In the ‘HigherEd Heroes’ podcast series, we interview some of the best teachers at UQ to discuss ‘what works’ in their classrooms in a jargon-free, non-technical manner.
Our objective is to communicate practical advice from the bottom-up to a broad range of teachers about new ideas they may want to integrate into their classrooms and to stimulate open conversations about their everyday practice.
Each episode explores what excites students to learn, what keeps them coming back for lectures, and what makes teaching fun for both teachers and students.
We hope that you engage in these conversations and (like us) find something in them which inspires you to make small changes that may reward you and your students in big ways.
Podcast episodes
Episodes are published on this page once available. Subscribe to the RSS feed to receive updates as new episodes are added.
Season 6
Episode 4 – Encouraging students to take risks and experiment
This episode is all about taking risks, not just as teachers, but also as something we can encourage in our students. To take risks and experiment can be liberating and extremely beneficial for learning. Our guest, Associate Professor Helen Marshall (School of Communication and Arts, The University of Queensland), shares with us how she fosters risk taking and a spirit of experimentation in her creative writing courses.
Episode 3 – Integrating AI into our lectures, tutorials, and overall learning activities
With most of us having had to already adjust our assessments to the age of AI, the next step on the agenda by universities is to find ways of integrating AI into our lectures, tutorials and overall learning activities. This is new territory for all of us, so we invited Dr Luke Zaphir, a former teacher in philosophy, who now is part of our faculty’s AI learning design team. Luke points to a number of helpful ways in which we can take first steps in this regard, from easy examples to more elaborate ones.
Episode 2 – Supporting neurodivergence in the classroom (part II)
In this episode, we focus on the values that should guide our approach to supporting neurodivergent students, with guests Dr Toby Boyson (University of New South Wales) and Ms Eliza Barry (University of Queensland).
Episode 1 – Supporting neurodiversity in the classroom
What learning challenges do neurodiverse students face? What simple, but extremely helpful, adjustments can we as teachers make to support them in their learning? Al and Seb talk about these and other questions with researcher and advocate Brooke Szucs and student Eliza Barry (both from The University of Queensland).
Season 5
Episode 9 – Breaking down journalistic stereotypes of the courtroom
Al Stark and special co-host Kate Lee Koo talk to Dr Richard Murray from UQ’s School of Communication and Arts, who teaches social justice storytelling by taking students to courtrooms. This enables them to encounter different voices, to transform their own views, and to better grasp how news media report on social issues, stereotypes and crime.
Episode 8 – Using storytelling and classical literature to help problem solving
Al and Lynda talk to Professor Kate O’Brien (Chemical Engineering, UQ) about how she draws on classical literature and storytelling as central avenues for understanding and problem solving, even in the context of large engineering classes.
Episode 7 – Improving student engagement, satisfaction and learning via AI-based educational apps
Al Stark and special co-host Katrina Lee Koo talk to Hassan Khosravi, an Associate Professor in Data Science and Learning Analytics at UQ. In response to ever bigger class sizes and the need for students to have learning tailored for their individual needs, Hassan decided to build RiPPLE, an app for in-class teaching. They also talk more generally about how to use apps and tech for student learning.
Episode 6 – The benefits of seeking in-class feedback from students
In this, our 50th(!) episode, Lynda Shevellar and Al Stark talk to UQ's Associate Professor Morgan Brigg about inviting feedback from students in class. Not at the end of a course, but while the course is running. Morgan talks about how it took courage to make himself vulnerable, but also how this practice enabled him to make changes to student learning, and how it positively changed the dynamic in his classroom.
Episode 5 – Indigenising the Curriculum
In this episode, Al Stark and special co-host Lynda Shevellar welcome as their guests Associate Professor Katelyn Barney and Professor Tracey Bunda (both from The University of Queensland). We talk about the biggest challenges educators face when embarking on this process as well as some of the practical and effective steps that can guide them along the way:
Episode 4 – Being accessible and approachable to students
In this episode, we talk to Dr Michael Thai, a lecturer in psychology at UQ and an award-winning teacher. Michael shares how he replaced his formal consultation hours with a weekly outdoor picnic. This format enables the breaking down of barriers and a different type of conversation between students and teacher that has enabled Michael to become a better teacher.
