Following a successful series of workshops showcasing good practice of using technology to facilitate public engagement within teaching at the University of Bath, a project led by Dr Jessica Francombe-Webb, Lecturer in the Department for Health, funded by the University's Teaching Development Fund (TDF), has successfully launched its online hub. The online hub, which can be found at https://engagedteachingbath.wordpress.com/, will be updated periodically with the remaining findings of the project. You are invited to make use of the ‘follow’ function available on the website to enable you to receive email notifications when updates are made. This project has built on LITEbox, an Alumni-funded initiative supporting the exploration and adoption of new and existing technology enhanced learning tools and techniques for learning and teaching.
You may also be interested in the project’s “The 3 W’s of Engaged Teaching” Public Engagement Map, which can be downloaded electronically Alternatively, you can email Ed Stevens in the Public Engagement Unit to obtain a physical copy.
The project staged three workshops, which took place between December 2016 and April 2017, exploring a range of different approaches and methodologies for using technology to facilitate engagement with wider audiences to enrich teaching within the classroom. These findings have been captured within the online hub, which will also form part of a new Learning & Teaching Resources Hub, currently under development by the Centre for Learning & Teaching.
Attending the final workshop entitled ‘Developing engaged curricula: At Bath and Beyond’, which included a webinar featuring different methods of engagement with different audiences and their role education, Dr Marianne Ellis, Associate Dean (Learning & Teaching), Faculty of Engineering & Design and current Chair of the University’s TDF Sub-Committee said:
“This was a fascinating workshop which reinforced the importance of continuing to use TDF funding to push the boundaries of our thinking, both in relation to research-enriched teaching and also what new and existing technologies have to offer us for our future curriculum development. Participating in a workshop of this kind which used the technology to bring in external speakers to stimulate debate was excellent. I would encourage colleagues to explore the ‘Engaged Teaching’ hub and consider ideas for how we might build on this good work through the Teaching Development Fund and in our day-to-day teaching practices.”
During this workshop the project team also launched its public engagement map, designed to help you plan more effective and engaging activities.
Workshop 1, entitled “Developing engaged curricula: The challenges of technology and reflexivity” showcased the work of Dr Fran Laughton (Director of Teaching, Dept. of Physics). The second workshop, entitled “Developing engaged curricula: Film as critical pedagogy” showcased the work of Dr Darragh McGee (Lecturer, Dept. for Health). The penultimate workshop, “Developing engaged curricula: Industry engagement and technology” included a panel discussion regarding the role of technology in enhancing student engagement with industry partners.
Dr Sarah Bonner, Public Engagement Consultant for the University of Birmingham and external speaker at the final workshop commenting on the project said:
“Working with the LITEbox team and their colleagues has been an important project for me both personally and professionally. After over 15 years working within the higher education sector I have been involved in a variety of public engagement projects, but the focus on technological facilitation that Jess and her team embarked upon showed innovation, bravery, open mindedness and an enthusiasm to ‘have a go’. The collaborative nature of the project was a real strength and it was clear that the team were willing to learn from different disciplinary perspectives in order to ensure that honest conversations were had that progressed the work in the short term but can also have an impact in the future both within Bath and beyond.”
The project team would like to express their sincere thanks to LITEbox, the Teaching Development Fund, and the Public Engagement Unit at the University of Bath for making this project possible. The insights highlighted have been innovative and inspiring, and it is hoped that the map and online hub can be used to continue documenting examples of best practice here at the University of Bath and inspiring new endeavours in technology-facilitated engaged teaching.
Further information: Dr Jessica Francombe-Webb, Lecturer, Dept. for Health
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