Higher Ed Heroes

Seb Kaempf and Al Stark

In ‘HigherEd Heroes’, we talk to some of the best teachers about ‘what works’ in their university classrooms in a down-to-earth, jargon-free, and non-technical manner. Our objective is to communicate practical advice from the bottom-up to a broad range of teachers about new ideas they may want to integrate into their classrooms and to stimulate open conversations about their everyday practice. Each episode explores what excites students to learn, what keeps them coming back for lectures, and what makes teaching fun for both teachers and students. We hope that you engage in these conversations and (like us) find something in them which inspires you to make small changes that may reward you and your students in big ways.‘ Higher Ed Heroes’ is convened by The University of Queensland's Dr Seb Kaempf and Dr Al Stark and produced by Anthony Frangi. If you want to listen to the podcast, get more information, or get in touch, please visit: https://itali.uq.edu.au/about/projects/highered-heroes-podcast read less

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‘Teaching as Theatre': Engaging in trauma as a form of learning

‘Teaching as Theatre': Engaging in trauma as a form of learning

In this episode, Al and special co-host Lynda Shevellar talk to Lindy Andren and Prof Norm Sheehan (both from the University of Queensland). Their topic is about ‘teaching as theatre’ and how – from their respective student and teacher perspectives - a particular, traumatic, but deliberately staged event in the classroom profoundly changed students’ lives. Trigger warning: this episode contains references to violence, the brutality of settler colonialism, and traumatic indigenous experiences.

Episodes

‘Teaching as Theatre': Engaging in trauma as a form of learning

‘Teaching as Theatre': Engaging in trauma as a form of learning

In this episode, Al and special co-host Lynda Shevellar talk to Lindy Andren and Prof Norm Sheehan (both from the University of Queensland). Their topic is about ‘teaching as theatre’ and how – from their respective student and teacher perspectives - a particular, traumatic, but deliberately staged event in the classroom profoundly changed students’ lives. Trigger warning: this episode contains references to violence, the brutality of settler colonialism, and traumatic indigenous experiences.

‘“Show your working”: Using AI as part of student learning’

‘“Show your working”: Using AI as part of student learning’

In this episode, we talk to Professor Jason Lodge (Educational Psychology and Deputy Associate Dean [Academic] in the Faculty of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences at The University of Queensland). Jason shares his way of allowing students to use AI as part of their essay writing which, in combination with the ‘show me your working’ concept, facilitates student learning.

'Apply first, explain later': using a photo treasure hunt to draw out core academic concepts for student learning

'Apply first, explain later': using a photo treasure hunt to draw out core academic concepts for student learning

In this episode, we talk to Paul Treschman, who teaches in the School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences here at UQ. Paul makes his students learn according to the motto ‘apply first – explain later’ and he illustrates this through the example of a photo treasure hunt his students do on campus.

Using film documentary making for student learning and assessment

Using film documentary making for student learning and assessment

In this episode, we talk to Associate Professor Peter Walters, who is an urban sociologist and an expert in urban community at The University of Queensland. Peter has won numerous awards for teaching excellence and has integrated film documentary making in his courses for both student learning and assessment.

Preparing students for the cognitive and emotional uncertainties they will face in their future professions

Preparing students for the cognitive and emotional uncertainties they will face in their future professions

In this episode, we talk to Dr Roma Forbes. Roma is a Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at UQ. And one of motivations that drive her teaching is the question of how to enhance the students’ experience, in particular, how to get them better prepared for the uncertainties they will face once they join the workforce.

What can generative AI bring to our classroom?

What can generative AI bring to our classroom?

In this episode, we talk to Dr Dan Levy who teaches courses in quantitative methods, policy analysis, and program evaluation in the John F Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.There are lots of worries, discussions, and myths surrounding generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), such as ChatGPT, and the impact it has on our teaching. While acknowledging these, Dan identifies the possibilities generative AI can bring to our classrooms, in particular to the way we as faculty teach and the way our students learn.

Catering for students who are struggling or are at the risk of failing

Catering for students who are struggling or are at the risk of failing

In this episode, we talk to Dr Poh Wah Hillock. Poh is a senior lecturer in the School of Mathematics and Physics here at The University of Queensland. Facing high failure rates in her first year mathematics course, Poh has responded by specifically designing a support tutorial for her students and by using forms of community building and peer to peer support which help students bond over common struggles and, ultimately, succeed.

Using board games, digital escape rooms, and online scenario games in your classroom

Using board games, digital escape rooms, and online scenario games in your classroom

In this episode, we talk to UQ’s Shakira Moss and Russell Richards about how they integrate educational board games, digital escape rooms, and online scenario games into their courses, and even design these games for learning themselves.

The dos and don’ts of PowerPoint presentations

The dos and don’ts of PowerPoint presentations

In this episode, we talk to Jo’Anne Langham (UQ Ventures) about how to design your slides in the right way and why it really matters to design with the mind in mind. If you want to avoid death by PowerPoint and move towards designing your visuals or slides like a pro, this is the episode for you! It offers you small, practical steps that will make a big difference.

