This week’s instalment of the A – Z series is contributed by Caroline Harvey, BILT Coordinator.
What are they?
Education Development Projects are a type of funding opportunity provided by BILT. They are intended for staff who wish to deliver and/or evaluate an innovative teaching and learning project based around annually changing themes. We have supported 87 projects since BILT was launched in 2017. Projects in 24/25 will focus on the themes of:
- Agency and choice in assessment design
- AI teaching and assessment
- Active and inclusive learning (in large and small group contexts)
Each year projects are provided with up to £1500 and suitable critical friend to advise on projects. Projects run for up to 12 months from the start of each academic year.
We actively encourage projects to engage students as paid partners and co-creators, either through research assistant roles or by engaging students as research participants.
Overall the aim of the scheme is to:
- Support evidence informed innovations at Bristol
- Develop excellence in learning, teaching and assessment
- Improve the student learning experience
- Support projects which have the potential to be embedded and sustained over time
- Surface innovations which could have benefits across programmes, schools, departments and faculties – for wider benefit outside of the immediate project
Why would you get involved?
If you have an idea for an innovation which could enhance student learning but need some resource and guidance to get it off the ground then look no further!
Project holders attend regular meetings with their assigned critical friends but also with other project holders, where we hope to nurture a community of innovators who can learn, connect and support one another.
Funding can also be used to support the dissemination of research both at the University e.g. through resource development, and beyond through presenting at national conferences and events. BILT’s Senior Education Developer is always on hand to help advise on the creation of accessible and eye-catching resources to help share the outcomes from projects.
How you can find out more?
Find out more about the projects at:
- The BILT annual conference where each project will be included in a multi-media Teaching and Learning gallery. Find out more and register. Alternatively, a summary of each 23/24 project is available in Sway.
- The BILT website, applications have closed for 24/25 but will reopen for 2025 in April. You can see a list of this years (and all the previous years) projects on the Education Development Projects pages.
If you could like any further information or have any questions contact bilt-projects@bristol.ac.uk
