Higher Education is undergoing unprecedented changes, with significant strategic curriculum and pedagogic initiatives taking place in every university, often in a condensed timeframe. Transform-ED can support universities with course design and the development of new courses. This work can be targeted at an individual course right through to include all undergraduate and/or postgraduate taught provision across an institution. 

We utilise a successful initiative called ‘Course Design Intensive’. The CDI approach can be made context-specific for individual institutions. It uses a strategic method to work at course level, although ultimately implemented at module level. It is strongly student-focused and articulates a successful course-specific or profession-led graduate. The intention is to integrate various aspects of institutional change to improve student success by achieving CDI outcomes.

Facilitating the process involves bringing colleagues together, with advice, input and support, so course teams can concentrate on the critical issues of course design and develop a distinctive course to achieve change and student success. Our practical workshops draw on aspects of Lave and Wenger’s Community of Practice. We provide a focused time and social space for teams to think creatively and discuss and develop new pedagogic ideas. Teams work through structured activities regarding the course rationale, a set of proposed course learning outcomes, a broad structure of the course, and the course assessment strategy. Following this, the course team considers in more detail modular structures; specific learning, teaching and assessment approaches; the building of learning activities; and of course, resourcing. We aim to inspire colleagues to develop broad and adaptable learning outcomes to guide student learning and curriculum development. 

Delving into the basics of inclusive education can open up new ways of exploring new as well as existing curricula and learning. Grappling with what we mean by inclusive begins with a simple exercise regarding exclusive education, and its implications in and outside the classroom. We offer a series of workshops in which we explore three related areas that fall under the inclusive umbrella: diversity & representation, accessibility and co-created classroom management.

‘Not in my own image’ is a practical workshop examining inclusive and diversified approaches to classroom learning. Emphasising representation, authenticity and currency, it asks us to scrutinise our content, resources and practice. Its relevance to all areas and levels encourages participants to explore, develop and design. To achieve this, we will spend time with usable definitions and consider the rationale behind bold moves within curricula, learning resources and assessments. Further supported by case studies and examples, the session encourages creative thinking and provides space and activities to apply learning to curricula.

‘Accessible learning design’ encourages participants to roll up their sleeves and grapple with the how-to of creating accessible learning materials and approaches. It traces the trajectory of changes within UK education and legislation to understand the what’s and why’s behind accessibility. To achieve this, we will look at practical steps to identifying and applying basic accessibility guidance. As an added bonus, we will explore expected and unexpected benefits of accessible design for you and your students.

‘Co-created classroom management’ starts from the belief that student engagement in classroom management leads to positive change. Studies over recent decades confirm that when students participate in their classroom learning environment, engagement and behaviour generally improve. This session explores what classroom management can mean and how it can function in different settings. To achieve this, the session begins with an exploration of personal classroom management expectations. It then moves into practical considerations and different models for engaging students in classroom management decisions and design.

Pedagogic research enhances the theoretical and conceptual understanding of teaching and learning processes, experiences, outcomes and contexts in higher education. 

Our focus on Pedagogic Research is timely, with there being a greater emphasis on interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary collaborative research about teaching and learning across the higher education sector. We can support institutions with developing their understanding of learning and teaching discourse, practices, processes and environments; as we as prepare submissions to the Teaching Excellence Framework.

In order to achieve these goals, we are exceptionally well placed to support the development of strategies and plans for expanding Pedagogic Research across your institution. We have an international reputation for leading the development of Pedagogic Research across Higher Education and how this work can transform learning and teaching communities to enhance the student experience. We are experienced in running pedagogic research conferences, writing retreats, facilitating research groups, organising seminars and 1:1 mentoring. We are particularly good at working with newer researchers in this field and supporting writing for publication.

