This page contains details of the 10 taught sessions of the Phase 1 Academic Induction that have been developed by the Academic Development and Inclusion team in collaboration with other partners across the University. 

We are hosting these phase one sessions throughout Semester 1 2024/25, and we invite you to enrol! 

Sessions are also open to staff who have been here longer than 3 years although priority will be given to newcomers. 

The sessions can be completed in any order, and you can take part in as many or as few as you wish.

Getting Started

Whether you’ve just begun your career at the University or been here for a year or two, you’re invited to join us as we look at what sort of things you might need to know as a member of academic teaching staff at Hallam.

Our interactive format introduces areas such as digital learning, using the library, referring students to the Library & Skills Centre and other support, assessment procedures, research and innovation, career progression, module documents and planning inclusive learning and teaching. We’ll help you to identify gaps in your knowledge and then we’ll signpost you to where you can find out more.

The session also provides an opportunity to meet new teaching staff from different departments and to share and compare experiences such as imposter syndrome, teaching approaches and research interests. It promises to be an informal, fun, and lively experience!

Wednesday 25th September 2024: 12.30pm - 3.30pm - City Campus - Owen 1033, level 10. Book your place

Disability and Accessibility in Learning and Teaching

This session considers the legal context for disabled access in higher education (HE) as well as good practice for inclusive learning and teaching.

The aims of the session are to:

• support participants to recognise some of the barriers that disabled students face.
• share and introduce inclusive ideas, approaches, and strategies to embed into modules, including the Hallam baseline inclusive measures.
• to outline what support is available for disabled students at Hallam.

Thursday 7th November 2024: 1.30pm - 3pm - City Campus - Owen 922, level 9. Book your place

Introduction to the Language of Assessment

What’s the difference between an assessment criterion, a module learning outcome and a grade descriptor?

This online session aims to improve your own ‘assessment literacy’ so that you can not only support your students to understand these terms, but you can also review your modules and make the assessment and marking process more accessible to students.

This session is not only suitable for new staff but is also useful for those who are writing assessment briefs, rubrics, and guidance for their newly validated modules as part of Portfolio Redevelopment.

Please note: you must have completed this session before attending the Giving Assessment Feedback session below.

Tuesday 3rd December 2024: 10am - 11.30am - Collegiate Campus, HOTC HC.0.17, level 0. Book your place

Giving Assessment Feedback

Please note: to attend this session, you need to have completed the session: Introduction to the Language of Assessment (above).

This online session invites participants to experience and reflect upon some approaches to developing their students’ assessment literacy. 

We also introduce and discuss some principles of effective assessment feedback, with opportunities for participants to review their own assessment feedback. 

Finally, we identify ways to streamline the marking process and possible approaches to standardising feedback.

Wednesday 11th December 2024: 10am - 11.30am - Collegiate Campus, HOTC HC.0.07, level 0. Book your place

Chairing Discussions with Students

This session explores how to facilitate and manage group discussions with students as part of learning and teaching, including ways in which to summarise discussions and conduct ‘debriefs’.

Participants will consider the function of ‘ground rules’; explore different discussion formats and engage with techniques to create an environment where everyone has a voice.

New dates to follow! 

Managing Student Behaviours: part 1

This is the first session of two on managing student behaviours. Part 2 will be available in the Semester 2 and will look at complex or challenging behaviours. Part 1 explores strategies for responding to low-level disruption in learning and teaching contexts.

This first session looks at key concepts such as what we mean by ‘good’ behaviour, ‘behaviours for learning’, cultural differences in expectations and behaviour as communication. 

We also explore the importance of building positive relationships with students. A case study approach is then employed to share or introduce practical skills and tips that can be applied when facilitating learning and teaching.

Wednesday 9th October 2024: 2pm - 3.30pm - City Campus, Charles Street, 12.3.18, level 3. Book your place

Building Belonging with Students

This session looks at what belonging means for students in higher education, why it is important and what you can do to facilitate feelings of belonging with your students as a member of academic teaching staff.

The session places inclusion at the heart of the process and provides ideas and resources to support the embedding of activities that build belonging.

Monday 30th September 2024: 10am - 11.30am - City Campus, Cantor 9128, level 1. Book your place

Transitioning to HE from a Professional Role

This session is for staff who are transitioning from a professional role to working in the University sector (sometimes referred to as ‘pracademics’).

The session aims to address some of the challenges of transitioning to academia by inviting participants to reflect upon the value that their professional experience has in the University context. This will involve linking skills and professional values from previous practice to the academic environment and identifying the impact of the ‘pracademic’ community within HE.

Participants are invited to bring along an object which represents their journey from practice to academia. The session will also draw upon research and literature on the pracademic experience and support participants to develop and celebrate their pracademic identities.

Monday 25th November 2024: 2pm - 3.30pm - Collegiate Campus, HOTC HC.0.17, level 0. Book your place

Active Learning

This session examines what we mean by ‘active learning’; what this might look like in a higher education context; why it matters; how it can support inclusive practice, and what’s involved in facilitating active learning with students.

The session practices what it preaches: participants will take part in active learning activities and reflect not just on what they learned but also how they learned it. 

We will explore the role of the teacher in active learning and focus on the use of questions to support, consolidate, and extend learning. There will also be opportunities to share good practice and generally have fun!

Thursday 19th December 2024: 1.30pm - 3pm - Collegiate Campus, HOTC, HC.0.33 level 0. Book your place

Teaching with Confidence

This session is for academic teaching staff who wish to become more confident and engaging presenters. 

Participants will be introduced to tools that will enable them to ‘hold the room’ and speak audibly, clearly and with confidence. 

We will draw on an actor’s skillset to share tips and tricks for facilitating effective presentations.

Thursday 24th October 2024: 10am - 11.30am - Collegiate Campus, Oaklands 216, level 1. Book your place