Higher Ed Heroes
46 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 months ago -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
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Episodes
'Apply first, explain later': using a photo treasure hunt to draw out core academic concepts for student learning
May 02, 2024 23:00 - 20 minutes - 13.9 MBIn 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
April 11, 2024 21:00 - 15 minutes - 10.7 MBIn 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
March 03, 2024 22:00 - 20 minutes - 13.8 MBIn 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?
February 11, 2024 22:00 - 23 minutes - 16.2 MBIn 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 tea...
Catering for students who are struggling or are at the risk of failing
November 14, 2023 15:00 - 13 minutes - 9.22 MBIn 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
October 20, 2023 14:00 - 20 minutes - 14.1 MBIn 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
September 17, 2023 00:00 - 19 minutes - 13.6 MBIn 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
August 26, 2023 01:00 - 19 minutes - 13.8 MBIn 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
August 06, 2023 01:00 - 21 minutes - 15.1 MBPeter 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 Qu...
Integrating regular practical, self-experiential, and collaborative spaces (‘MediaLabs’) into your courses to deepen student learning
July 18, 2022 22:00 - 19 minutes - 13.2 MBIn 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
June 27, 2022 23:00 - 16 minutes - 11.4 MBOur 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
June 02, 2022 22:00 - 19 minutes - 13.6 MBIn 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 co...
The iron law of teaching: Bringing a buzz and energy into the lecture room
May 12, 2022 01:00 - 22 minutes - 15.2 MBIn 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
April 18, 2022 07:00 - 20 minutes - 14.1 MBIn 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)
March 27, 2022 02:00 - 17 minutes - 12.2 MBIn 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?
March 06, 2022 23:00 - 21 minutes - 14.6 MBWe 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: How can we make those difficult or unpopular topics accessible and fun learning for students?
March 06, 2022 23:00 - 21 minutes - 14.6 MBWe 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
February 13, 2022 20:00 - 18 minutes - 12.6 MBIn 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
January 24, 2022 00:00 - 19 minutes - 13.2 MBIn 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.
Higher Ed Heroes: '20 Minute Moments': Opening up your class to place key lessons
January 03, 2022 20:00 - 22 minutes - 15.6 MBIn this episode, Associate Professor Al Stark (usually one of our podcast co-hosts) turns interviewee to share with us what he calls '20 Minute Moments': it's about stopping the lecture, exposing students to a practical, fun, interactive, but ultimately meaningful activity that allows students to learn key lessons.
Higher Ed Heroes: What factors have the biggest impact on student learning? With John Hattie
November 16, 2021 20:00 - 22 minutes - 15.4 MBIn this episode, Al and Seb speak to Prof John Hattie (University of Melbourne) about the few key factors that have the biggest impact on student learning. Based on analysis of more than 300 million students from around the globe (the world’s largest evidence-based study), John Hattie identified the key factors that improve student learning. His findings are equally impressive as they are eye-opening, inviting us to rethink what we – as teachers - do in our uni classrooms.
Higher Ed Heroes: 'Escape Box' exercise and learning through team work
October 28, 2021 01:00 - 16 minutes - 11.1 MBIn this episode, we talk to Dr Leigh Sperka (Lecturer UQ’s School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences) about the ‘escape box’ exercise and learning through team work.
Higher Ed Heroes: 'Me in a Minute' Video
October 10, 2021 19:00 - 17 minutes - 12.4 MBIn this episode, we talk to Dr Karin Sellberg (The University of Queensland), who uses the production of short videos – ‘me in a minute’ – as a form of assessment. How does this exercise work and how does it foster student learning?
Higher Ed Heroes: The centrality of role plays in student learning
February 03, 2021 20:00 - 22 minutes - 15.4 MBIn this episode, we talk to Associate Professor Phil Orchard (University of Wollongong), who has designed his courses around simulations and role plays. Why are these so central to Phil's teaching, how do they differ and how can we effectively use different formats in our classroom?
