Teaching Practices
Developing learning materials
This section includes articles on learning design, use of different media, accessibility and inclusivity, copyright, collaboration in creating learning materials, and some of the tools you may use for these things.
Information delivery
This section includes articles on methods of presenting information such as lectures, videos, webinars and written communications, as well as best practice for Blackboard module and programme sites.
Individual learning
This section includes articles on independent learning, reflection and retrieval practice as well as personalisation of learning materials and student support.
Collaborative learning
This section covers group projects and presentations, collaborative pedagogies, discussion, and collaborative tools such as wikis and discussion boards.
Active learning
This section includes articles on student engagement, interactive resources, icebreakers, quizzes and polling, active pedagogies such as flipped learning and some of the tools that can be used to promote active learning.
Feedback
These articles cover different ways of providing feedback, its benefits, best practice and some of the tools that support feedback practices.
Assessment
These articles cover pedagogic principles around assessment practices, both formative and summative, and some of the tools that can be used to conduct assessments.
Blended learning
Do’s and don’ts for blended and online learning
Articles related to Teaching Practices
Tests and quizzes – which tool do I choose?
Compare the different tools for running asynchronous tests and quizzes.
Recording using PowerPoint
This video explains why PowerPoint may become your new best friend for producing your recorded lectures.
Using Microsoft Forms for online testing
Microsoft Forms has some great features for use in education. With the ability to combine automatic and manual grading, leave individual feedback, and report on results both by student and…
Teams for teaching in 21/22
Things to consider if you are thinking of using Microsoft Teams for teaching and learning on your module.
Next year’s reading lists
For 2021/22: All the guidance you need to know about reading lists in one place
Bite-sized: Making recorded lectures more engaging
This video gives a range of tips (technical and practical) to help prepare engaging recorded lectures.
Hybrid teaching made simple – using a document cam
How to use and share a document cam in hybrid teaching.
Hybrid teaching made simple – using a laptop
How to use a laptop instead of the podium PC to deliver a hybrid teaching session in a classroom.
Creating feedback templates in PebblePad
Structure and standardise your feedback on PebblePad by creating templates.
Hybrid teaching made simple
How to set up a hybrid teaching session using Collaborate, share projected screens and run the chat using one monitor.
Blackboard Programme Sites – guiding principles
Support for Programme Leaders in setting up new programme sites or reviewing existing ones.
Group submissions for summative assessment
Please read this guidance if you are planning on using group work for summative assessment.
FET Blackboard Module Template 2021/22
It is important that Blackboard content is well structured, easily navigable and clearly labelled – and FET’s module template helps you to do this.
Four ways for fast formative feedback
Four ways to give valuable feedback to students that does not require a lot of extra work for you.
Peer feedback
Peer feedback is a powerful tool for helping students reflect on and improve their work.
Student-led Teams meetings
Tips for helping students use Microsoft Teams for group work and research projects.
Assessed Student Presentations – which methods should you choose?
Panopto and Collaborate can both be used for assessed student presentations – which is best for your scenario?
Using Groups in Blackboard
Create groups in your Blackboard course for facilitating group work, providing different materials to different students, or for administrative purposes.
Introducing Microsoft Whiteboard
Some ideas for active learning in webinars using Microsoft Whiteboard.
Setting up a practice assignment in Blackboard
To avoid student panics on the day of assessment, consider setting up a practice assignment submission in Blackboard.
Mentimeter icebreaker activities
These short, engaging activities can be subject-relevant as well as providing a talking point for students.
Combining videos in Panopto
Various ways of putting together different recordings or takes to give your students a seamless experience.
Using Clips in Panopto
How to insert one Panopto recording into another – add content you forgot to record or captured elsewhere.
Advanced techniques for combining videos in Panopto
Two slightly more complex ways of combining videos in Panopto – merging, and adding streams.
Blended Learning Essentials – free online courses
These free online courses are designed to help you understand the benefits of blended learning and how to make more effective use of technology to support your learners.
Using the Focus and Cut tools when editing in Panopto
Advanced Panopto editing working with different streams, including how to add and remove slides.