We believe that research-informed learning & teaching enhances and enriches the knowledge of students and can develop their research skills. Importantly, it can develop a culture that links to research and pedagogy that may be research-led, research-orientated, research-tutored, research-based teaching and teaching-led research. To achieve  this, we work with colleagues to develop successful research environments that promote partnership and multi-layered forms of collaboration. We are experienced in facilitating reflective activities, self-assessments and audits according to local contexts and situations. Working with us will benefit your students’ experiences of deep, immersive learning and higher-order critical thinking. These transferable skills will enhance graduate employability and future learning and earning potential. As one example, we specialise in staff development to supervise undergraduate and postgraduate major projects, the supervisor/student nexus, and different inquiry-based and methodological approaches. All of our specialists are themselves highly qualified in supervising and examining doctoral research projects.

We are surrounded by data, its creation, its analysis and its impact. In education, we are seeing the growing use of data analysis, predictive algorithms, student dashboards and performance metrics to drive and inform our decision-making. To support you, we offer a series of customisable services to help make your data, or its potential,  work for you, you staff and your students.

Designing for learning analytics:  To have impactful and meaningful data, it is important to design and curate three core elements - (1) technologies, (2) curriculum design + delivery and (3) student support services. Our team is experienced in leading these activities to support student and institutional success. To achieve this, we will work in partnership with academics, students, providers and professional services to consult, design and implement a solution. Using a structured project management approach will help assure targets and milestones are met. 

Making an impactful use of learners' data: For data to have an impact on a learner, it needs to be accessible, current, contextualised and relevant. Data are required from a student's activities, engagement and learning as well as their use of professional and support services. Combined, these can be visualised and integrated into the student journey to support their studies and time at an institution. To achieve this, we will work in partnership with academics, students, providers and professional services to consult, design and implement a solution. This will take a critical and reflective analysis of the student journey, successful and less successful activities and future aspirations. Combined, we will design and develop a solution and deliver this using our structured project management approach to help assure targets and milestones are met. 

Academic-Professional Services interface: A student's success on their course does not just reside with the academic team, is it also with professional services. The use of academic skills support, employability teams, information services and others all contribute to success. Knowledge of a student's engagement and promoting activities will help them to achieve their goals.  To achieve this, we will work in partnership with academics, students, providers and professional services to consult, design and implement a solution. Specifically, we will map the customer journey and their experiences and then using a structured project management approach, we can deliver a project to help assure targets and milestones are met.

Learning Technologies are a core part of a learner's educational experience and staff pedagogical practice, workload and management. Used effectively, learning technologies can open news ways to learn, foster new curriculum development and deliver excellence in student engagement. They can streamline workflows, introduce efficiencies and provide additional routes to support student retention, community, wellbeing, academic performance and overall excitement for learning. To support you, we offer a series of customisable services to help make your learning technology portfolio work for you, your staff and your students.

Introducing a learning technology to address an identified need/problem: Often, there are situations which require a technological solution and we are here to help and advise. Our team has a wealth of learning technology experience, and importantly this is deeply integrated with learning design and the staff/student experience. To achieve this, we will spend time with you to develop an understanding of the problem (working with stakeholders as permitted) and then propose a solution. Our team will then lead the implementation of a solution, taking care of all staff and student CPD, producing training resources and guidance and be on hand during the first round of implementation. Data driven, we will use data to explore the success of the implementation and offer actions for future iterations. Using a train-the-trainer approach, we will ensure we leave you with capable and trained staff able to take ownership of the work moving forwards. 

Learning Technology CPD: There are a lot of technologies being used, or with the potential to be used with education. Whilst no-one will have used them all, combined, we have used a lot. If it is a technology we do not know, we will either help you to develop an understanding or do this for you and then provide all the training and support as needed. inTo achieve this, we will run staff CPD sessions on identified technologies, document and produce training guides (including video) and offer 1:1 support as needed. 

For most institutions, a learning management system is essential for learning and teaching. Operating at the centre of the student digital experience - in-class, distance and mobile, an LMS has the potential to enhance or hinder student attainment and experience. To support you, we offer a series of customisable services to help make your LMS impactful and work for you, you staff and your students.