Higher Ed Heroes: Talking to tutors about being an effective teacher
January 20, 2021 06:00 - 20 minutes - 14 MBIn this episode, Al and Seb talk to two experienced and excellent tutors, Dr Federica Caso and Robert Arcidiacono, about all things tutoring: how to be an effective tutor, how to guide, how to handle respond to challenging situations, and how to bring a tutorial/seminar alive.
Higher Ed Heroes: Techniques to make students read
January 04, 2021 03:00 - 20 minutes - 13.8 MBIn the first episode in 2021, Al and Seb talk to Dr Tom Chodor (Monash University) about the ways he has experimented with and ultimately refined different techniques to ensure that students actually do the readings before rocking up for class.
HigherEd Heroes - Different ways of using simulations and role plays
December 10, 2020 19:00 - 30 minutes - 21 MBIn this episode, Seb and Al discuss with Associate Professor Matt McDonald (The University of Queensland) everything simulations and role play: different ways they can be employed; how to mark them; and how they can enable students to learn if done well.
HigherEd Heroes - How to grab and hold the attention of students in large first year lectures
November 29, 2020 08:00 - 24 minutes - 17.1 MBIn this episode, Al and Seb talk to Associate Professor Sarah Percy (The University of Queensland) and Professor David J Hornsby (Carleton University) about about the art of the lecture. In particular, they discuss the tricks and techniques they employ to grab and hold the attention of students in large lectures.
Higherd Heroes - Scrapping Exams and making students learn through solving practical, real-world problems
November 20, 2020 05:00 - 20 minutes - 14 MBIn this episode, we are talking to Prof. Lydia Kavanagh (School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering, UQ) who decided to get rid of exams in her courses and who instead offers learning exercises where students collaborate on solving practical, open-ended, real-world problems.
HigherEd Heroes - How to make students learn through researching the impact of real world problems
November 01, 2020 22:00 - 20 minutes - 13.9 MBIn this episode, we talk to Dr Kim de Rijke (Senior Lecturer in Anthropology, The University of Queensland) on how he makes his students learn through research activities that focus on the social impact of real world development projects.
HigherEd Heroes - Blake McKimmie on how to redesign your courses around the way students learn
October 15, 2020 21:00 - 18 minutes - 12.8 MBIn this episode, Al and Seb talk to Prof Blake McKimmie (School of Psychology, University of Queensland) on how he revamped his courses around the way students learn. They also talk about the crime drama series Blake produced and which is used week by week to help students navigate through their course.
HigherEd Heroes - Jacqui Bond on how to engage with the emotional aspect of learning
October 03, 2020 00:00 - 21 minutes - 14.7 MBIn this episode, Seb and Al talk to Dr Jacqui Bond (School of Pharmacy; The University of Queensland): how teaching is not just about cognition but also - and crucially emotions; how integrating and addressing the emotions of learning enable students to have a more holistic experience.
HigherEd Heroes - James Arvanitakis on learning as a journey and the classroom as both a safe space and a brave space
September 19, 2020 23:00 - 24 minutes - 16.6 MBIn this episode, Seb and Al talk to Professor James Arvanitakis (Western Sydney University): how he sees his role as a teacher as someone who wants to take his students on a journey and how he designs his classroom as a safe space as well as a brave space.
HigherEd Heroes - Kicking off the new season
September 19, 2020 22:00 - 22 minutes - 15.7 MBIn this episode, Al and Seb introduce the second podcast season and reflect upon what they have been doing in the classroom both during COVID and outside their current existence as zoom/online teachers.
HigherEd Heroes - How students learn through pitching their ideas for a public exhibition on the subject they are studying
June 18, 2020 07:00 - 24 minutes - 16.7 MBIn this episode, Seb and Al talk to Dr Mary Broughton (School of Music) about her students collaborating with the curator of one of the museums in Brisbane to pitch their own ideas for a public exhibition on the psychology of music. The conversation centers around how through this exercise students are offered a more complex and deeper learning experience.
