Jump to:
News and opportunities
Temple Quarter mock-up event and introduction sessions
For those of you wondering what the new Lecture theatre in-the-round space will feel like to teach or learn in, or how you can make the most of this space, we are holding another mock up event on 20 April.
Images taken on March 17th (with thanks to Fiona Hartley):
- Top image, the staircase inside TQEC
- Above left, external shot of TQEC
- Above right, two images of the Lecture theatre in-the-round
The next mock up event takes place on Monday 20 April in the Wills Memorial Building Reception Room and consists of:
- Introduction for staff and students 10.00-11.00 am (must register)
- Drop-in for students and staff 11.15 am – 12.15pm (No need to register)
- 60-minute ‘try it out’ sessions for staff 12.30 pm; 2.00 pm; 3.30 pm (must register)
Colleagues at our successful September 2025 event commented:
‘The mock up made the pictures I’d seen real – I hadn’t realised from the pictures of the Round Lecture Theatre quite how big the central space was – i.e. the area we stand in to teach, it’s a big space to fill! Practising in the space really helped to make it seem less daunting and to reframe the perspective of “they’re all staring at me” to “I’m in control”.’ (Business School colleague)
‘I particularly appreciated how questions were addressed throughout the session, from clarifying the actual dimensions of the space to considering potential obstacles such as pillars, as well as the positioning of the screen to accommodate the absence of tiered seating.’ (Business School colleague)
‘By the end, I was convinced, and I would actually love to see all lecture theatres set up in this way. The circular design naturally fosters interaction, encouraging student participation and making sessions more interactive and engaging. It also creates a compelling reason for students to attend lectures in person rather than relying solely on recordings, thanks to the enhanced sense of involvement.’ (Business School colleague)
‘Teaching in the round was genuinely useful; it let me experience the space firsthand and sparked several ideas for making my lectures more interactive through the closer proximity and different dynamic it creates.’ (Business School colleague)
For more information and registration links visit the event page.
The DEO are hiring Student Digital Partners
The Digital Education Office (DEO) are looking for passionate students to work with them to integrate student voice into their projects to ensure that all students can get the most out of their digital and blended learning experiences at Bristol. With that in mind they are hiring Student Digital Partners to work with the team. The deadline for applications is 8 April 2026. For any informal enquiries please email Naomi Beckett naomi.beckett@bristol.ac.uk
More information on applying can be found on the My Careers website.
The 2026 Student Research Conference Review
A couple of issues ago, we brought you the winners of the student research presentations awards, made at this year’s BILT Student Research Conference (formerly Research Festival), in February. We promised to follow up with a more detailed review of the day, which you can now read here.
The Student Teaching Awards closing soon
A reminder that nominations for this year’s Teaching Awards are currently being accepted but the deadline to submit a nomination is this coming Sunday 29 March.
Did you know its not just teaching staff who are eligible for the Student Teaching Awards – this is a chance for students to recognise support staff as well as tutors, supervisors and lecturers.
Nominations are welcome from students only, across the University. Students can find more information, including how to nominate via the BILT website https://www.bristol.ac.uk/bilt/awards/sta/
In our next edition…
Here at BILT, planning is well underway for our annual conference, taking place on Wednesday 1 July, in The Victoria Rooms and we’re excited to confirm that registration will open at the start of April. Full details in the next edition of The Briefing, published on 7 April.
Image: this year’s conference logo.
Blogs and resources
- Decolonising AI: first three posts in this new series
BILT Student Fellow and PhD student Gaurav Saxena has shared the first three instalments in his new series about decolonising AI. He provides an introduction to the series in the first post, an interview with Prof. Leon Tikly in the second and there is a contribution from Prof. Foluke Adebisi in the third. You can view the whole series here. We’ll be releasing the next three instalments after Easter break. - How do we start talking with students about AI?
A joint blog from Dr Alison Oldfield, Senior Lecturer in Education and Digital Technologies, Rosey Crow, Subject Librarian for Education, Policy Studies and Exercise, and Dr Robert Sharples, Senior Lecturer in Language and Education. - Thriving in teaching pathway roles: rethinking scholarship and professional identity
Patricia Neville discusses why more academics are employed in teaching roles than ever before in the UK. - Learning and Teaching goals: exploring the Lionesses’ deliberate practice
Joe Gould with the second blog in his mini-series looking at academic achievement, including some insights from BILT Student Fellow, Emma Segal. - Wicked tricks and learning struggles: authentic learning journeys in the age of AI
Dr Aisling Tierney explores the idea of struggle by looking at film representations and then reflecting on our students’ use of AI in relation to struggle and wicked problems. - “I don’t feel like I can call them out for it”: Students’ feelings towards group work and AI use (and what you can do to improve your practice)
Amy Palmer shares some key points from BILT’s recent ‘AI/Inclusive Assessment’ discussions with students on group work and AI use from across the University. - Exploring the Drivers of the Awarding Gap: Systems, Structures, and Student Realities
Fiona Hartley explores the most recent literature around the ethnicity awarding gap, focusing on literature that reports on the student experience.
