Sandra Sinfield
@danceswithcloud.bsky.social
Associate Teaching Professor #studychat #LoveLD #creativeHE. For playful pedagogy; creativity as liberatory practice; making, drawing & animation for learning.
Reposted by Sandra Sinfield
CPD works best when we treat it like curriculum: clear intent, thoughtful sequencing, real impact.
My new @tesmagazine.bsky.social article explores how middle leaders can design CPD that helps teams grow.
Read here: www.tes.com/magazine/tea...
My new @tesmagazine.bsky.social article explores how middle leaders can design CPD that helps teams grow.
Read here: www.tes.com/magazine/tea...
How to design a CPD curriculum
Without a clear curriculum, knowledge is forgotten, habits don’t shift and progress stalls - and this is just as true for teachers’ learning as it is for pupils’, writes Mark Enser
www.tes.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:01 PM
CPD works best when we treat it like curriculum: clear intent, thoughtful sequencing, real impact.
My new @tesmagazine.bsky.social article explores how middle leaders can design CPD that helps teams grow.
Read here: www.tes.com/magazine/tea...
My new @tesmagazine.bsky.social article explores how middle leaders can design CPD that helps teams grow.
Read here: www.tes.com/magazine/tea...
Reposted by Sandra Sinfield
Ten Principles of Effective Geography Teaching 🌍
A look at what makes geography powerful in the classroom: clear purpose, strong concepts, real locational knowledge, rigorous enquiry, and cumulative curriculum thinking.
Read the full post:
open.substack.com/pub/enserm/p...
A look at what makes geography powerful in the classroom: clear purpose, strong concepts, real locational knowledge, rigorous enquiry, and cumulative curriculum thinking.
Read the full post:
open.substack.com/pub/enserm/p...
Ten Principles of Effective Geography Teaching
Why powerful geography teaching still matters – and how we can strengthen it across secondary classrooms.
open.substack.com
November 27, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Ten Principles of Effective Geography Teaching 🌍
A look at what makes geography powerful in the classroom: clear purpose, strong concepts, real locational knowledge, rigorous enquiry, and cumulative curriculum thinking.
Read the full post:
open.substack.com/pub/enserm/p...
A look at what makes geography powerful in the classroom: clear purpose, strong concepts, real locational knowledge, rigorous enquiry, and cumulative curriculum thinking.
Read the full post:
open.substack.com/pub/enserm/p...
Reposted by Sandra Sinfield
Get involved. This is a cracking wee conference on a beautiful campus, with some the brightest minds in the business. #SocMEdHE25
Session abstracts are now available online - do take a look to find out more about the range of topics we'll be discussing on Dec 16th :-) There is still time to register if you would like to join us in Lancaster - closes 5th Dec. See website at: socmedhe25.wordpress.com/2025/07/16/p...
Programme
Please note that the programme is provisional and may be subject to minor changes before the conference. Below is an overview of the programme for the day; a copy of the provisional programme inclu…
socmedhe25.wordpress.com
November 28, 2025 at 7:31 AM
Get involved. This is a cracking wee conference on a beautiful campus, with some the brightest minds in the business. #SocMEdHE25
Reposted by Sandra Sinfield
Some 10,000 jobs could be lost each year at UK universities as leaders continue to cut staff numbers to tackle ongoing financial problems, new analysis suggests. Helen Packer reports
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/uk-universities-could-cut-10000-jobs-every-year-v-c-predicts
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/uk-universities-could-cut-10000-jobs-every-year-v-c-predicts
November 28, 2025 at 7:35 AM
Some 10,000 jobs could be lost each year at UK universities as leaders continue to cut staff numbers to tackle ongoing financial problems, new analysis suggests. Helen Packer reports
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/uk-universities-could-cut-10000-jobs-every-year-v-c-predicts
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/uk-universities-could-cut-10000-jobs-every-year-v-c-predicts
Reposted by Sandra Sinfield
Outdoor reading space resources, with bean bags, tents, pop-ups, hammocks, pouffes, giant outdoor cushions, outdoor classrooms, reading sheds, garden playhouses, reading treehouses and literacy teaching ideas.
schoolreadinglist.co.uk/resources/ch...
