The popular micro-credential short course returns in summer 2026. The course comprises of four, 1-hour session topics around teaching and learning. As part of the Aberdeen 2040 Strategy, these Principles for the Delivery of Education build upon our established teaching innovations and achievements and underpin teaching in the academic year. Staff who participate in all four topics gain a digital certificate of completion.
Sign up to attend on the Course Booking System
Details of Course Topics below.
- Course Topics
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Topic 1: Belonging and Mattering
Facilitators: Dr Mary Pryor & Dr Aaron Thom, Centre for Academic Development
This interactive session will explore how course and programme design choices can strengthen students’ sense of belonging and mattering throughout their learning journey. Drawing on contemporary scholarship, participants will consider what it means for students to both belong and matter within higher education, as well as examining practical approaches to fostering these experiences through curriculum design, learning activities, and the wider student experience.
Topic 2: Inclusive Assessment Design
Facilitators: Dr Aaron Thom & Dr Darren Comber, Centre for Academic Development
This interactive workshop will explore how formative and summative assessments can be designed to be both authentic and inclusive. Featuring recent innovative practices from the University of Aberdeen, the session will examine approaches that support meaningful learning while promoting equity and accessibility. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with inclusive assessment design and reflect on how these principles can be applied within their own contexts.
Topic 3: Group Work
Facilitators: Dr Aaron Thom, Centre for Academic Development & Dr Donna MacCallum, MMSN
This session will explore how group work can be used effectively to promote student interaction, collaborative problem-solving, and academic performance, while maintaining a clear pedagogical purpose. Considering both staff and student perspectives, the session will examine the benefits and challenges of group work in synchronous and asynchronous learning environments. A case study from a Master’s-level course will illustrate how collaborative activities can support the development of transferable skills relevant across disciplines.
Topic 4: MyAberdeen: From Clicks to Insights
Facilitators: Catherine Ogilvie & Megan Buchanan, Centre for Academic Development
This session aims to demonstrate how student activity and engagement statistics in MyAberdeen can inform you about student activity and performance in your course, as well as provide insights into specific learning materials. We will highlight how statistics reports in MyAberdeen and Panopto can help answer the following questions:
- How are students engaging with the course over time?
- How well are students performing in the course?
- How did students perform in a specific assessment?
- Can I gather insights on specific learning materials?