An introduction to hybrid teaching
A guide for teaching in situations where some of your students are in the physical classroom and others are online.
Using Mentimeter with Collaborate to facilitate questioning in hybrid teaching
Use Mentimeter to share questions and answers with both on-campus and remote audiences at the same time.
The Collaborate Assessment Tool
A series of short videos on how to use the new Blackboard Collaborate Assessment tool with your students.
Blackboard Announcement subject headings
Why does my Blackboard Announcement email not include my subject heading? Read on for the solution.
Adding Mentimeter quizzes to Panopto recordings
You can use Mentimeter within your Panopto recordings to keep them interactive just as you would in a classroom.
Delivering webinars: Guides for using Blackboard Collaborate Ultra
Guidance material (including video guides and a student resource) for delivering webinars using Blackboard Collaborate.
Setting up folders in Panopto for assessment purposes
Important information for staff recording student presentations using Panopto
Sharing files using OneDrive – Working in breakout groups
Use shared documents in breakout rooms for students to record the results of collaborative activities.
Editing recordings from Blackboard Collaborate using Panopto
If you want to edit a recording from Blackboard Collaborate, you will need to download it and upload it into Panopto.
How to automatically start and stop YouTube videos at specific times
Focus your students’ attention on the relevant part of your YouTube video.
UWE’s four principles of learning design
A resource to help you implement UWE’s four principles of learning design.
Making your content items accessible in Blackboard
Some archived, but still useful, content from the old Blackboard Support pages.
Laurillard’s learning types for online and blended learning
Learn which tools can help you implement Laurillard’s six learning types online.
Designing your teaching sessions using Laurillard’s learning types
Plan your lessons using a variety of activities to help your students learn.
Active learning using Bookmarks, Notes and Discussions in Panopto
Suggestions for active learning activities using Panopto tools.
Using Panopto Bookmarks, Notes and Discussions tools
Encourage students to get more from your video recordings by adding bookmarks, taking notes and discussing with classmates.
Student tips for watching Panopto recordings
Here are some tips that students might find helpful when watching Panopto event capture recordings.
Tests and quizzes in the (virtual) classroom
Options for running a synchronous test or quiz in a classroom or webinar.
FET Blackboard Module Template 2020/21
Changes to the 2020/21 FET Blackboard Module Template and other support to help you create an accessible module site.
FET Blackboard Module Template: Copying Content to a New Module Run
IMPORTANT: Please read before setting up your new 2020/21 Blackboard module runs.
Replacing face-to-face lectures with recorded lectures – good practice
Delivering content outside the lecture theatre – tips for desktop recordings.
Recording presentations in PowerPoint
Use PowerPoint to record your presentation without the need for additional software.
Interactive seminars, tutorials and drop-ins using Blackboard Collaborate
Using breakout groups, polling and feedback icons for interaction in Collaborate.
A guide to take-home exams
Advice for staff on setting take-home exams and advice for students on hand-written and hand-drawn answers
Setting up breakout groups in Blackboard Collaborate Ultra
Get students working together in your online sessions by using breakout groups.
Active Learning with Mentimeter
Mentimeter for Teaching Part 2. This series explores how Mentimeter can enrich the student experience and boost engagement.
Using Panopto to create desktop recordings – video guides
5 short videos from the LIU covering how to make, edit and publish a desktop recording.
Uploading videos to Panopto
You can use Panopto to provide video content from guest lecturers to your students on Blackboard.
Using Mentimeter to check progress
Mentimeter for Teaching Part 3. This series explores how Mentimeter can enrich the student experience and boost engagement.
Contingency assessments – a guide to resources
As there have been a number of communications about assessments, this guide is designed to pull together all the information you need, point you to the essential information and set…
Creating an Assessment Submission Point in Blackboard
These instructions cover how to manually set up a submission point for an online exam.
Three ways to add quizzes and interactivity to Panopto recordings
Add interactivity to your videos using Panopto quizzes, Mentimeter or Xerte.