HigherEd Heroes - How to use scavenger hunts and have students use their own bodies as empirical devices for learning
June 05, 2020 20:00 - 19 minutes - 13.7 MBIn this episode, Al and Seb talk to Dr Ryan Williams (School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry at The University of Queensland) about making students aware of how the their studies are being embodied and lived in their every environments and spaces.
HigherEd Heroes - How to use non-traditional forms of participation in the classroom
May 22, 2020 21:00 - 21 minutes - 15.1 MBIn this episode, Al and Seb talk to Dr Lynda Shevellar (Senior Lecturer in Social Sciences at the University of Queensland) about to get students who don't feel comfortable speaking to use their bodies to participate in the uni classroom.
HigherEd Heroes - How to take students out of the classroom and expose them to different forms of learning
May 10, 2020 08:00 - 21 minutes - 15 MBIn this episode, Seb and Al talk to Dr Simone Smala, Senior Lecturer in Teacher Education at The University of Queensland, about how taking her students out of the classroom and into different institutions and museums helps them understand different forms of learning.
HigherEd Heroes - On the merit and value of the old style lecture
April 30, 2020 23:00 - 21 minutes - 14.7 MBIn this episode, Seb and Al talk to Associate Professor Andrew Phillips (School of Political Science and International Studies, UQ) about the value and merit of the traditional, old-style lecture for student learning. They talk about what makes a great lecture stand out, the importance of a narrative arch and storytelling.
HigherEd Heroes - How to really involve practitioners in the classroom
April 19, 2020 20:00 - 20 minutes - 14.3 MBIn this episode, Al and Seb talk to Cameron Parsell, an Associate Professor in the School of Social Sciences at The University of Queensland, about how he not only brings practitioners into his classroom but fully involves them in assignments and making them work with students.
HigherEd Heroes - How to involve students in the (re)design of your courses
April 07, 2020 14:00 - 22 minutes - 15.3 MBSeb and Al talk to Dr Nic Carah about his experience and practice of involving students in the design and redesign of his courses, and how it has lead him to change his own teaching practices. Nic is Senior Lecturer in the School of Communications and Art, UQ.
HigherEd Heroes - How to use Lego as a teaching tool in your uni classroom
March 25, 2020 20:00 - 20 minutes - 14.4 MBIn this episode, Al and Seb talk to Elske van de Fliert, the Director of the Centre for Communication and Social Change at The University of Queensland, about how her students use Lego as a means to develop ideas and stories, and thereby learn.
HigherEd Heroes - How to place students in the driving seat during your lectures
March 13, 2020 21:00 - 23 minutes - 15.9 MBIn this episode, Al and Seb talk to Associate Professor Gerhard Hoffstaedter (School of Social Science at The University of Queensland) about the ways in which his students collaborate in lectures, oftentimes even taking the lead during his lectures. In particular, Gerhard points to how the techniques he uses (including Pecha Kucha) open up new possibilities for students to learn.
HigherEd Heroes - How to use simulations and practical scenarios in your classroom
February 28, 2020 14:00 - 22 minutes - 15.6 MBIn this episode, Seb and Al talk to Dr. Caroline Wilson-Barnao (Lecturer in Public Relations in the School of Communications and Arts at the University of Queensland) about how her students learn through practical simulations and crisis scenarios.
HigherEd Heroes - Yay, we're live! But what's this all about?
January 14, 2020 04:00 - 15 minutes - 10.5 MBIn this opening episode, Al and Seb talk about what their new podcast is all about and what you can expect from this series. And they share a few gems you might find useful in your uni classroom.
HigherEd Heroes - Yay, we're live! But what's this all about?
January 14, 2020 04:00 - 15 minutes - 10.5 MBIn this opening episode, Al and Seb talk about what their new podcast is all about and what you can expect from this series. And they share a few gems you might find useful in your uni classroom.