Humanities Innovation in Teaching

16 Jan 2020

We introduce you to the first of five projects recognised in the scheme.

The 2019-20 round of the Humanities Innovation in Teaching (HIT) scheme is underway, supporting five projects this year, with themes including assessment and feedback, online learning, virtual reality and student live broadcasting.

Through dedicated support from the Faculty’s Teaching, Learning and Student Experience team, the HIT scheme aims to incentivise colleagues to explore new approaches to teaching and assessment, and support innovation projects in Schools.

This week we introduce you to the first project, ‘digitally mapping student learning journeys for formative/summative assessment’, which is led by Dr Amanda Banks Gatenby, Lecturer in Digital Technologies and Communication in Education in the School of Environment, Education and Development (SEED).

Assessment and feedback practice in higher education in the UK can be a major source of student dissatisfaction, as shown in the National Student Survey. While technologies are increasingly being used as tools to improve the assessment experience for students and staff, the use of technologies in improving student engagement with assessment and feedback in particular is still patchy.

Amanda’s project will develop a mobile platform that supports students mapping learning experiences and integrating formative/summative assessment opportunities. Understanding how students make connections between unit topics is not always a focus of formative assessment. This digital tool will allow students to visualise student journeys across a whole programme of study. The project will enable the Manchester Institute of Education to develop an app through participatory design with students.

We will keep you updated on all HIT projects over the coming months.