Events
Visit the BILT events calendar for a full list of all our forthcoming events
Developing a pedagogic research proposal [in-person]
31 March @ 10:00 am – 12.00 pm, Room 1.20, 35 Berkeley Square
Bookings for the in-person workshop “Developing a Pedagogic Research Project” on March 31st 2026 are now open! As a continuation of the introductory course, during this workshop you will be able to draft or refine your own Pedagogic Research project proposal. Completion of the introductory course before the workshop is therefore required. Check out the workshop’s booking website for further details and for signing up!
The course “Developing Your Research Skills“, which follows on from and complements the introductory course is also now available on Develop! The purpose of this course is to provide you with further skills that will support you in carrying out your own pedagogical research.
Full details can be found on this page.
TQ Lecture theatre in-the-round: mock-up and try it out [in-person]
20 April @ 10:00 am – 4.30 pm, Reception Room, Wills Memorial Building
Temple Quarter’s Lecture theatre in-the-round, seating over 300 and only 6 rows deep, aims to breaks down hierarchical barriers between lecturers and students, enabling interaction, maintaining students’ focus, and encouraging richer engagement than conventional tiered lecture halls.
Come along to hear more about what this space can offer, and/or join a session to try out presenting and moving in the space (this session will be a mocked up space without technology).
Following an hour-long morning introduction from Tansy Jessop, and a drop-in session, there will be three ‘try-it-out’ sessions to choose from throughout the afternoon (limited to 8 people per session).
Full details can be found on this page.
More than science: How the humanities can shape sustainable futures [in-person]
20 April @ 5:00 pm – 6.30 pm, LT3, Arts Complex
A keynote and panel on how culture, history and media can reshape how we respond to the climate crisis. We will explore how humanities students can build meaningful and sustainable career paths in climate and environmental work.
Keynote speaker: Professor Cressida Bowyer
Professor of Arts and Science for Sustainability & Co-Director of the Revolution Plastics Institute, University of Portsmouth.
Panel Discussion:
· Dr Marianna Dudley – Co-Director of the Environmental Humanities MA, University of Bristol
· Lizzi Testani – CEO, Bristol Climate & Nature Partnership
· Dr Paul Merchant – Associate Professor, Latin American Film & Visual Culture, University of Bristol
This event is open to all UoB staff and students.
Full details can be found on this page.
Voice and Presence: skills for active and inclusive teaching [in-person]
Choose from two dates: 22 April and 9 June
Following some hugely popular workshops in January and February, The Bristol Improv Theatre are back to repeat their Voice and Presence workshop, in April and June. They will explore tools from acting and public speaking to help practice engaging listeners. This includes practical techniques to train and strengthen your speaking voice, projection, warming-up, body language and using authenticity to tap into your inner charisma. Please note, these workshops are open to all but in the unlikely event they reach capacity, priority will be given to anyone teaching at TQEC.
Full details can be found on this page.
Show, Tell and Talk: Inclusive Assessment [in-person]
29 April @ 1:30 pm – 3.00 pm, Room 1.06, Queens Building
This sharing innovations workshop will provide an opportunity to hear from a range of colleagues about how inclusive assessment is being embedded at UoB, why it is important and what Inclusive Assessment projects, supported by BILT, are being undertaken at the University. There will be an opportunity to ask questions and engage in discussion with colleagues.
Full details can be found on this page.
Supporting Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Schools [in-person]
7 May @ 12:00 pm – 1.30 pm, Room 3.30 Wills Memorial Building
How can your School champion the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) and pedagogic research? How can SoTL help you enhance student learning, outcomes, and satisfaction? And how can you empower colleagues to get involved? Join us for an interactive session exploring how Schools can build vibrant, sustainable cultures of SoTL.
Full details can be found on this page.
The BILT Briefing is published and distributed fortnightly by The Bristol Institute of Learning and Teaching (BILT). If you no longer wish to receive a copy of The Briefing, please send an email to bilt-info@bristol.ac.uk from the address you are registered with, containing the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the title line.
Leave a Reply