#teachertwitter #kidlit
schoolreadinglist.co.uk/resources/ch...
#teachertwitter #kidlit
Children's outdoor reading spaces
Outdoor reading space resources including bean bags, tents, pop-ups, outdoor classrooms and literacy teaching ideas.
schoolreadinglist.co.uk
November 28, 2025 at 7:42 AM
Outdoor reading space resources, with bean bags, tents, pop-ups, hammocks, pouffes, giant outdoor cushions, outdoor classrooms, reading sheds, garden playhouses, reading treehouses and literacy teaching ideas.
schoolreadinglist.co.uk/resources/ch...
#teachertwitter #kidlit
schoolreadinglist.co.uk/resources/ch...
#teachertwitter #kidlit
Reposted by Sandra Sinfield
#LTHEchat is organised by a rolling team of volunteers. Each term 3-4 volunteers join the organising team and are mentored by a previous volunteer.
Are you interested in becoming a member of a future organising team?
If this is you, please complete this form docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Are you interested in becoming a member of a future organising team?
If this is you, please complete this form docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Expression of interest to become a member of a future #LTHEchat organising group or mentor a future team
Hello dear #LTHEchat friends,
If you would like to support the #LTHEchat as an organising team member, please complete this short form and we will be in touch. Each organising group consists of 2 to ...
docs.google.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:01 PM
#LTHEchat is organised by a rolling team of volunteers. Each term 3-4 volunteers join the organising team and are mentored by a previous volunteer.
Are you interested in becoming a member of a future organising team?
If this is you, please complete this form docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Are you interested in becoming a member of a future organising team?
If this is you, please complete this form docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Reposted by Sandra Sinfield
I like using other resources to help them build their confidence for academic reading, I rarely go straight into assigning journal articles etc, especially with first year students!
November 26, 2025 at 8:50 PM
I like using other resources to help them build their confidence for academic reading, I rarely go straight into assigning journal articles etc, especially with first year students!
Reposted by Sandra Sinfield
Q1 - If you were tasked with studying independently, what would you do? Provide examples of how you might approach this or what types of resources you might engage with.
Reply with A1 #LTHEChat and your response @nbridgeman.bsky.social
Reply with A1 #LTHEChat and your response @nbridgeman.bsky.social
November 26, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Q1 - If you were tasked with studying independently, what would you do? Provide examples of how you might approach this or what types of resources you might engage with.
Reply with A1 #LTHEChat and your response @nbridgeman.bsky.social
Reply with A1 #LTHEChat and your response @nbridgeman.bsky.social
Reposted by Sandra Sinfield
A2 most of the module I teach on is "Flipped" so I try to have clear time stamps on videos and guide what to look at specifically if video is>15 mins.
Try to consider what is feasible between classes for them to study.
Provide a "template" with prompts when reviewing an article.
#lthechat
Try to consider what is feasible between classes for them to study.
Provide a "template" with prompts when reviewing an article.
#lthechat
November 27, 2025 at 7:45 AM
A2 most of the module I teach on is "Flipped" so I try to have clear time stamps on videos and guide what to look at specifically if video is>15 mins.
Try to consider what is feasible between classes for them to study.
Provide a "template" with prompts when reviewing an article.
#lthechat
Try to consider what is feasible between classes for them to study.
Provide a "template" with prompts when reviewing an article.
#lthechat
Reposted by Sandra Sinfield
Q2 - How do you currently support students to study outside of the classroom?
Reply with A2 #LTHEChat and your response @nbridgeman.bsky.social
Reply with A2 #LTHEChat and your response @nbridgeman.bsky.social
November 26, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Q2 - How do you currently support students to study outside of the classroom?
Reply with A2 #LTHEChat and your response @nbridgeman.bsky.social
Reply with A2 #LTHEChat and your response @nbridgeman.bsky.social
Reposted by Sandra Sinfield
Ukraine special edition. Life in higher education from within a war zone.
We are announcing a special edition, we have been working on for two years.
"Tempus fugit, academia semptinerma."
osotl.org/osotl/issue/...
"Tempus fugit, academia semptinerma."
osotl.org/osotl/issue/...
