Block teaching approaches have become an increasingly popular model of curriculum design. They involve the delivery of modules consecutively, usually over more intensive but shorter time frames, allowing students to be immersed in one topic or theme for the duration of the module. Block delivery has many reported advantages, including increased student motivation and attention, enhanced student performance and satisfaction as well as supporting peer networking and integration. Specific gains have been reported for students from groups traditionally underrepresented in higher education.
Block teaching stimulates pedagogic innovation, and in some universities has provided the impetus for radical, cross-institutional changes in teaching, learning and assessment practices. It is seen as a student-centred approach applicable to all level of university study. Through a QAA funded project we have evaluated how a range of institutions responded to the mandate for block delivery considering the implications for the student experience, assessment, student support, and pedagogic practice. This project represents a small number of universities who have adopted block teaching, and this one-day conference creates an important space for those engaged in developing, delivering, and researching block pedagogies to come together to share their experience, practice and research on this area.
The conference will be hosted by De Montfort University, who have adopted block teaching for the majority of undergraduate programmes 2022 and will be introducing it across most postgraduate in 2023, it will feature contributions from other providers who employ block teaching across a range of scales and levels of their higher education provision.
Conference themes:
We invite contributions along the following themes relevant to block teaching
● Assessment and Feedback
● Community and Belonging
● Inclusive Pedagogy
● Curriculum Design
● Student Experience
● Student Outcomes
Who should attend?
To stimulate productive discussions around block teaching we are inviting submissions from a range of HE practitioners (Heads of departments, programme leads, academic and support staff, learning technologists, library teams) involved in the design, implementation, support and management of block delivery.
We are also keen to feature the voices of those learning in this format, and strongly encourage students to submit reflections on their experiences of block teaching, with a view to ensuring the experiences of students are shared at this conference. we welcome attendees to join us to learn and find out more.
We are welcoming submissions to present at the conference, this includes workshops, videos and posters. To express your interest, please completed the form linked here.
The deadline for submissions is 14th July 2023.
If you have any queries regarding the conference, please email learninblock@dmu.ac.uk.