard roadmap and a sneak peek into upcoming innovations for the next academic year. We'll delve into exciting developments across key areas such as assessment, course design, collaboration, and communication. Discover how upcoming tools and features will empower instructors to create dynamic, personalized learning experiences, streamline workflows, and foster meaningful interactions.

3-minute presentations: Group 3 Innovative Teaching

‘Buy 1 get 1 free: teaching students qualitative research methods with an employability topic’
Dr Mirjam Brady-Van den Bos, Lecturer, Psychology

‘Crafting Molecules and Content: TikTok-Enhanced Learning in Biochemistry Education’
Dr Monika Gostic, Teaching Fellow, BioSciences

‘LTEP Student Intersectionality Project’
Theodore Williamson, School Administration Assistant, DHPA School Administration

‘Experimenting with task-based team learning’
Dr Eva Pocher, Lecturer in Economics, Economics

3-minute presentations: Group 4 Supporting Diverse Learners

‘Developing an AI chatbot to help healthcare students practice clinical histories using ChatGPT’
Rachel Falconer, Clinical Lecturer, Medical Education

 ‘Enhancing the Accessibility of Teaching Materials for Education Students’
Faye Hendry, Senior Lecturer, Initial Teacher Education (ITE)

‘Evaluation of institutional Assistive Technology potential to support diverse groups of learners in a Scottish Higher Educational Institution’
Steven Sangster, Assistive Technology Adviser, Service Management

‘Accessibility Challenges within the NHS for health professional students – a systematic evaluation’
Helen Clark, Clinical Facilitator, Medical Education

11:50-12:50 

Lunch & Poster session

Show & Tell: Share your creative use of the VLE - Bring your lunch to this informal session highlighting innovative and effective uses of the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) in course design. Presenters will showcase strategies, tools, and activities that have enhanced student engagement and learning experiences. From creative applications of built-in VLE features to simple yet impactful course design tweaks, this session offers practical insights and inspiration for educators looking to optimise their use of the VLE.

12:50-13:50

Parallel Workshops

Workshop1: Future-Ready Learning (online) - This online workshop will explore various perspectives around Future-Ready Learning. There will be short presentations from Dr Alessandro Ala (Senior Lecturer, International Business Management at the Qatar campus), Dr Aaron Thom, Dr Mary Pryor, and Megan Buchanan (CAD) who will give their perspectives around the ways in which courses are inclusively designed and authentically assessed to prepare students for life beyond their University studies. There will then be three randomly assigned breakout groups (Group 1: Designing Authentic Assessments with Dr Mary Pryor/Dr Aaron Thom; Group 2: Effective Course Design in MyAberdeen with Megan Buchanan, and Group 3: Future-Ready Teaching with Dr Alessandro Ala), which will oversee conversations about designing effective teaching, before a wider group discussion.

Facilitators:
Dr Alessandro Ala, Senior Lecturer, International Business Management at the Qatar campus
Dr Aaron Thom, Educational Development Adviser, Centre for Academic Development
Dr Mary Pryor, Senior Academic Skills Adviser, Centre for Academic Development
Megan Buchanan, Lead eLearning Adviser (User Experience), Centre for Academic Development

Workshop 2: The Role of Work-Based Learning in Future-Ready Education (in-person) - Join us for an interactive session exploring how Work-Based Learning (WBL) could enhance education. During the session participants will engage in group discussions to explore the meaning of WBL. We will explore a range of types of WBL and consider how these could work in the context of educational practice. By the end of the session, we hope to identify some "quick wins" and broader possibilities for embedding WBL into the student learning journey.

Facilitators:
Professor John Barrow, Dean for Employability and Entrepreneurship, Medical Education
Tracey Innes, Assistant Director and Head of Careers, Careers & Employability
Miles Rothoerl, VP for Education, Students' Union

Workshop 3: Preventing student burnout: Embedding wellbeing into the curriculum and strengthening support to help students thrive (in-person) - In this workshop we will discuss the increase in poor student mental health and burnout and share best practice on how we can support and improve the student experience. We will consider how we can embed wellbeing in the design of our curriculum; how to design inclusive assessments; and, how to build student community through engagement.

Facilitators:
Professor Jason Bohan, Dean for Student Support and Experience, Psychology
Dr Sara Preston, Senior eLearning Adviser, Centre for Academic Development
Karim Hurtig, VP for Welfare, Students’ Union
Dr Rafael Cardoso, Lecturer, Computing Science

13:50-14:10

Break

14:10-15:10

External Keynote

The responsible use of AI in Education
by Nicolaas Matthijs, Chief Product Officer, Anthology

How can we ensure that AI enhances learning experiences equitably, inclusively, and responsibly? As the use of AI in education is growing and evolving quickly, instructors and institutions face new responsibilities to leverage this powerful technology ethically and sustainably. We’ll explore how to find the right balance between using generative AI to improve education while also asking critical questions around the responsible use of AI. Additionally, we'll discuss the environmental implications of AI. Join us as we shape the future of education, where innovation meets responsibility.

15:10-15:40

Our Survey Says…: Exploring Generative AI, Higher Education, and Future Skills through a Family Fortunes-Style Quiz
 Join us for a lively, interactive session that puts the spotlight on what students,  staff, and employers really think about the role of generative AI in higher education and its impact on future employability skills. Using a Family Fortunes-style quiz format, we'll reveal the top answers from recent surveys and invite participants to test their instincts - and maybe their luck - by guessing what the wider community believes.

 Whether you're curious, concerned, or cautiously optimistic about AI, this session offers a fun and thought-provoking way to engage with one of the most pressing topics in education today.

Presenter: Professor Steve Tucker, Dean for Quality Assurance & Quality Enhancement (School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition)

15:40-16:00 

Excellence Awards, Poster Competition & Closing Remarks  

Professor Jo-Anne Murray, Vice-Principal (Education) & Miles Rothoerl, VP for Education, Students' Union

Excellence in Education Award
Principal's Teaching Excellence Award
Symposium Poster Competition: Digital Accessibility Award &  Popular Vote Award