Advertise on podcast: Higher Ed Heroes

Rating

★★★★★

from

1 reviews

Description

In ‘HigherEd Heroes’, we talk to some of the best teachers about ‘what works’ in their university classrooms in a down-to-earth, jargon-free, and 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.‘ Higher Ed Heroes’ is convened by The University of Queensland's Dr Seb Kaempf and Dr Al Stark and produced by Anthony Frangi. If you want to listen to the podcast, get more information, or get in touch, please visit: https://itali.uq.edu.au/about/projects/highered-heroes-podcast

Unlock Higher Ed Heroes podcast Email contact info,
Listeners & Audience details

Email contact information

Direct podcast contact details

Listeners

Audience numbers & engagement insights

Audience details

Podcast Insights

Social media

Check Higher Ed Heroes social media presence

Podcast episodes

Check latest episodes from Higher Ed Heroes podcast

Integrating AI into our lectures, tutorials, and overall learning activities

2026/02/02

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.

Supporting Neurodivergence in the Classroom (Part II)

2026/01/12

In this episode, we focus on the values that should guide our approach to supporting neurodivergent students. Our guests are Dr Toby Boyson (University of New South Wales) and Ms Eliza Barry (University of Queensland). Hosted by Al Stark and Seb Kaempf.

Supporting neurodiversity in the classroom

2025/11/17

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).

Breaking down journalistic stereotypes of the courtroom

2025/05/15

Al Stark and special co-host Kate Lee Koo talk to Dr Richard Murray (UQ’s School of Communication and Arts). Richard teaches social justice storytelling by taking his students to the court rooms. 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.

‘Using storytelling and classical literature to help problem solving’

2025/04/19

Al and Lynda talk to Prof Kate O’Brien (Chemical Engineering, The University of Queensland) about how she draws on classical literature and storytelling as a central avenues for understanding and problem solving, even in the context of large engineering classes.

Improving student engagement, satisfaction and learning via an AI based educational tool called RiPPLE

2025/03/27

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 about other useful apps and tech that helps student learning in big or small classes.

The benefits of seeking in-class feedback from students

2025/03/01

In this episode, Al and Lynda talk to Associate Professor Morgan Brigg (from the School of Political Science and International Studies at The University of Queensland) 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. Listeners might also be interested in our 2021 recording with John Hattie, the guru on feedback (season 3, episode 3). You can also follow us on Bluesky now: https://bsky.app/profile/higheredheroes.bsky.social

Indigenizing the Curriculum

2025/02/08

In this episode, we talk to Associate Professor Katelyn Barney and Professor Tracey Bunda (both from The University of Queensland) about indigenizing the curriculum. We talk about the biggest challenges educators face when embarking on this this process as well as some practical and effective steps that can guide them along the way. With special co-host Lynda Shevellar.

Being accessible and approachable to students

2025/01/10

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 ultimately has enabled Michael to become a better teacher.

The dos and don’ts of learning design

2024/12/09

In this episode, we talk to Carrie Finn, an experienced educational designer (Business School, The University of Queensland), about the how to design courses. Carrie not only talks about the most common mistakes uni teachers do when designing their courses, but also how to get it right by following some easy-to-implement steps.

‘Teaching as Theatre': Engaging in trauma as a form of learning

2024/11/13

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.

‘“Show your working”: Using AI as part of student learning’

2024/10/26

In this episode, we talk to Professor Jason Lodge (Educational Psychology and Deputy Associate Dean [Academic] in the Faculty of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences at The University of Queensland). 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.

'Apply first, explain later': using a photo treasure hunt to draw out core academic concepts for student learning

2024/05/02

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.

Using film documentary making for student learning and assessment

2024/04/11

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.

Preparing students for the cognitive and emotional uncertainties they will face in their future professions

2024/03/03

In this episode, we talk to Dr Roma Forbes. Roma is a Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at UQ. And one of motivations that drive her 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.