New Learning Management System (LMS) implementation: Our team is experienced in leading the rollout of a new LMS from designing the look and feel, developing process and policy, engaging stakeholders and running staff CPD. Using a learner journey approach, combined with pedagogical practice to engage students, we are confident we can support you meet your goals. Our team work to deliver solutions that are accessibility and inclusive, support consistency, manage staff workloads whilst building the foundations for an engaging online learning experience. To achieve this, we will work in partnership with academics, students, providers and professional services to consult, design and implement a solution. Using a structured project management approach will help assure targets and milestones are met. 

Re-invigorating the use of an LMS: Changing an LMS is not always required, but instead you many need to breathe new life into a system that is not being used to its full potential. Our team is passionate about online learning, delivering excellence in the student experience and using tools that enrich online learning opportunities. To achieve this, we will work in partnership with you to develop an understanding of current performance (audit current provision + run staff and multi-level focus groups), explore your expectations and targets and develop a plan to meet your goals. 

LMS & measuring impact: Using our knowledge of learning analytics, design of impact and supporting student success, our team is able to work with you to help develop methods to understand and quantify the learning impact and gains afforded by your LMS. This will be of particular importance to responding to internal and external performance metrics - NSS, transition, retention and graduate performance. To achieve this, we will undertake a deep dive into LMS data sources to provide a structured analysis (against a success framework) and a series of recommendations. Linked to this, and following, we are able to support the re-thinking of pedagogical practice and online learning design to increase the use and availability of data.  

Strategies solidify a direction, communicate intent, align with professional values, and provide a vehicle to drive an organisation forwards. Strategies can inspire, attract talent, deliver organisation success (when linked to well-delivered operational plans) and support growth. Our team have significant experience of writing policy and strategy and their subsequent operationalisation. To support you, we offer a series of customisable services to help make your strategies & policies,  work for you, your staff and your students.

Strategy development: Our team is experienced in leading the development and approval of organisation strategies and well as those created for local faculty and units/teams. Using a community engagement approach, combined with sector trends/policy, we are confident we can support you meet your goals through strategic development. To achieve this, we will work in partnership with the organisation's leadership team, performance data, academics, students, providers, PSRBs, and professional services to consult, design and develop strategies. Our future-thinking work is evidenced in government policy and direction to deliver an approach that is ahead of the curve and supports the success of an organisation. 

Policy development: Our team is experienced in leading the development and approval of institutional policies and well as those created for local faculty and units/teams. Using a community engagement approach, combined with sector practice/trends/policy, we are confident we can support you meet your goals through strategic development. To achieve this, we will work in partnership with the institution's leadership team (or policy owner), performance data and other relevant stakeholders to consult, design and develop policy. We adopt a DELPHI-style approach to policy development to help ensure that they are fit for purpose, reflect the needs and direction of the organisation and deliver clarity. Our future-thinking work is evidenced in policy to deliver an approach that supports the success of an organisation. 

NB - Whilst we have a broad range of experiences and knowledge, please contact our team for the areas of policy work we can support. 

About: There is a rising expectation for professionals to undertake Continuing Professional Development regardless of profession, career path and duties. We lead, facilitate and organise CPD opportunities for our clients in industry, Higher Education and the public sector. 

We have a hand-picked team of specialists to work with your staff in developing their capabilities as proactive partners in their professional learning. Regular, targeted, inspirational CPD will make your team more effective and adaptable to change and your staff more efficient, self-confident and secure in their workplace. 

We are highly flexible and agile in terms of online, hybrid and face-to-face delivery and can work with you on existing programmes and help develop new ones. We can achieve this by auditing your team’s knowledge gaps, co-plan structured interventions such as workshops and seminars and bespoke action plans to develop your community of learners. 

We have proven experience in instigating initiatives across large organisations to small course teams. In all cases, we provide a dedicated and personalised experience where our client is our priority. We can also take the lead responsibility in ensuring your CPD obligations and requirements to your workforce are fulfilled.