Postgraduate Module Descriptor

EFPM902: Creating Effective Learning in Higher Education

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

This module is designed to support the development of supportive communities of practice amongst academic professionals in Higher Education. It also gives participants the opportunity to examine their learning, teaching and assessment practice, in terms of creating effective learning and inclusive learning environments underpinned by evidence-informed approaches and the outcomes from research, scholarship and continuing professional development. 

Most of the teaching on the module is concentrated into three delivery days. Structured learning activities will be varied, to include interactive lectures, discussion groups, expert panels, and collaborative small group tasks. The curriculum content is aligned to the UKPSF for teaching and supporting learning and the Academic Professional Apprenticeship standard. Participants are allocated an assessment tutor from the teaching team, who will provide support as needed, in face-to-face meetings, by email, skype, and/or telephone.

Sessions can vary according to your and other participants’ interests and questions, but all are designed to fit into three broad themes: 

1. Education design and delivery, for example:

  • Planning teaching sessions (including ILOs, learning and teaching activities, and assessment methods)
  • The socially constructed nature of learning and its implications for your teaching methods (active learning, feedback loops, and use of digital technologies)
  • Programme and module design and evaluation
  • Personal tutoring, student wellbeing, and creating effective and supportive learning environments
  • Inclusive teaching practices, informed by equality and diversity and in an internationalised university context.

2. Education development, for example:

  • Contemporary issues in Higher Education, including research-inspired, inquiry-led learning, understanding the student experience, university admissions, and widening participation
  • How to involve students in the design of curricula and engaging students as agents for change
  • Evaluation and feedback methods for teaching quality assurance and enhancement, and for practice development and enhancement.

3. Critically reflective practice, for example:

  • Self-reflective teaching practices informed by research, scholarship and professional development
  • Mapping your academic and professional practice against, and critically engaging with, the UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF).

Additional elements will be designed in collaboration with you, as participants, in order to reflect your own priorities and the needs of your department, as determined in prior and on-going discussions between you, your Academic Leads and other stakeholders.

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
35160105

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities 21Three delivery days (each of approximately 7 hours), involving whole group sessions, comprised of a combination of activities, such as interactive lectures, presentations, discussion groups, collaborative small group tasks, triad presentations, and panel discussions.
Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities5Triad concept-mapping activity: working in a group of three to prepare a group presentation
Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities2Blended learning engagement including online discussion and preparation for session
Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities6Writing retreat – structured, tutor-led and peer-supported writing retreat for critically reflective writing.
Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities1Individual tutorials with assessment tutor and/or academic mentor.
Guided independent study10Engagement with peer dialogue/observation and writing up and reflecting on that experience.
Guided independent study70Reading course materials and education literature for reflective case study, and focusing on the area of teaching practice to be developed.
Guided independent study30Mapping practice to UKPSF; and reading and preparation for reflective case study.
Guided independent study50Developing output to be assessed, reflecting on and evaluating the implemented change to teaching practice for narrated PowerPoint.
Placement105Directed activities in professional contexts – CPD and roles related to teaching practice (including developing output to be assessed, reflecting on and evaluating the implemented change to teaching practice).

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).

Other Learning Resources