Wednesday 14 May 2025 - day one opens

Welcome to Connect More 2025

This talk invites attendees to consider alternative staff development approaches which are relevant to the complex and agile landscape of contemporary education.In Jisc’s 2023/24 digital experience insights survey, it was highlighted that only 9% of higher education and 23% of further education teaching staff agreed to having received any formal recognition accreditation or certification for their digital skills.In this talk, Chris will address common challenges associated with staff engagement in CPD, as well as exploring and integrating opportunities for coaching, community learning, and the sharing of effective practice.Since 2018, the University of Central Lancashire’s ‘DigiLearn’ model has proven successful in fostering a culture of collaborative learning, achieved through the introduction of a thriving online community and progressive framework for developing digital confidence and capabilities. Both have been instrumental in positively advancing educational practice and inspiring continuous innovation in teaching, learning and assessment.

The future-ready educator: inspiring innovation through collaborative person-centred development

This talk invites attendees to consider alternative staff development approaches which are relevant to the complex and agile landscape of contemporary education.

Reviewing results from the University of Birmingham's proof-of-concept project to integrate evidence-based practices into widespread implementation of digital assessment tools.The session will review results from the proof-of-concept project by the HEFI digital assessment team, sharing the feedback from stakeholders on their use of the assessment tools trialled in the project.The project involved 7,500 students from across the university and 120 academic staff. The project is also multi-disciplinary with participants from all five colleges of the university, and their international locations.We gathered data from a series of student and academic focus groups and surveys over the course of the yearlong project. A thematic approach to the analysis was employed to identify the needs of the staff and students, and their sentiments when using the tool.

The matrix reloaded: results of the digital assessment proof of concept project at the University of Birmingham

Reviewing results from the University of Birmingham's proof-of-concept project to integrate evidence-based practices into widespread implementation of digital assessment tools.

This session is a showcase of the library, digital skills learning space, and new online infoskills programme and how this has been embedded into teaching to support student learning and progress.Considering how library and digital skills resources have been embedded into subject specific courses, including the introduction of AI and the possibilities it brings.We'll evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of a fully digital offer, including the challenges faced with basic digital literacy for students. We'll discuss support provided for staff and how those skills will develop in coming years. We'll then look ahead at how we meet and adapt to the challenges of an ever changing sector, including potential financial limitations.This session is a showcase of the library, digital skills learning space, and new online info skills programme and how this has been embedded into teaching to support student learning and progress.

From pages to pixels: life in a 100% online library

This session is a showcase of the library, digital skills learning space, and new online infoskills programme and how this has been embedded into teaching to support student learning and progress.

Break

The session will show how data is being used for student insight and service design to gain traction in a complex environment.Oxford is large, decentralised, and famously complex, so building anything at scale is a challenge. This session is about building Oxford’s digital capabilities - because it’s people, not just technology, that will shape the future of education.Focusing on how Blaine is developing a new student-facing digital capabilities product that is co-designed with students, shaped by Jisc’s frameworks, and embedded into Oxford’s digital ecosystem. It’s still in development, but that’s part of the story. It’s also a personal journey. Blaine doesn't have a senior leader’s job title, but through this work he's stepped into digital leadership. He will share what’s worked, what’s shifted, and how you can lead from wherever you are.

People before platforms: building student digital capabilities at scale at Oxford

The session will show how data is being used for student insight and service design to gain traction in a complex environment.

Virtual reality doesn’t just simulate reality—it redefines how we teach, learn, and experience practical skills in ways once thought impossible.The session will cover data driven insights on student interaction with VR and personalised learning covering student success. It will also also introduce the VR teaching framework to educators with a short demonstration on how VR can be used in the classroom to improve teaching and learning practical skills.

Virtual reality in education: shaping the future of practical skills through immersive technology

Virtual reality doesn’t just simulate reality—it redefines how we teach, learn, and experience practical skills in ways once thought impossible.

