College conference to address future of learning and teaching

City of Glasgow College is hosting a Learning and Teaching Conference that will focus on the physical and digital, exploring engagement, collaboration, openness, and the online campus.

The conference takes place on Tuesday 14 September and true to its themed title, Let’s get Phygital, it will be both online and interactive, providing opportunities to find out about the latest trends while sharing pedagogy and practical teaching skills.

Paul Little, Principal and Chief Executive at City of Glasgow College, said:

“This our first conference to focus on hybrid learning and teaching, and is a poignant reminder of our tentative climb from the most significant disruption in the history of the education sector.

“At such a critical time in our education and economic history, it is more important than ever that we continue to showcase the importance of a College education, and highlight our sector’s resilience and flexibility.

“How we emerge and rebuild from Covid, given the priority for a skills-based recovery, will rely on our blended learning model and approach to hybrid working. Our conference will explore that alongside the enabling factors that should be considered for its effective implementation.”

Joe Wilson, Head of Digital Skills at City of Glasgow College, said:

“We believe the hybrid model can deliver a richer learning experience that will improve student attainment and overall satisfaction with their courses. The pandemic has increased awareness of the advantages of technology and we know that learners are ready for this new approach.

“In no way does it dilute the important relationship between a teacher and the students, nor the cohesive aspect of learners working together. They are still going to meet face to face but the new future is allowing learners to work more at their own pace, with a richer set of resources, giving them more collaborative experiences online alongside the workshop or classroom.”

Keynote speaker is Mark Brown, Director of the National Institute for Digital Learning at Dublin City University, who will kick off the event in an online auditorium debating the issues around blended learning. The afternoon session will be led by keynote speakers Keith Smyth and Alex Walker from the University of the Highlands and Islands who will look at rethinking professional development post-pandemic.

Running from 10am to 4pm, attendees can take part in the whole event or dip in and out throughout the day. Please visit our college website to register for the event, which is free and open to all, and to view the conference programme.