Vol. 4 No. 2 (2025): The Ukraine special issue: ‘Tempus fugit, Academia sempiterna’
| Open Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
osotl.org
November 27, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Ukraine special edition. Life in higher education from within a war zone.
Reposted by Sandra Sinfield
A3 my learners are staff working full-time.
For them it's a matter of Time ⌛ ...but these are people who usually already have academic qualifications, UG at least so are more familiar with studying?
Still probably need some guidance, especially those entering from business/practice #lthechat
For them it's a matter of Time ⌛ ...but these are people who usually already have academic qualifications, UG at least so are more familiar with studying?
Still probably need some guidance, especially those entering from business/practice #lthechat
November 27, 2025 at 7:47 AM
A3 my learners are staff working full-time.
For them it's a matter of Time ⌛ ...but these are people who usually already have academic qualifications, UG at least so are more familiar with studying?
Still probably need some guidance, especially those entering from business/practice #lthechat
For them it's a matter of Time ⌛ ...but these are people who usually already have academic qualifications, UG at least so are more familiar with studying?
Still probably need some guidance, especially those entering from business/practice #lthechat
Reposted by Sandra Sinfield
Q3 - What are the biggest barriers your students face when engaging with independent study?
Reply with A3 #LTHEChat and your response @nbridgeman.bsky.social
Reply with A3 #LTHEChat and your response @nbridgeman.bsky.social
November 26, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Q3 - What are the biggest barriers your students face when engaging with independent study?
Reply with A3 #LTHEChat and your response @nbridgeman.bsky.social
Reply with A3 #LTHEChat and your response @nbridgeman.bsky.social
Reposted by Sandra Sinfield
A4
Choices?
Do I have the TIME to do this...work Vs study Vs other commitments
DO I have different STRATEGIES in my study "toolkit"
Is there a RANGE of modes I can choose from to help understand the issues?
CHOICE of topics I have?
#LTHECHAT
Choices?
Do I have the TIME to do this...work Vs study Vs other commitments
DO I have different STRATEGIES in my study "toolkit"
Is there a RANGE of modes I can choose from to help understand the issues?
CHOICE of topics I have?
#LTHECHAT
November 27, 2025 at 7:50 AM
A4
Choices?
Do I have the TIME to do this...work Vs study Vs other commitments
DO I have different STRATEGIES in my study "toolkit"
Is there a RANGE of modes I can choose from to help understand the issues?
CHOICE of topics I have?
#LTHECHAT
Choices?
Do I have the TIME to do this...work Vs study Vs other commitments
DO I have different STRATEGIES in my study "toolkit"
Is there a RANGE of modes I can choose from to help understand the issues?
CHOICE of topics I have?
#LTHECHAT
Reposted by Sandra Sinfield
I think that the reminder that you can pick and choose what suits you best is vital - when they’re already overwhelmed we don’t need to our more pressure on. Equally, I think that bit of freedom makes them even more likely to explore because it takes away the pressure!
November 26, 2025 at 8:27 PM
I think that the reminder that you can pick and choose what suits you best is vital - when they’re already overwhelmed we don’t need to our more pressure on. Equally, I think that bit of freedom makes them even more likely to explore because it takes away the pressure!
#LTHEchat Wow @nbridgeman.bsky.social - that was a fabulous, thought-provoking and engaging chat! Thank you for the questions (and answers!) - and thanks everybody - what a great hour!!
November 26, 2025 at 9:01 PM
#LTHEchat Wow @nbridgeman.bsky.social - that was a fabulous, thought-provoking and engaging chat! Thank you for the questions (and answers!) - and thanks everybody - what a great hour!!
#LTHEchat A6 To staff: Really help students bond, get to know & trust each other, then set more group tasks - inclg P2P teaching and multimodal assignments. To students: make friends/study partners/groups - share the workload and spend a lot of time talking about it in the canteen.
Q6 - If you could give one tip for making independent study inclusive, what would it be?
Reply with A6 #LTHEChat and your response @nbridgeman.bsky.social
Reply with A6 #LTHEChat and your response @nbridgeman.bsky.social
November 26, 2025 at 8:58 PM
#LTHEchat A6 To staff: Really help students bond, get to know & trust each other, then set more group tasks - inclg P2P teaching and multimodal assignments. To students: make friends/study partners/groups - share the workload and spend a lot of time talking about it in the canteen.
