Academic Professional Development

Academic Practice, Academic Professional Development, Higher Education, Learning Design

From Content Delivery to Learning Architecture: The New HE Paradigm.

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Higher education is shifting from a traditional transmission model to intentional learning design, emphasizing active knowledge construction and mastery. Research supports the effectiveness of active learning, while Learning Design emerges as a critical discipline. The pandemic and Generative AI have accelerated this transformation, redefining educators as Learning Architects focused on curated, purposeful learning experiences.

Graphic illustrating AI incursion into Higher Education
Academic Practice, Academic Professional Development, Artificial Intelligence AI, Staff Development

Is higher education focusing on the wrong AI emergency?

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Many universities are currently focused on updating academic integrity policies and banning AI, viewing it as a cheating issue. However, this overlooks the need to redesign learning experiences for an AI-integrated world. The real crisis lies in faculty development and curriculum design, which are insufficiently addressed for modern labor market demands.

Thumbnail for 8-SLDF
8-SLDF, Academic Practice, Academic Professional Development, Learning Design

Introduction to the 8-Stage Learning Development Framework

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Many academics, while being subject-matter experts, lack training in course design, leading to ineffective curricula that reflect their own experiences rather than student needs. The 8-Stage Learning Design Framework (8-SLDF) addresses this issue, emphasizing Constructive Alignment and five development areas while encouraging honest engagement with AI in the design process.

Graphical representation of constructive alignment
Academic Practice, Constructive Alignment

Why do we design for constructive alignment?

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The first of 10 Learning Design Principles is that “We design for constructive alignment”. The notion of constructive alignment is nearly universally applied in tertiary-level programme and course design, though not always consciously.

Simon holding up the 2026 Psychomotor Poster
-, Academic Professional Development, Learning Design, Psychomotor, Resources

A2 Poster of Psychomotor Domain for Educational Outcomes

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I have been asked whether I had a poster specifically for the Psychomotor domain. I do now! This domain is

Academic Practice, Academic Professional Development, Posters, Taxonomy

A1 Portrait Version of Taxonomies Poster Now Available

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Delighted to share the 2026 Comprehensive Taxonomies of Educational Objectives A1 poster now in portrait! This size is required to

Image of university lectures surrounded by notes and digital screens as they discuss design designing a future course
Academic Practice, Academic Professional Development, Learning Design, Staff Development

Designing for the Future: A Curriculum Horizon-Scanning Workshop

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This week’s Substack resource provides an outline for a workshop that brings together faculty to explore one of the most

Simon with the words Why is it important to have a learning design team focused on the future?
Academic Practice, Learning Design, Staff Development

Why is it important to have a learning design team focused on the future?

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The Challenge of Course Design All learning designers are essentially futurists. This is because the student who embarks on your

Male student building a hybred digital and physical portfolio
Academic Practice, Academic Professional Development, Learning Design

Ipsative Portfolio Assessment: a response to AI

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First posted on Substack The AI arms race still rages. Students will identify AI writing support tools, educators will rearm

Female lecturer standing infront of an interactive whiteboard
Academic Practice, Academic Professional Development

Building Beautiful Learning – a Manifesto

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FIRST PUBLISHED ON SUBSTACK In 2007, I was invited to deliver a ‘keynote’ at the opening of the National e-Learning

Thoughtful person sitting infront of a wall of clocks
Academic Professional Development

A.I.: Anticipating Impact of Educational Governance

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It was my pleasure last week to deliver a mini-workshop at the Independent Schools of New Zealand Annual Conference in

jofdl cover 26:2
Academic Professional Development

New Issue: Journal of Open, Flexible and Distance Learning (JOFDL) Vol 22(2)

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It is my privilege to serve alongside Alison Fields as co-editor of the Journal of Open, Flexible and Distance Learning,

Simon holding open the book
Academic Practice, Academic Professional Development, Announcements

Book on Writing Good Learning Outcomes

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Introducing a short guide entitled: “Writing Good Learning Outcomes and Objectives”, aimed at enhancing the learner experience through effective course

Academic Professional Development, Consultancy, Higher Education, Learning Analytics, Strategy, Tertiary Education, Theoretical Perspectives

Empower Learners for the Age of AI: a reflection

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During the Empower Learners for the Age of AI (ELAI) conference earlier in December 2022, it became apparent to me

Academic Practice, Academic Professional Development, Higher Education, Learning Design, Taxonomy, Tertiary Education

Free Online CPD Course on Learning Outcomes (until 14th January 2023)

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Have you got some time for professional development over the holiday period? Or do you have colleagues or design teams

Academic Practice, Academic Professional Development, Strategy

In-Class Evaluation (Guidance for Educators)

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Transcript: Welcome all. Please feel free to share this with your colleagues, if you think they’ll find this of interest. 

Academic Professional Development, Announcements

Educational Posters for Sale

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Colleagues have been asking me for some time whether they can have copies of the various visualisations that I have

Academic Practice, Academic Professional Development, Higher Education, Tertiary Education

Guidance for Educators: Avoiding Burnout

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Transcript: Welcome all. Please feel free to share this video with colleagues if you think they’d find it of interest.

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