Helping students learn through cohort building and a strong sense of belonging

Helping students learn through cohort building and a strong sense of belonging

In this episode, we talk with A/Prof Zala Volcic (School of Media, Film and Journalism at Monash University, Australia) about how student learning can be enhanced through care, compassion, and a sense of belonging. By talking about what we would call ‘compassionate pedagogy’, Zala shares many practical ideas of how teachers can build cohorts and generate connections that ultimate help their students learn.

Learning across cultures

Learning across cultures

Peter Lewis teamed up with colleagues from 18 unis across the world to co-teach one common course, in real time and online, for the benefit of cross-cultural learning on topics ranging from COVID to climate change. In this episode, Peter recounts how his team built this course step by step, how it has evolved, and what anyone can do to replicate elements of this in their own classroom. Peter is an Associate Professor in the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work at The University of Queensland. He has won several awards for his innovation around cross-cultural pedagogy and online learning.

Integrating regular practical, self-experiential, and collaborative spaces (‘MediaLabs’) into your courses to deepen student learning

Integrating regular practical, self-experiential, and collaborative spaces (‘MediaLabs’) into your courses to deepen student learning

In this episode, Dr Seb Kaempf (usually one of our podcast co-hosts) turns interviewee to share with us how he integrates regular, 3-hour-long practical, self-experiential spaces (called ‘MediaLabs’) into his course to deepen student learning. It’s about enabling students to ‘get their hands’ dirty, to collaborate, research, discuss, and ultimately learn through practice.

Learning through ‘trench warfare’ and wicked problems: Students as proper consultants with real world business clients

Learning through ‘trench warfare’ and wicked problems: Students as proper consultants with real world business clients

Our guest in this episode is Dr Sarel Gronum (Business School at the University of Queensland), whose Masters students get thrown into proper, several week long, consultancy projects with real world business clients. Besides the challenge of building this flagship course and how he had to fine tune his own teaching role within it, Sarel talks about the centrality of ambiguity and ‘trench warfare’ for student learning.

Reassuring students, reducing uncertainty, and building student confidence and competence

Reassuring students, reducing uncertainty, and building student confidence and competence

In this episode, we talk to A/Prof Allison Mandrusiak (School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at The University of Queensland). Coordinating a cardiorespiratory physiotherapy course, Allie has built a model hospital to replicate real clinical practices and even lets her student play cardio karaoke. But central to Allie’s teaching are the ideas of building scaffolding and safety nets into her course that help reassure her students, reduce uncertainty, and build their confidence and competence. Tune in and listen to the tips and tricks from Allie whose teaching was recognized with a UQ excellence award last year.

The iron law of teaching: Bringing a buzz and energy into the lecture room

The iron law of teaching: Bringing a buzz and energy into the lecture room

In this episode, we talk to Professor Chris Reus-Smit (University of Queensland) about lecturing as a performance art, about the essence of being physical, animated, and enthusiastic in order to draw students into the learning content.

Make yourself uncomfortable: How making the familiar strange helps students learn

Make yourself uncomfortable: How making the familiar strange helps students learn

In this episode, Al and Seb talk to Dr Rebecca Olive (RMIT Australia) about how students in human movement studies learn by taking on an unfamiliar sport for six weeks. It is about experiencing the strangeness of the familiar, about self-reflection, and about the development of (self)compassion.

Higher Ed Heroes: The zen of presentation design and delivery (with Garr Reynolds)

Higher Ed Heroes: The zen of presentation design and delivery (with Garr Reynolds)

In this episode, Al and Seb talk to Professor Garr Reynolds (University in Osaka) about how to design and deliver powerful presentations, how to avoid death by powerpoint, and how the best learning comes through doing.

Higher Ed Heroes: How can we make those difficult or unpopular topics accessible and fun learning for students?

Higher Ed Heroes: How can we make those difficult or unpopular topics accessible and fun learning for students?

We have all been there: having to teach a topic which is either difficult to grasp or that we know is unpopular with students. How can make these topics accessible and bring them alive in a fun way to help students learn? Dr Suzanna Fay (The University of Queensland) faced these challenges when she first started teaching statistics and probability theory to social science students. Her solution: let her students learn by building these topics around the actor Denzel Washington.

Higher Ed Heroes: Entering the lecture room for the first time

Higher Ed Heroes: Entering the lecture room for the first time

In this episode, Al and Seb talk to Kiri Ingram and Dr Andrew Dougall (both at UQ's School of Political Science and International Studies) about starting out as lecturers, about the nerves, the challenges, imposter syndromes, and the dos and don'ts.

Weekly journal writing to help student reflection, build trusting relations and create nourishing environments

Weekly journal writing to help student reflection, build trusting relations and create nourishing environments

In this episode, Al and Seb talk to Dr Fabiane Ramos (School of Culture and Languages & School of Education, UQ) and Dr Laura Roberts (Flinders University) about their use of weekly journal writing as a way to help students reflect about course content (and as it relates to their own lives), to build trusting relationships and to foster a nourishing learning environment.