Episode 3 –The dos and don’ts of learning design
Episode 2 – Teaching as Theatre: Engaging in trauma as a form of learning
In this episode, Al and special co-host Lynda Shevellar talk to Lindy Andren and Prof Norm Sheehan (both from the University of Queensland). Their topic is about ‘teaching as theatre’ and how – from their respective student and teacher perspectives - a particular, traumatic, but deliberately staged event in the classroom profoundly changed students’ lives. Trigger warning: this episode contains references to violence, the brutality of settler colonialism, and traumatic indigenous experiences.
Episode 1 – “Show your working”: Using AI as part of student learning
In this episode, we talk to Professor Jason Lodge (Educational Psychology at UQ). Jason shares his way of allowing students to use AI as part of their essay writing which, in combination with the ‘show me your working’ concept, facilitates student learning.
Season 4
Episode 9 – 'Apply first, explain later': using a photo treasure hunt to draw out core academic concepts for student learning
In this episode, we talk to Paul Treschman, who teaches in the School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences here at UQ. Paul makes his students learn according to the motto ‘apply first – explain later’ and he illustrates this through the example of a photo treasure hunt his students do on campus.
Episode 8 – Using film documentary making for student learning and assessment
In this episode, we talk to Associate Professor Peter Walters, who is an urban sociologist and an expert in urban community at The University of Queensland. Peter has won numerous awards for teaching excellence and has integrated film documentary making in his courses for both student learning and assessment.
Episode 7 – Preparing students for the cognitive and emotional uncertainties they will face in their future professions
In this episode, we talk to Dr Roma Forbes, a Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at UQ. One of the motivations that drive Roma's teaching is the question of how to enhance the students’ experience. In particular, how to get them better prepared for the uncertainties they will face once they join the workforce.
Episode 6 – What can generative AI bring to our classroom?
There are lots of worries, discussions, and myths surrounding generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), such as ChatGPT, and the impact it has on our teaching. While acknowledging these, Dan identifies the possibilities generative AI can bring to our classrooms, in particular to the way we as faculty teach and the way our students learn.
Episode 5 – Catering for students who are struggling or are at the risk of failing
In this episode, we have a chat with Dr Poh Wah Hillock, a Senior Lecturer in the School of Mathematics and Physics at UQ. Faced with high failure rates in her first-year mathematics course, Dr Poh took action by creating a support tutorial for her students and implementing forms of community building and peer-to-peer support that helps students connect over common challenges, ultimately leading to their success.
Episode 4 – Using board games, digital escape rooms, and online scenario games in your classroom
In this episode, we talk to UQ’s Shakira Moss (UQ Sustainable Minerals Institute) and Russell Richards (UQ’s Business School) about how they integrate educational board games, digital escape rooms and online scenario games into their courses, and even design these games for learning themselves.
Episode 3 – The dos and don’ts of PowerPoint presentations
In this episode, we talk to Jo’Anne Langham (UQ Ventures) about how to create great Powerpoint slides and why it matters to design with the mind in mind. If you want to avoid death by PowerPoint and move towards designing your visuals or slides like a pro, this is the episode for you!
Listen to learn how small and practical steps will make a big difference.
Episode 2 – Helping students learn through cohort building and a strong sense of belonging
In this episode, we talk with Associate Professor Zala Volcic (School of Media, Film and Journalism at Monash University, Australia) about how student learning can be enhanced through care, compassion and a sense of belonging. By talking about what we would call ‘compassionate pedagogy’, Zala shares many practical ideas of how teachers can build cohorts and generate connections that ultimate help their students learn.
Episode 1 – Learning across cultures
Associate Professor Peter Lewis teamed up with colleagues from 18 Universities across the world to co-teach one common course, in real time and online, for the benefit of cross-cultural learning on topics ranging from COVID to climate change. In this episode, Associate Professor Lewis recounts how his team built this course step by step, how it has evolved, and what anyone can do to replicate elements of this in their own classroom. Associate Professor Lewis the Director of Teaching and Learning for UQ's School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work at The University of Queensland. He has won several awards for his innovation around cross-cultural pedagogy and online learning.