February sees the launch of the new Technology Enhanced Learning seminar series focused around the theme of ‘Reshaping teaching with technology’.

What is the TEL Seminar Series?

A programme of engaging and interactive talks from three of the UK’s leading thinkers in the field of educational technology. Speakers will share their ideas and experiences on the topics of flipped learning, Bring Your Own Devices (BYOD), open education and gamification. Don’t worry if you haven’t come across these terms before, we have included a glossary so you’ll soon know your BYOD from your flipped learning.

The idea behind the seminar series is to bring some external influences to Sussex in order to share practice and experiences and to encourage the use of these innovative practices in teaching and learning at Sussex. Speakers are varied in their interests and perspective but all have one thing in common; a passion for education and innovation.

Seminar kick-off

Simon Thomson (@digisim)

The series will kick-off next week, Tuesday 10th February 12:30-2pm, with ‘Oh Flipping Heck – Insights  into “flipped” education’ from Simon Thomson SFHEA NTF, Head of E-learning at Leeds Beckett University.

In what promises to be a highly interactive presentation Simon – who describes himself as a ‘flipped academic’ will discuss the merits of flipped learning and the BYOD (bring your own device) movement:

‘The Horizon Report (2013) states that the “rising popularity of tablets in higher education is partly the product of campuses across the world embracing the BYOD (bring your own device) movement”.

However, is BYOD the best option for Learning & Teaching activity in Higher Education? At Leeds Beckett University we have run 2 funded research pilots into the challenges and benefits of a 1 to 1 tablet device programme. This session will introduce attendees to the findings of this research activity drawing upon the qualitative and quantitative data gathered from the staff and students involved in the project and provide an opportunity to more broadly discuss the effective use of mobile devices in learning & teaching. Please bring your mobile web enabled device to the session.’

“Flipping Heck! I am really looking forward to making a visit to the University of Sussex to chat with attendees on the subject of “Flipped Education”. Perhaps as to be expected I have some quick pre-session tasks for attendees which can be accessed here: http://goo.gl/xn0kAB. ​It gives a couple of clues as to the type of “flipping” we will be discussing but also allows me to prepare for any specific areas of interest from those attending so if you have 15 mins one lunchtime please do the tasks.”

Simon Thomson

Click on the following link for more information and to book your place.

Flipped Learning (Educause)

“The flipped classroom is a pedagogical model in which the typical lecture and homework elements of a course are reversed…The value of a flipped class is in the repurposing of class time into a workshop where students can inquire about lecture content, test their skills in applying knowledge, and interact with one another in hands-on activities.”

Sheila MacNeill (@sheilmcn)

Coming up

Agile and open – how open education can lead to rapid, responsive educational design 

The TEL Seminar Series will then follow with Sheila MacNeill, Senior Lecturer in Blended Learning at Glasgow Caledonian University who will discuss open education in HE.

Put the date in your diary for Tuesday 10th March 12.30-2pm

Open education (Open Education Week)

“Open Education is, at its core, about free and open sharing. Free, meaning no cost, and open, which refers to the use of legal tools (open licenses) that allow everyone to reuse and modify educational resources.”

Derek Robertson (@derekrobertson)

Hairdryers, glaciers and games based learning: lessons learned from the Scottish experience

Derek Robertson, Lecturer at the University of Dundee and former National Adviser for Emerging Technologies and Learning with Scottish Government’s educational agencies will join us to discuss gamification in learning.

The date for your diary is Tuesday, 14th of April 12.30pm-2pm

Gamification (JISC)

“Gamification is the implementation of game mechanics into a non-gaming task, to encourage and motivate people to either carry out that task, to execute it quicker, or to produce higher quality results.”

Be there in spirit

Each of the events will be recorded for anyone who is not able to make it on the day or for anyone external to the University of Sussex who would like to join.

All seminars will be held in the Quiet Room in the Meeting House and a light lunch will be provided. To book follow the links to the seminars and click the green ‘Book Now!’ button.

We hope to see you there.