A blended approach to learning and teaching integrates different learning environments in complementary ways, such that the strengths of each compensates for the weaknesses of the other. Introduction Given that I did my PhD on blended learning in health professions education, and that I continue thinking about it often, I’m surprised I haven’t included a…
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The one about Craft
Craft is a word to start an argument with. David Pye (1978) Introduction I’ve been thinking about craft lately, particularly in the context of increasingly competent AI. A lot of the commentary in this area suggest that the value of human beings will be in the ‘art’ and ‘craft’ of teaching, with the implication being…
Leave a CommentThe one about Innovation
Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity, and change. Brene Brown Introduction Innovation has been on my mind as we come to the end of the 22-23 academic year. I’ve been in my new post (AP for Digital Innovation) for about 18 months and thought it was a good time to reflect on what it…
Leave a CommentThe one about Academic Podcasting
…in a world where managerial pressure seeps into our writing, mainstream media oversimplification, and hostile anti-science discourse, there is something wonderfully freeing and exciting about scholarly podcasting. Ian Cook (2023) Introduction I’ve been working on a podcast project at work and so have been thinking about podcasting more often than usual. I keep bringing it…
Leave a CommentIn programmatic assessment, you can imagine assessment information as pixels, where each assessment is only a single pixel in a picture; the more information (pixels) you have, the better the image will be. Cees van der Vleuten (2018) Introduction Programmatic assessment is a fascinating approach to assessment that seems like it would address many of…
Leave a CommentThe one about Creativity
Quote Peace of mind is the most important prerequisite for creative work. Richard Feynman Introduction Not much of an introduction this week as time is short and I have a PhD thesis to finish marking. However, I was re-reading Eight Marvelous & Melancholy Things I’ve Learned About Creativity a couple of days ago, and figured it’d be…
Leave a CommentThe one about Learning
Quote The aim of teaching is simple: it is to make student learning possible. Paul Ramsden (2003) Introduction Learning is one of those things that are so fundamental to what we do on a daily basis, that it’s seldom something we even stop to think about. What, exactly, do we mean when we talk about…
Leave a CommentThe one about Virtual Reality
Why shouldn’t people be able to teleport wherever they want? Palmer Luckey Introduction I think we’re going to see more and more discussion around virtual reality (VR) in higher and professional education, particularly with respect to the increasing enthusiasm for simulation. And while I’m all-in on the potential of VR for both student and staff…
Leave a CommentThe one about ChatGPT
Friends don’t let friends co-author with ChatGPT. Gary Marcus Introduction Note (06 March 2024): It’s worth noting – a year after this post was published – that it was very much capturing a snapshot in time. Language models have advanced significantly since I first wrote about them here. f your feed has been anything like…
Leave a CommentHealthpunk (Volume 2)
‘Tis the season to imagine new ways forward for more ecologically and socially responsible healthcare futures! One year after the publication of Physiopunk Vol 1, we are happy to share Healthpunk Vol 2: Fiction + Healthcare + You: A collection of 10 Healthpunk stories written by diverse healthcare students, academics, teams and indigenous leaders in…
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