Reposted by Sandra Sinfield
A5 Making use of active learning anf formative actitivies in the classroom. Extended think/pair/share. Being creative with how the learning is shared and making use of multimodal approaches for this and the feedback from tutors and/or peers #LTHEchat
November 26, 2025 at 8:48 PM
A5 Making use of active learning anf formative actitivies in the classroom. Extended think/pair/share. Being creative with how the learning is shared and making use of multimodal approaches for this and the feedback from tutors and/or peers #LTHEchat
Reposted by Sandra Sinfield
A5 If we have mechanisms through choice of materials, assessment and using peer learning, we can support educator workload. Not an easy balance. #LTHEChat
November 26, 2025 at 8:45 PM
A5 If we have mechanisms through choice of materials, assessment and using peer learning, we can support educator workload. Not an easy balance. #LTHEChat
Reposted by Sandra Sinfield
A5 That balance will depend on different factors (for example, small or large modules, available resources - staff, financial, time, etc). For a module of >350 students, I prefer to give only to 2 options for different assessment criterion, giving exemplars, formative assessment #LTHEChat
a black and gold scale of justice with chains
ALT: a black and gold scale of justice with chains
media.tenor.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:44 PM
A5 That balance will depend on different factors (for example, small or large modules, available resources - staff, financial, time, etc). For a module of >350 students, I prefer to give only to 2 options for different assessment criterion, giving exemplars, formative assessment #LTHEChat
#LTHEchat A5 SMT need to recognise the labour that has to go into developing these more interactive, student-centred processes - esply if they want the dialogic VLE and the flips and the asynchronous bits - and if they hope we spend phatic as well as purposeful time w our students... Hmmm?!
Q5 - How can we balance support and flexibility for students with the workload for educators?
Reply with A5 #LTHEChat and your response @nbridgeman.bsky.social
Reply with A5 #LTHEChat and your response @nbridgeman.bsky.social
November 26, 2025 at 8:52 PM
#LTHEchat A5 SMT need to recognise the labour that has to go into developing these more interactive, student-centred processes - esply if they want the dialogic VLE and the flips and the asynchronous bits - and if they hope we spend phatic as well as purposeful time w our students... Hmmm?!
Reposted by Sandra Sinfield
A4 independent study allows students to find the level and pace that works for them. This means there's a need to provide different access points and challenge levels so the sweet spot of flow has a chance to happen for more of them #LTHEchat
November 26, 2025 at 8:34 PM
A4 independent study allows students to find the level and pace that works for them. This means there's a need to provide different access points and challenge levels so the sweet spot of flow has a chance to happen for more of them #LTHEchat
#LTHEchat A4 given how horrid academic reading is (!) - I think choice is essential! Offering a video or blog or podcast ... seeded with judicious essential reading helps students realise they CAN learn! Just as making a video/podcast helps them realise they can make meaning & show what they know...
Q4 - What role does choice play in student engagement with independent study?
Reply with A4 #LTHEChat and your response @nbridgeman.bsky.social sky.social
Reply with A4 #LTHEChat and your response @nbridgeman.bsky.social sky.social
November 26, 2025 at 8:46 PM
#LTHEchat A4 given how horrid academic reading is (!) - I think choice is essential! Offering a video or blog or podcast ... seeded with judicious essential reading helps students realise they CAN learn! Just as making a video/podcast helps them realise they can make meaning & show what they know...
#LTHEchat A3 Not knowing the academic labour that is reqd, nor how active they have to be to learn. Having work/caring responsibilities and noone telling them that full time study = 35hours per week on top of all that! Then ... we need to scaffold that active learning/notemaking/reading/discussing
Q3 - What are the biggest barriers your students face when engaging with independent study?
Reply with A3 #LTHEChat and your response @nbridgeman.bsky.social
Reply with A3 #LTHEChat and your response @nbridgeman.bsky.social
November 26, 2025 at 8:37 PM
#LTHEchat A3 Not knowing the academic labour that is reqd, nor how active they have to be to learn. Having work/caring responsibilities and noone telling them that full time study = 35hours per week on top of all that! Then ... we need to scaffold that active learning/notemaking/reading/discussing