Student Perspectives: The Lancaster University Education Conference 2024 By Simone Kaur

Day 1 at the Annual Lancaster University Education Conference: Insights and Innovations

The Annual Lancaster University Education Conference is a highly anticipated event that brings together educators from the University and partner institutions around the region. This year, the conference spanned two days, packed with enlightening presentations, engaging sessions, and invaluable networking opportunities. Here's a look at the highlights from the first day.

Keynote Address by Professor Radka Newton: "Tom's Christmas Trifle"

The conference kicked off with an inspiring keynote address by Professor Radka Newton titled "Tom's Christmas Trifle." Professor Newton emphasized the crucial role of student engagement, especially during challenging times like the lockdowns. She shared her innovative strategies to maintain contact with students, ensuring they felt connected and supported despite the physical distance. Her creative approach and dedication set a motivating tone for the rest of the conference.

One of the most impactful points from Professor Newton's address was her perspective on understanding students beyond just statistics. She advocated for a human-centred design in education, where educators take the time to understand the backgrounds and personal stories of their students. By getting to know students as individuals, rather than merely looking at their performance data, she fosters a more connected and supportive educational environment. This approach not only enhances student engagement but also builds a stronger, more empathetic academic community.

Session Highlights

Why British People Are Bad at Speaking English

The first session I attended was presented by Timothy E.L. Douglas, who explored the intriguing topic of why British people struggle with English despite being native speakers. Douglas highlighted that there are more non-native English speakers globally, using English as a lingua franca. He pointed out that native speakers often rely on colloquial expressions and cultural nuances, which can be confusing for non-native speakers. For instance, phrases like "pop to the corner desk and then nip right back" are clear to natives but perplexing to others.

This session underscored the importance of clear communication and understanding linguistic diversity. As a student, I have witnessed first-hand how international students can struggle with the informal and idiomatic language used by native speakers. This session was a powerful reminder that we need to be mindful of our language choices to ensure that all students, regardless of their background, can fully engage and understand the material. Ensuring clarity in our presentations and interactions is essential in a diverse academic environment like Lancaster University, where we have a significant number of international students.

Challenges and Choices in Student Attendance

Next, I attended a session led by Paula Ainsworth, Samuel Read, Isabelle King, and others, focusing on student attendance. They discussed the necessity of making lecture recordings available to all students, as missing a class can demotivate students from attending future sessions. They also explored strategies to improve attendance, such as ensuring students receive their attendance records and linking attendance to outcomes.

One interesting proposal was incentivizing attendance by requiring a minimum attendance rate for students wishing to pursue a placement year. This discussion was particularly relevant to my experience as a student. I often feel the pressure to maintain good attendance, especially knowing that it can impact future opportunities like placement years. The idea of providing attendance records to students is excellent, as it would help us keep track of our attendance and stay motivated. Additionally, addressing the gap in motivation that often occurs in the second year is crucial, as students may feel overwhelmed and disengaged without proper support and incentives.

2+1s; Fostering Student Engagement and Learning in a Blended Classroom

The final session of the day was presented by Christine May Young from Malaysia. She shared her experiences with the 2+1 model, which aims to enhance student engagement in a blended learning environment. By leveraging accessible tools like Discord and Padlet, she transformed her teaching methods to better connect with students. These platforms allowed for continuous interaction, feedback, and engagement, demonstrating the effectiveness of integrating familiar technology into educational practices.

As a student, I found this session particularly inspiring. The use of tools like Discord and Padlet makes the learning process more interactive and accessible. Christine May Young's approach showed that incorporating technology that students are already comfortable with can significantly enhance engagement and learning outcomes. Her weekly starter tasks on Padlet were a great idea to gauge student sentiment and participation, making the classroom environment more dynamic and responsive to student needs.

Reflection

Day 1 of the Annual Lancaster University Education Conference provided a wealth of insights and practical strategies for enhancing education. From innovative student engagement techniques during the lockdown to addressing the challenges of student attendance and leveraging technology in blended classrooms, the sessions were both enlightening and inspiring. As we move forward, these discussions will undoubtedly inform and shape our educational practices, ensuring that we continue to meet the needs of our diverse student population.

As a student, attending these sessions was an enriching experience. It was heartening to see educators so dedicated to improving our learning environment and addressing the unique challenges we face. The emphasis on clear communication, innovative engagement strategies, and supportive attendance policies will contribute significantly to our academic success and overall experience at Lancaster University.

Professor Newton's emphasis on understanding students' backgrounds and fostering a human-centered design in education was particularly impactful. This approach, combined with the practical insights from other sessions, highlights the conference's commitment to creating an inclusive and supportive academic environment. The discussions and strategies shared will undoubtedly help in bridging gaps and enhancing the educational experience for all students.

About the author

Simone Kaur is an Accounting and Finance student at Lancaster University. She is currently working as an intern with SIME, helping us organise events and collect data on the Centre’s activities.

________________________________________

Disclaimer

The opinions expressed by our bloggers and those providing comments are personal and may not necessarily reflect the opinions of Lancaster University. Responsibility for the accuracy of any of the information contained within blog posts belongs to the blogger.

Related Blogs

• 

  Sharing practice: Technology in the classroom

• 

  Student Perspectives: The Lancaster University Education Conference 2024 By Mlendo Green

• 

  Sharing practice #5: When things go wrong…

Disclaimer

The opinions expressed by our bloggers and those providing comments are personal, and may not necessarily reflect the opinions of Lancaster University. Responsibility for the accuracy of any of the information contained within blog posts belongs to the blogger.