From lecture theatres to boardrooms, many can see opportunities in interactive media, but also risks. This session aims to propose a tangible way forward.Sharing concrete examples (slides with embedded videos) of work the Digital Media Lab have delivered collaboratively in XR (Extended Reality) but also using additional, cheaper, or more scalable novel modalities. These have been developed with colleagues, to deliver a cost-effective toolbox of interactive simulation and visualization tools that meet the learner in the place and manner that works best.Examples can include digital twin labs for undergraduates (preparing them for identical physical lab), bespoke VR controllers for pipetting skills, but also cheaper and scalable solutions for online learnings that require no additional hardware.

Beyond XR: interactive transmedia in HE

From lecture theatres to boardrooms, many can see opportunities in interactive media, but also risks. This session aims to propose a tangible way forward.

More information will be provided soon.

Session to be confirmed

Reflections from the first day of Connect More

Day one closes

Thursday 15 May 2025 - day two opens

Welcome to Connect More 2025 day two

An innovative approach to integrating generative AI into academic debates, revolutionising formative assessment in higher education.This presentation explains, through an action research study conducted in April 2024 involving 23 undergraduate students at UCFB Wembley, Microsoft Copilot was found to enhance critical thinking skills. Findings revealed significant improvements in students' academic analysis argumentation abilities and confidence in using AI tools.The presentation will explore how GenAI facilitates authentic assessment enables experiential learning and promotes active engagement.

Promoting critical thinking in the AI era - Gen AI assisted academic debates as formative assessment

An innovative approach to integrating generative AI into academic debates, revolutionising formative assessment in higher education.

Designing dashboards with users, not just for them. A session about making learning analytics more ethical, actionable — and less like solving a logic puzzle before coffee.At Imperial, we believe that the future of learning analytics is built not just on data but on the insights and experiences of the people who will use these tools every day.This session will explore how co-creating learning analytics solutions through requirements gathering beta testing and continuous user feedback helps us deliver more personalised actionable and ethically sound tools that improve student success and learning outcomes.

Co-creating learning analytics at Imperial: the power of user feedback

Designing dashboards with users, not just for them. A session about making learning analytics more ethical, actionable — and less like solving a logic puzzle before coffee. 

In this fun and unusual workshop, Dr Matthew Moran introduces you to design futuring to apply foresight and future-thinking to educational technology, learning, teaching, curriculum development and institutional strategy.Delegates will explore and develop scenarios, build worlds populated by future learners, and create speculative educational technologies, products and learning designs to meet these learners' needs and those of future societies. You will go away equipped with an understanding of futures thinking, and with some materials to get you started in using scenarios, worldbuilding and speculative design with colleagues in your institution.Use these tools to inform your technology and product development, institutional strategy, planning and change management. These unorthodox approaches have been proven in other domains to foster collaboration and community, and build resilience and agency. They are easy to learn and great fun. This session will show you how.

Designing edtech futures: a wordbuilding and speculative design workshop

In this fun and unusual workshop, Dr Matthew Moran introduces you to design futuring to apply foresight and future-thinking to educational technology, learning, teaching, curriculum development and institutional strategy.

Explore practical approaches to Welsh/English bilingual and multilingual digital learning, using technology to enhance accessibility and support inclusive, learner-centred design through Universal Design for Learning.This session explores the future of bilingual design in education focusing on the practical implementation of English/Welsh bilingualism in digital learning.We will also touch upon multi-lingual learning design in the context of ESOL and international learners. We'll discuss the evolving role of technology including AI-assisted translation and interactive language tools in enhancing accessibility.Attendees will gain insights into creating seamless inclusive learning experiences ensuring that digital content - whether workbooks, presentations, or interactive e-learning tools - remains accessible to all regardless of language background. This session ties into Universal Design for Learning (UDL) where bilingualism is essential in creating inclusive personalised and adaptable learning environments for the next generation.

Multi-lingual design in digital learning: pioneering inclusive and accessible education

Explore practical approaches to Welsh/English bilingual and multilingual digital learning, using technology to enhance accessibility and support inclusive, learner-centred design through Universal Design for Learning.

