Innovation in Teaching and Learning

A long association with Cass Business School has been a central part of my work on innovation in teaching and learning, and it’s exciting to take this further now as the Learning Development Associate for the School. I’m having an exciting time helping to develop innovative approaches at Cass.
My birthplace is Leeds, and I spent my formative years there, so it was fascinating to attend a recent conference at Leeds Metropolitan University, on innovative ways of assessing in Higher Education. This is part of their Assessment Learning and Teaching Project.
The Leeds City of today is a far cry from the city I remembered in my youth: sooty and neglected Victorian buildings and little to offer young people. I guess that was partly the driving force in my wanting to escape to study in London, where it all seemed to be happening in 69.
As Sally Brown the dynamic Pro- Vice -Chancellor at Leeds Metropolitan, and a National Teaching Fellow gave her opening address, she spoke about her own feelings at embarking on going to University, and coming from an all girls’ school, and the first member of her family to get a university place. It was witty and heartfelt, and resonated with me. I remember being so scared when I got off the train at Kings Cross Station all those years ago, that I shook.
Many things have changed. Leeds is now a dynamic city, but the transition from school to the first year in university is still challenging and sometimes traumatising and lonely. Many students drop out in the first few weeks. The question is how can academic staff best support, and help students to integrate, and also get support from their peers.
The right kind of Assessment in this first year can help students to feel empowered, strengthen their self belief, and if designed well, can also help them forge friendships and a sense of belonging within a learning community.