Assessment, Learning & Teaching Reflections |
Wednesday 16 November
When I sat down to think about this and wondered what really matters in learning, teaching and assessment, a number of words came to mind: motivation, clarity and, significantly, connection. I am a Shiatsu practitioner (Shiatsu is a traditional hands-on Japanese healing art). In Shiatsu we talk about ‘connection’ and it strikes me that this is at the heart of our work as academics. If we are really connected to our students and colleagues, then what follows is likely to be effective and accessible. Unless we start from where our students are, then we are likely to be ineffective and inaccessible. I often ask my students if they have any questions or comments or observations. Often I am met with an uneasy silence. I have taken to asking them, in small groups, to share their current thoughts and in particular their feelings and then to frame a question from the group. The buzz of interaction is so great that it is difficult to get them to stop talking and ask the question(s) they wanted to ask.
I make no apology for arguing that in higher education I believe we ignore emotions – both ours and our students – at our peril.
Viv Anderson
Teaching Fellow and National teaching Fellow
School of Education and Professional Training
