Middlesex University recognises the value that doctoral research students and Graduate Academic Assistants bring to students' learning experience studying undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. It is also recognised that, for those research students wishing to pursue an academic career, it can be a valuable experience to assist in teaching and supporting blended learning on undergraduate programmes.

To support this, the Centre for Academic Practice Enhancement (CAPE) has developed and facilitates a short course covering the fundamental principles of learning, teaching and assessment practice at Middlesex. The Course is designed to support and address the challenges often faced by those for whom teaching at Middlesex is new, and is robustly aligned with the university's Strategic Plan 2031. Middlesex embraces a blended model of education, captured in our Blended Learning Principles (see attached file). These principles are introduced and embedded throughout the units of the Course.

Completion of the Short Course is a mandatory requirement for doctoral students and Graduate Academic Assistants who have not previously taught at Middlesex. The course is suitable for those who already hold a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education, or equivalent, as it is primarily designed to support effective preparation for teaching within the unique Middlesex University context.

Short Course Overview
The Short Course runs several times each academic year. During the 2023-24 academic year the Course will be delivered in a blended online learning format over eleven days and will occur several times over the coming academic year. 

The Course is delivered through a mixture of live online sessions within a dedicated meeting room and self-paced activities within the My Learning module for the course.
Participants are required to attend all live sessions and undertake the learning activities for each of the five learning units to complete the Course. Due to the experiential and cumulative nature of the course partial completion is not permitted.

Course Structure
The course begins with a live online meeting room session on the first day (Tuesday 7th May 2024), and subsequent live meeting room sessions follow on Monday 13th May and Friday 17th May. These sessions are 90 minutes in length and will start at 13:00 (GMT) on each day. Attendance at all live sessions is mandatory. These live sessions will be interspersed with self-paced learning opportunities and activities undertaken within a dedicated My Learning module online.

Course Content
The Short Course is designed around the unique learner context at Middlesex, and is heavily based on consideration and application of the university’s key educational priorities including blended delivery, inclusivity in the curriculum, adapted assessment and feedback, differentiation of learning, and student support.

The course consists of five connected educational units:

1. Introduction to Learning Theories
Identifies effective practice to support blended learning taking into account contemporary learning theories, intellectual challenge, personalisation of learning and approaches to learning.

2. Techniques for Learning
Explores different techniques and methods to support blended learning at Middlesex, including face-to-face and online, synchronous and asynchronous activities) that make up a teacher’s toolkit.

3. Assessment of Learning
Considers assessment literacies, and adapted assessment forms for blended learning, along with effective feedback practices.

4. Planning Learning and Teaching
Reviews the essential elements required to develop successful learning activities, alongside techniques to encourage differentiation in the classroom and insights into measuring student engagement and comprehension

5. Evaluating Teaching Impact
Examines the importance of consistent evaluation of educator practice, and explores a range of methods and tools available to measure practitioner impact in educational settings.

For further information about the course please contact:

Course Leader John Parkinson: j.parkinson@mdx.ac.uk