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How to transition to hybrid learning
How-to guides for a range of teaching and learning activities for hybrid delivery
In June 2020, the University agreed on a set of Student Education delivery principles. Faculties, Schools and Services are asked to use these principles as a framework for the design and delivery of student education in their disciplinary context.
The University’s overall proposition for delivery of student education in 20/21 will be as follows:
Student-centred active learning approach to deliver a high-quality research-based education in a hybrid mode, as part of a supportive, enriching and community-focused experience.
This means:
- Education will be delivered in ways that ensures the safety of students and staff and protects the quality of education from all pandemic scenarios.
- Education will be delivered in hybrid mode, with all large volume teaching events online and use of campus facilities for face-to-face activity when and where possible to use safely.
- Educational content and activities will be designed and delivered to stimulate, engage and support students, in an inclusive and flexible environment.
- Our digital education capabilities will allow students to receive a learning experience that is interactive, engaging and pedagogically driven.
- Students will be able to learn and co-create research from, and with, our researchers, to create new knowledge through involvement in research processes, where possible.
- Students, regardless of their location, will be provided with a supportive and community-focused experience, including co- and extra-curricular activities where possible.
You can download and read the full set of Student Education Delivery Principles. The content on this site has been designed around these principles.
How-to Guides
Would you like to create inclusive and engaging hybrid learning experiences for your students? These how-to guides provide you with the information you need to develop a variety of learning activities and materials, such as live online sessions, audio and video recordings and online assessments.
The guides are grouped under the four strands of the Student-Centred Active Learning Approach (SCALA): Learning Journey, Content Delivery, Assessment and Feedback, and Student Support.
You can also access in-depth training and development through Adapt Your Teaching for Online Delivery on Minerva. The University has also developed guidance to support students based in China to help manage their specific challenges and has produced Teaching and researching senstive issues, which will be relevant to supporting students based in China.
Learning Journey
Provide students with a clear picture of their learning from the onset of teaching. Use these guides to plan and communicate your teaching with students.
Designing a Learning Journey for hybrid delivery
This guide provides step-by-step support for the development of a Learning Journey for hybrid delivery. It provides a workbook that you can use to design this Learning Journey. You may wish to collaborate with other teaching and support staff, or other stakeholders during this process.
Communicating a Learning Journey to students
This guide provides provides advice on how to create a module map or timetable. It also provides step-by-step guidance on how to create a Welcome page and use Announcements in Minerva. You can use these elements to communicate a Learning Journey to students using tools available in Minerva.
Online communication with your students
This guide lists the different communication technologies available at the University, with their features, strengths and pointers to further information. Use this guide to select and evaluate different technologies for online communication with students.
Content Delivery
Use these guides to help you to write and produce engaging and inclusive content for online learning, e.g. audio and video, live online teaching sessions and online activities for groups.
Writing content for online learning
This guide explains key considerations for writing for online learning, such as writing style, layout and format, and hyperlinks and references. Use this guide to select and implement appropriate writing styles for online learning.
Recording and sharing video and audio
This guide contains step-by-step instructions for planning, recording, editing and sharing your video and audio. It also provides links to instructions for using Mediasite for your recordings.
Running live (synchronous) online teaching sessions
This guide assists with the planning and delivery of a live teaching session using Collaborate Ultra. It includes examples of how to use Chat, Polls and Breakout Rooms to engage with students.
Creating online, collaborative activities for groups
This guide assists with the planning and delivery of an asynchronous collaborative activity using Minerva Discussion Forums. It includes an example and has a downloadable template you can adapt for your own activities.
Putting your course onto Minerva
This guide introduces the basics of adding your course to Minerva. It also provides ideas and examples for how to present different learning activities in Minerva to create a consistent experience for your students. Use this guide select different content tools according to your learning and teaching needs.
Using external online resources
This guide assists you with the use of external resources, such as YouTube videos, TedTalks and other websites, in online learning. It also suggests how you can use LinkedIn Learning, FutureLearn and Coursera in your teaching.
Assessment and Feedback
Use these guides to plan and deliver a variety of summative and formative online assessments that are appropriate for the hybrid delivery of your subject.
Online open book assessments
This guide explains how to plan and deliver an online open book assessment (Online Time Limited Assessments). It compares and links to the different technologies: Top Hat, Turnitin, Gradescope and Minerva.
Online coursework
This guide explains how to plan, deliver and provide feedback for assessed online coursework. It includes a comparison of the different technological options available for preparing, submitting, marking and giving feedback.
Online presentations and performances
This guide assists with planning and delivering online presentations and the process of gaining feedback from both tutors and students. It also describes the different technological options.
Online quizzes
This guide assists with planning and delivering online quizzes for formative assessment. It includes examples and an MCQ template for setting up questions, answers and feedback in Minerva.
Student Support
Gain feedback from your students to ensure that they are supported throughout the duration of their learning.
Gaining feedback from your students
This guide compares different techniques for gaining course evaluation feedback from students. It includes examples of different technologies and ideas for planning and delivering feedback surveys.
Policies and Other Relevant Documents
To ensure quality of student experience, make sure you are aware of important institutional policies, along with other key documents.
Audio and Video Recording Policy
This guide will help you to ensure good practice when implementing Audio Video Recording of educational activities, including the range of activities intended for recording and the importance of the AVR policy within the university strategy.
Copyright and Intellectual Property
Find useful advice to help you assert your authorship, protect the University’s Intellectual Property, and avoid third party liabilities when creating your materials for work.
