Thread by @timbocop

The #UoELTConf22 begins! Looking forward to a rich 3 days of all things learning and teaching.

First @colmharmon welcomes us with a reminder that we can put longitudinal development at the core of ideas of the university. #UoELTConf22

Next @cathybovill talks co-creation with students. It takes "freedom with discipline". Staff don't need to lose their expertise for students to be meaningful partners. #UoELTConf22

Cathy mentions something important to me - aspiration towards equality of partnership, even if equal balance is unlikely to be achieved in our current system. @cathybovill #UoELTConf22

(holding onto that aspiration while falling short helps us not to give up)

Perhaps negotiating institutional structures and cultures is the trickiest part? But we can push against boundaries of what's possible and make change over time. @cathybovill #UoELTConf22

Great example - students creating resources and designs for future cohorts. @cathybovill #UoELTConf22

A simple but crucial thought: co-creation implies that it's often not about the teacher speaking. Drawing students in to share their ideas and voices @cathybovill #UoELTConf22

(a quick aside to note what an excellent speaker @cathybovill is! 🤩)

Co-creation is also about connections between and with students outside the classroom. Where do we focus on relationships and how do we think about these? @cathybovill #UoELTConf22

Learning names as a simple but crucial thing. Build in ways and habits of getting that right. I'm also thinking: can we build in ways of learning about them as people? Might there be asynchronous opportunities where there's more time for this? #UoELTConf22

A mention for @EdClinEd 😁 around hospitality and taking every opportunity to build trust. Including through enquiries, application, induction, right through the programme. @cathybovill #UoELTConf22

Cathy wary of talking about *the university* as if *we* aren't the university. This includes students. @cathybovill #UoELTConf22

Q about engaging students in co-creation. These questions always make me think "well, I wouldn't start from here". Lots of progressive pedagogical ideas aren't tweaks, they need to be embedded throughout institutional culture? They take time, but you can start small #UoELTConf22

How to avoid "rabbit in the headlights" feelings - gentle welcoming in, clear signposting, examples, help them live with uncertainty, help them know they'll be supported. Is there an option for students to not co-create? @cathybovill #UoELTConf22

Being mindful of our language and behaviour - are we conveying students as partners / colleagues or subordinates? @cathybovill #UoELTConf22

Gear change now - a series of 1 minute poster pitches with truly brutal timekeeping! Love it 🤣 #UoELTConf22

Bonus points for guessing the top of whose head I've captured there.

Heart in mouth here for each speaker - will they make it to the end of their pitch before being cut off by audience applause?!! #UoELTConf22

That was brilliant @the_officedog ! Great way to hear from lots of people quickly with an opportunity to follow up later. #UoELTConf22

Now at blogging workshop, featuring THE Campus with @MirandaPrynne @the_officedog @yarnoverhook @IngaAckermann #UoELTConf22 @UoE_Teaching

Oh, and @DavidAGClarke who makes the point that blogging can be particularly good for people in precarious roles to give them exposure and recognition. #UoELTConf22

After lunch, armchair conversation keynote by Tara Gold and Ellen MacRae, exploring what is a university, and why do we need to reimagine it. #UoELTConf22.

Digital and physical spaces both important going forward. We need proactive thinking about spaces. They should help community come together to enact change. #UoELTConf22

Interesting. Feeling connected to institution research culture as a valuable aspect of learning and teaching. Learning from teachers about their research passions as "bringing subjects to life" #UoELTConf22

Can we get students more involved in a transparent research culture? Can that be part of university community building? #UoELTConf22

Now looking beyond the uni to the city of Edinburgh and wider society. What can we contribute, where should the uni be a leader by example? While also navigating elitism and marginalisation of others? Who's already doing important work that we can support / promote? #UoELTConf22.

So... Uni's needn't be tightly defined, they can be "places of constant reimagination". A multiple place? Different things for different people? #UoELTConf22

Now, workshop on assessment and feedback. Embedding principles and prioritiesb through practice. @harrison_prof Sabine Rolle @cathybovill @NeilLent Phil Marsden #UoELTConf22

Some examples of co-created assessment and feedback from @cathybovill
- assessment method, questions, rubrics, marking,...
#UoELTConf22

Brainstorming time around co-assessment. Challenges around large courses, workload, uncertainty, need for lots of scaffolding and getting everyone (Inc. all markers, IT staff...) On board, confidence, quality assurance... #UoELTConf22

An interesting idea is that different students might end up on top or it might be unclear who's "top" and how that might feel threatening but is potentially v positive from inclusion POV #UoELTConf22