Reflections from the second day

Day two closes

Friday 16 May 2025 - day three opens

Carolina Barnes, community specialist, welcomes you to day three of Connect More.

Welcome to Connect More 2025 day three

Carolina Barnes, community specialist, welcomes you to day three of Connect More.

More information will be provided soon.

Exploring experiential strategies for teaching emerging technologies in business education, enhancing student understanding of digital tools, ethical issues, and real-world application.Equipping students to understand the opportunities, challenges, and ethical considerations involved in technology investment. Through practical, experiential learning examples, it will illustrate how hands-on engagement with digital tools enhances students’ understanding of their applications and their role within the broader digital ecosystem.Traditionally, business studies have relied on case-based teaching to explore technology use. However, experiential learning goes a step further, allowing students to actively experiment with technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Extended Reality, and the Internet of Things. This approach fosters a deeper understanding, enabling students to critically assess their potential, ethical implications, and real-world challenges.The presentation will provide practical examples of how we have adopted experiential delivery methods, reflections, discussions, and insights that emerged, outcomes achieved, and guidelines for educators seeking to create a dynamic curriculum that better prepares students for a digital world.

Embedding emerging technologies in business education

Exploring experiential strategies for teaching emerging technologies in business education, enhancing student understanding of digital tools, ethical issues, and real-world application.

This session will highlight the considerable potential of hologram-based technology in an education context.At Loughborough University we are using state-of-the-art hologram displays for engaging with our students in exciting new ways. In this session, Gary will cover learnings so far, describing four identified educational use-cases:<ul><li>'Beaming in' a guest speaker from a remote location to a lecture theatre on campus to provide students with access to global expertise without the costs (time, money, and CO2) of travel</li><li>Combining students and their digital content for showcasing their identities/creations in novel ways, e.g. as a complement to a degree show event</li><li>Innovation scenario teaching: using the technology to present and then discuss the 'lived experiences' of an individual such as a patient or sportsperson, or to interrogate a court witness</li><li>AI avatars of lecturers, significant living people, historical figures and more, presented as full-sized holograms who can provide anytime, anyhow access to students in any language</li></ul>

The hologram lecturer: re-thinking immersive experiences

This session will highlight the considerable potential of hologram-based technology in an education context. 

This session explores Coleg y Cymoedd’s pioneering journey in implementing AI Copilots to deliver personalised, bilingual learning experiences while reducing administrative workload for staff.The college and strategic partners ICS.AI will share real-world challenges, lessons learned, and the transformative impact on both educators and learners. Attendees will gain valuable insights into building AI literacy amongst staff, developing and integrating AI tools into teaching and learning practices, and fostering collaboration within and beyond the FE sector to embrace the future of AI in education.

AI copilots in FE: personalising learning and empowering educators

This session explores Coleg y Cymoedd’s pioneering journey in implementing AI Copilots to deliver personalised, bilingual learning experiences while reducing administrative workload for staff.

This session offers advice on podcasting for development. Useful to learn basic tips for podcasting and exploring why people might want to use it.This session describes the work of three podcasters and researchers who decided to start research podcasts. The session will look at what draws people to podcasting, how it is effective at supporting professional development of both yourself and others, and how you can use it as a research tool and for research development. We will also run through some of the basic steps in creating your own podcast.This session includes Mike Collins, senior learning designer, The Open University, as a non-presenting contributor.

Podcasting for research, professional development and fun

This session offers advice on podcasting for development. Useful to learn basic tips for podcasting and exploring why people might want to use it. 

Connect More reflections.Carolina Barnes, community specialist, reflects on day three and the Connect More event.

Reflections from the final day of this year's Connect More

Day three closes

Connect More 2025

About Connect More 2025

Connect More 2025 tickets and booking information

Connect More 2025 programme

This year brings engaging discussions, expert-led sessions, and real-world case studies to help you discover how technology and data can drive positive change through collaboration.