Using AI in a Problem-Based Learning session: “Hunger hotspots”

Dr Amy Proctor and Dr Beth Clark designed a problem-based learning session for students of  Sustainability in Practice – a new shared module for Agriculture, Earth and Environment, and Applied Social Sciences Cluster (AESSC) students. In this session, students will use AI tools to generate solutions to food insecurity, and evaluate them critically.

Screenshot of Nafferton Virtual Farms

Virtual Tours of the NU Farms

As part of the Agriculture, Earth and Environment, and Applied Social Sciences Cluster (AESSC) Curriculum Redesign Project within SNES, we have developed virtual tours of NU Farms using H5P. These virtual tours provide an immersive experience during Open Days, familiarise students and colleagues with the farms prior to field trips, and enrich fieldwork activities.

A photo of students sitting around a table playing the Team Work Training Board Game

Team Work Training – Alien Alliance Groupwork Board Game

Dr Catherine Douglas (staff: she/her) and Manjot Brar (student intern: she/her) from the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, discuss the development of an innovative ice-breaking board game to enable students to discuss effective strategies for addressing common group working issues, and learn about the value of feedback. Students were integral to the design of the game which was funded to address requests for support in preparing for groupwork. This extremely successful pilot initiative will continue to be used and can be loaned out to anyone interested in reviewing the game and trialing with their students.

The Yamuna and Tyne rivers
Photos of members involved

Bringing the rocks into your house, virtual fieldtrips (VFT)

With Dr Cees van der Land, Dr Sanem Acikalin & Dr Mark Ireland Newcastle University School of Natural and Earth Sciences Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering What did you do? For our Earth Science students we developed a range of VFTs during which they learn to analyse and map the rock strata. We used Read more about Bringing the rocks into your house, virtual fieldtrips (VFT)[…]

Dr Cristina Navarro Reguero

Implementing a novel approach to the delivery of Chemistry labs in response to the COVID pandemic

Rapid changes to the practical delivery of Chemistry courses as a consequence of the unexpected Covid-19 restrictions whilst trying to maximise students’ experience by using a great variety of learning tools.

Dr Sara Marsham
Catherine Douglas and a dog

Your Future: Occupational Awareness Module

The aim of the Your Future module was to enhance students’ awareness of roles that they could go into; enhance their employability for their ideal roles through reflecting on, and developing, their skills; and also enhance their resourcefulness. Hear more from Dr Catherine Douglas.

Photo of Dr Heather Sudgen, Dr Sara Marsham and Dr Ben Wigham

Virtual Fieldwork Teaching

Colleagues in SNES are using ThingLink to create 360 degree virtual environments to replace traditional fieldwork activities. Feedback so far has been excellent with high levels of synchronous and non-synchronous student engagement. Read on to find out more…

Rethinking the lecture in order to engage students in active learning and discussion

Dr James Stach, Senior Lecturer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences Science, Agriculture and Engineering What did you do? The third-year/MSc module BIO3030/BIO8041 asks students to watch recorded online lectures and complete further reading – both so that they take responsibility for their own learning and so that they can make better use of timetabled Read more about Rethinking the lecture in order to engage students in active learning and discussion[…]