Teaching, learning and assessment has drastically changed in the UK higher education sector as a result of the social distancing measures set by the government to reduce the spread of Covid-19. Organisations and staff across the sector have had to rapidly change their approach to educating students to ensure that they are able to complete their modules and qualifications within expected time frames and without detriment. Additionally, with the social distancing measures set to remain in place for the next academic year, work is being done to implement sustainable virtual and/or distanced-learning practices, whilst still upholding the three pillars of our University Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategy: co-creation, building capability and Universal Design for Learning (UDL).
In addition, Personal tutoring at DMU is underpinned by a set of Key Principles of Personal Tutoring Practice which set out the expectations of faculty and personal tutor in supporting students to fulfil their academic and personal potential. The Principles assume that the student-personal tutor relationship is built and developed on campus with opportunities for group and individual face-to-face interactions. We now need to adapt our approach to accommodate the current situation.
The aim of this Teaching and Learning mini-conference in September 2020 is broadly to better equip DMU staff to respond to the new demands of Higher Education during and post Covid-19 by increasing digital capabilities and delivery of virtual pedagogy.