Learning & Teaching Conference 

The COVID-19 pandemic fundamentally disrupted traditional university teaching methods, highlighting long-standing issues with lecture-based delivery and exacerbating pre-existing challenges to fostering student engagement and attendance. In the post-pandemic context, universities face the dual imperative of addressing these challenges while operating within a financially constrained environment. This presentation reports on the outcomes of a new approach to assessment that is designed to complement enABLe and has the intention of enhancing attendance, engagement, and student preparedness for the workplace, with a particular focus on supporting Widening Participation students who thrive in structured environments.

Our teaching model replaces traditional lectures with large, dynamic workshops that encourage active participation, collaboration, and practical application of knowledge. This approach assists students in developing key transferable skills for professional success. The workshops are integrated with regular, in-class assessments that not only promote continuous engagement but also enable real-time monitoring of attendance and participation. This allows for timely interventions to support students potentially disengaging from the course, whilst simultaneously safeguarding their overall wellbeing.

We also present evidence that demonstrates the effectiveness of this approach. Key outcomes include significantly increased attendance rates, improved student satisfaction as reflected in outstanding National Student Survey (NSS) scores, and markedly low withdrawal rates. These results suggest that transitioning from lectures to large workshops, coupled with structured and regular assessment, offers a viable solution to the post-COVID challenges facing higher education institutions.

Finally, we include observations about challenges faced by this approach, lessons we’ve learned during its implementation, and suggestions for future implementation.