SoTL Spotlight Podcast

SoTL Spotlight Podcast

What is the Spotlight Podcast?

This podcast series aims to put a spotlight on topics in the Learning & Teaching space. We hope that by listening to others talk about some of these topics will give you food for thought in how you might want to develop and innovate your LTA practice, and hopefully you will want to advance this through our Scholarship of Teaching & Learning Network (SoTL@SHU) to gain support and develop plans to disseminate your work.

Why is this a podcast?

We hear you loud and clear – you get enough written communication! The trend for audio communication such as radio and podcasts has spiked in recent years, and so we are trialling this as an asynchronous tool to enhance the SoTL support and scaffolding for colleagues. This should complement other support and development we have on offer including in-person college SoTL events, online synchronous institution wide events, online communities including Teams and Whatsapp chats, and the tried and trusted ‘Cluster Cuppa Catchups’ that some of you are engaged in! Podcasts are an innovative and celebrated way of dissemination, and feature on Beckingham’s SoTL Staircase (2023).

Who is involved in this?

The series is hosted by Joel (Associate Dean Learning, Teaching and Student Success), and features colleagues from across the university, the second series is being recorded in the summer with more colleagues and some external experts.

Joel

Joel

Joel is an Associate Dean for Learning, Teaching and Student Success at Sheffield Hallam University and the host of the Spotlight Podcast series. He is one of the founding members of the university’s Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Network, and leads the University Grade Descriptor project – a sector leading initiative on assessment practice and pedagogy. Joel is an advocate of digital and media literacy, and passionate about student and staff mattering in a thriving and inclusive widening participation institution. Joel is a leading scholar on the world’s biggest traditional media organisation, The Walt Disney Company.  
Recent articles: 
-The Conversation
-The Journal of American Culture  

Series 1 Episodes

Episode 1 - Enterprise with Graeme Tidd and Andy Callard

Enterprise in education is something that has increased in prominence and popularity over the last decade. From Dragon’s Den and pitching innovative business ideas, through to scaffolding skills in taking risks and spotting opportunities – student enterprise is a topic of particular importance for the Sheffield region. Listen to guests Graeme Tidd and Andy Callard talk more about the concept of ‘student enterprise’.

Episode 2 - The APP with Toni Schwarz and Liz Austen

The Access and Participation Plan is a regulatory requirement from the OfS for HEIs to work to. However, for an institution like SHU there is a richness and depth to this sort of work that is part of our identity. Join APP experts Liz Austen and Toni Schwarz as they help us unpack this important and inspiring topic.

Episode 3 - Internationalisation + International Student Experience with Iain Garner, Bee Gan and Natalie Haynes

Internationalisation and international student experience are often mistaken for being the same thing, in this episode we have three experts helping us identify the differences and similarities of these topics. Join Bee Gan, Iain Garner and Natalie Haynes as they share their knowledge and experience of these exciting topics.

Episode 4 - Digital Learning with Alison Purvis and Pete Mella

Digital learning is a topic that is enjoying increased interest, join experts Alison Purvis and Pete Mella and start to understand the digital learning ideas and opportunities beyond online synchronous teaching sessions.

Episode 5 - Future Now with Pam Bowman and Sally Billau

Future Now is the name of an exciting LTA-KE initiative that is proving a huge success in Sheffield Creative Industries Institute here at SHU. Listen to colleagues Pam Bowman and Sally Billau talk through what is involved, and how others from across the university can get involved.

Episode 6 - Students as Co-Creators with Rich Telling and Joel Kesterton

Working with students is one of Felton’s key principles of good quality SoTL. Join colleagues Rich Telling and Joel Kesterton as we explore some of the ways that communicating with students and working with students as co-creators could be used in SoTL projects.

Episode 7 - Authentic Assessment with Vicky Mellon and Mick Marriott

Authentic assessment is becoming a hot topic by way of responding to concerns of inappropriate use of AI in assessment submissions. It is so much more than that though, join colleagues Vicky Mellon and Mick Marriot as they talk through what is meant by the term, and use examples from their courses to demonstrate how others could begin to embed or enhance authentic assessment in their subjects.

What about topic X? What is the future for this podcast?

Series 1 is a test, it isn’t perfect and it does not cover every topic! We wanted to see if this format worked. We think staff will enjoy the episodes, and so we are now looking to record future series. If you have a specialist area of T&L knowledge or skills then reach out to us, we’d love to talk to you in our SoTL Network, and we are always looking for more podcast guests! If there’s a topic you want us to cover to help support your development, you can also let us know. Fill in this short form to express your intention. Series 2 topics will include: Generative AI in LTA, The SoTL Basics, EEDI in STEM, Formative Assessment and Feedback, and Inclusive Practice – this series will be recorded in July.