The Journey Towards Active Blended Learning: The Experience of the University of Northampton

Professor Alejandro Aremellini, Dean of Learning and Teaching, University of Northampton.

9.00am to 10.00am

The University of Northampton is committed to developing knowledgeable graduates, who are socially responsible, digitally proficient and highly employable global citizens – the Changemakers of the future. Active Blended Learning (ABL) is the University’s pedagogic approach to deliver that aim. The new Waterside Campus, which opened in September 2018, has been a major catalyst to shift ABL from innovation to the mainstream. This session will offer a summary and a critique of the journey so far: the rationale for the changes, insights into this pedagogic transformation, the challenges we have encountered and those that lie ahead.

Session Aims

By the end of the session, delegates will have:

• Gained an insight into a large-scale pedagogic transformation process in HE

• Critiqued frameworks and models emerging from Northampton’s experience

• Reflected on key aspects of their own learning and teaching practice and how to enhance them

• Considered the extent to which the lessons learned from this transformation could inform their practice

Bio

Alejandro (Ale) Armellini is Professor, Dean of Learning and Teaching, and Director of the Institute of Learning and Teaching in Higher Education at the University of Northampton, where his key role is to provide leadership in learning and teaching and learning innovation across all Faculties. His portfolio covers the development, implementation and evaluation of Northampton’s Learning and Teaching Plan, which includes a comprehensive, externally accredited staff development programme leading to professional recognition of teaching in Higher Education (Fellowships). He was also the strategic lead for the redesign of all programmes for active blended learning. Ale is a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and Fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. Ale’s research and doctoral supervision focus on learning innovation, online pedagogy, course design in online environments, institutional capacity building and open practices. He holds visiting professorships at several UK and overseas universities. Profile: https://www.northampton.ac.uk/directories/people/ale-armellini/