LTA Connect - Exploring and celebrating the SLE: Cultivating Connection, Collaboration and Meaning in online teaching

Session Outline

The SLE Building Blocks that align to this presentation are Learning and Teaching Delivery and Community and Belonging and the Lens that has been applied is Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. The structure of my online classes aims to support the building of community and belonging, and recognition of the different skills students on different courses have which they can contribute when working together. Course delivery is designed to encourage this collaboration between students and to highlight the different strengths different individuals have. The aim is to provide a student experience which is both useful and meaningful, so students can take elements of their learning in to their future lives and professional practice. This requires me to check whether I am achieving this by checking student feedback and tailoring and amending the course regularly based on the feedback received.

Presenter

Mari Todd

Mari is a psychology lecturer at the Centre for Living Sustainability, UHI Inverness. Mari’s background includes community work and working in health promotion with research interests spanning community mental health and wellbeing interventions, physical activity, and sustainable communities’ research. All this community-based research weaves the threads of connection, meaning and community support. Mari has a background in sport which has linked to her research interests. Currently Mari balances her work and study commitments through keeping up a regular schedule of running, rowing, strength training and riding (horses, and bikes). Recent publications include: Malcolm, Z., Macaulay, B., & Todd, M. (2024). Towards a circular economy and just transition to net-zero in rural Scotland: Resident perspectives on policy and practice. Journal of Rural Studies, 108, 103300. https://doi-org.uhi.idm.oclc.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2024.103300 Todd, M., & Archer, M. (2025). A different gravitation: acceptance of authentic selves, becoming through doing, and support through connection within a Highland skatepark. Leisure Studies, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/02614367.2025.2467749 

Learning and Teaching Enhancement Strategy Values

Advance HE Professional Standards Framework

• V2 promote engagement in learning and equity of opportunity for all to reach their potential
•  V4 respond to the wider context in which higher education operates, recognising implications for practice
• V5 collaborate with others to enhance practice
• K4 appropriate use of digital and/or other technologies, and resources for learning
• A2 teach and/or support learning through appropriate approaches and environments

Professional Standard's for Scotland's Colleges

• 3.2.3 Applies a range of inclusive practices to promote and support engagement with students and partners.
• 1.1.1 Understands student needs, the context in which they are living and studying, and the impact of these on learning. 
• 1.2.2 Creates innovative learning opportunities for students through active enquiry
• 3.3.5 Adopts creative approaches to the embedding of appropriate digital technologies for effective planning, delivery and assessment of learning.
• 3.4.2 Engages with, and evaluates critically, the use of technologies and their impact on meeting student needs, and supporting learning, teaching and assessment. 
• 2.2.7  Understands the strategies required to support learning in a range of learning environments. 

To Book

Please email events.lta@uhi.ac.uk to book a place on this event. This event is open to colleagues across the sector. 

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