How to change your assignment deadline in Pebblepad
A short video guide to changing your assignment dates in PebblePad.
Contingency plan for move to online delivery
An article on using Panopto for desktop recording and running webinars using Blackboard Collaborate Ultra.
Desktop recording (using Panopto)
Create video resources for your students using desktop recording in Panopto.
Delivering effective feedback in higher education
Learn more about current feedback practices using our guide to effective feedback in HE.
Using Mentimeter in and out of the classroom
Mentimeter for Teaching Part 1. This series explores how Mentimeter can enrich the student experience and boost engagement.
Delivering effective feedback in PebblePad
This resource introduces you to six effective HE feedback practices, their benefits and how you can implement them in PebblePad.
Recording students for assessment
A guide to recording live student presentations for assessment purposes.
Practical guides for improving digital accessibility
Interactive resources to help you make your Blackboard content more accessible, including step-by-step guides for Word and PowerPoint.
Mentimeter – sharing and access
Learn how to hide results, close a poll and share both the results and the presentation itself.
Adding a YouTube caption file to your video using Panopto
How to improve accessibility by adding a caption file to your Panopto video resource.
Getting started with Mentimeter
A quick guide to help you find your way around the Mentimeter polling tool.
Using video to flip the classroom
Case study on flipped learning and using desktop recording to provide teaching materials, by Senior Research Fellow Juliet Jain.
Writing Multiple Choice Questions
Read on for tips on how to create well-written, reliable and valid multiple choice questions.
Three great things about Xerte
Find out more about this browser-based tool for creating interactive and accessible online resources.
*New Aug 19: Kaltura submissions – what do I need to tell my students?
If your students need to record their presentations, please ensure they receive this guidance about the new Kaltura Capture recorder.
Help students develop their academic writing skills with SafeAssign
Find out how Blackboard’s originality checker can be used to embed good referencing practice.
Grade Mapping in Blackboard
Easy-to-follow, step-by-step, visual guidance which will only take a few minutes of your time to follow.
Creating a PowerPoint Presentation with Narration
Read on to find out how to add a narrative to your PowerPoint presentation.
Using third party content in teaching materials and recordings
For information on the different licences available, exceptions and examples of using copyright content in your teaching material and recordings.
Panopto recordings – The safe and effective way to include YouTube content
Use the ‘Add a YouTube video’ button to safely, and seamlessly, include YouTube content in your learning resource.
Give new life to your online topic material with Xerte
If you have teaching and learning material in an online topic, Xerte offers you a great way to republish it.
Using PowerPoint Presenter Mode
We show you how to use Presenter Mode to hide your PowerPoint notes from your audience.
Six staff describe how PebblePad has enhanced their module
Academics from FET explain how they have used PebblePad to deliver authentic and innovative assessments to students at all levels.
Three great things about PebblePad
Sharing content, giving feedback and using alumni accounts in PebblePad.
Summative Blackboard MCQ (Multiple Choice Questions) Exam
Step-by-step instructions for a controlled conditions multiple choice exam.
Four examples of the FET Blackboard module template in action
Watch a short video tour to see how the FET module template can improve student and staff experience.
Dewis tests v Blackboard tests: which one do I choose?
A comparison of features in Dewis and Blackboard tests.
How Panopto can benefit our students – a personal story
Written by Danny Elvidge [Senior Lecturer in Building Physics and Services] I’ve fallen in love with Panopto since being trained up two years ago. I now record all of my…
Discussion Boards
When you first use discussion boards with your students, it is a good idea to give them some guidance around the etiquette of using these.
Tips for Distance Learning Delivery
The Learning Innovation Unit has pulled together some tips based on recent experience (2017) of supporting the delivery of postgraduate distance learning programmes
Copyright-free images for use in teaching activities
There are websites that offer copyright-free images, but you still need to check the terms of use on each site, and on each image.
Using Collaborate Ultra for one-to-one sessions
The term ‘webinar’ is perhaps mostly associated with meeting with a group of people, however the technology used for webinars can also be used very effectively as a way of…