As we approach our first 5 years of ODL (in Oct 2022) and pass the 1000 student milestone, the time seems right to bring our ODL community together to celebrate our achievements. You are invited to the ODL Community of Practice Day on April 28th, that will run from 10:00 am to 3:30 pm in the The Gap Solutions Lounge - American Express Community Stadium. Catering will be provided.

In our first ODL Community of Practice event we aim to focus on 2 themes: (1) planning live sessions for better student engagement and (2) designing the assessment strategy for ODL modules. The event will be primarily on campus but with scope for remote participation in any or all of the activities. This is an opportunity to come together and share best practice around ODL teaching and learning. All Sussex academics that have been or are involved with developing or teaching an ODL module will be invited to join us.

This event will be delivered primarily in person. Some sessions will be streamed and recorded for online attendance.

Please see the agenda for the day;

10.00 - 10:30 Coffee on arrival and Introduction to the day

10:30 - 11:15 Opening Keynote - speaker Professor Simon Walker

11:15 - 12:45 Morning workshop - Live sessions and student engagement

12:45 - 1:30 Lunch Break - lunch provided

1:30 - 3.00 Afternoon workshop - Assessment

3.00 - 3:30 Coffee and cakes - wrap-up and networking

About Prof Simon Walker

‘Simon is Professor of Educational Development at UCL. He is currently co-leading cross university initiatives to improve assessment and feedback and programme design. His research interests lie in Learning Design. He established the annual Academic Practice and Technology (APT) international conference in 2003; Compass - Journal of Learning and Teaching in 2009; and the Journal of Educational Innovation, Partnership and Change in 2015.

He co-led the Students as Change Agents UK Network. He has worked on many international higher educational development projects across the world including in Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria and Bangladesh. He is a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and was awarded a National Teaching Fellowship in 2006.’