Love being based next to All Saints Park and getting to see this on my way into the office this morning. Good to see campus busy again and reminding us of why we do what we do. 😀

Chaired a #McrMetL&TConf25 session on 'Enhancing student-student and student-staff relational pedagogy through simulation games': Emma Stringfellow, Ashley McCoy & Christopher Mitchell shared how simulation blends digital and in-person groupwork, facilitates authentic assessment & develops skills.

Reflections on relational pedagogy from Innovation Scholars at #McrMetL&TConf25. Rod Cullen argues for empathising with students (many caring, working, commuting, digital poverty, disabilities), & need to support through accessibility, flexibility and authentic assessment (key to our DELTA strategy)

Stacey Gillespie and Emma Holt presented on embedding opportunities for immersive learning and transforming employability, equity and student success (clear evidence of impact). Student Mahnoor Mahmood Shaheen also reflected on how CPD opportunities had transformed her own journey. #McrMetL&TConf25

Next at #McrMetL&TConf25 David Yarwood presented rationale for embedding Adobe Express for portfolio development (industry-standard, supports visual storytelling, enables personalised outputs). Students Katherine Hornsey & Abigail Tait articulated benefits of Express for developing digital skills.

Great interactive presentation at #McrMetL&TConf25 from Anne Everett and Mark Burgess about their partnership approach to supporting students' AI and Information Literacy skills (academic and library colleagues co-delivering, which led to great engagement and positive feedback from the students.

Day 1 of the Manchester Met Learning and Teaching Conference 2025, with theme of building an excellent student experience through relational education. Inspirational keynote from Prof. Jason Arday starting us off, arguing for purpose and kindness being at the heart of all we do. #McrMetL&TConf25

Very funny evening watching Mark Steel's In Town: Wrexham. Will be broadcast in October apparently. 😀

First train so late a few of us missed our connection by about 30 seconds. Luckily there is a country park next to the station. There are worse places to eat breakfast. 😁

Off to @focuswales.bsky.social this weekend? Here is our Tracks of the Week #FocusWales Special - #thefamilybattenberg #Diarysounds #annaerhard #gulpworld #teethin #jessikakay #Shale #wehateyoupleasedie #focuswales and more! www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/2025/05/06/t...

Interesting talk #udigcap from Rob Howe (Northampton) on their 'whole institution approach to embracing and enhancing digital capabilities in a world of AI'. Really helpful to see their work aligned to Kotter's 8-stage model, in particular building the right coalition and developing a shared vision.

Thanks Chris! Looking forward to presenting with you, Steven and Jack this morning.

Brilliant!

I never tire of these views. #YBermo

Crows chasing off a buzzard at our local country park last weekend. 😬

Signs of Spring in Manchester earlier this week. 😃

At the Adobe Jisc Transforming Together panel discussion #Digifest25 - listening to Man Met's own @profjanetlord.bsky.social and colleagues from across the sector @cbthomson.bsky.social, Mark Andrews, Adam Levi, Nigel Hayes, Jen Gainsford. Shoutout for the DELTA strategy @manmetdigied.bsky.social

The plan v. the reality. I think we’re all familiar with this landscape! But too often, when talking about projects and innovations, we focus on the start and the end, or the high points along the way, and obfuscate or leave out the troughs. But that’s where most of the learning happens! #Digifest25

This morning, blue skies, daffodils and blossom on the way to the train. 😃 Off to that there #Digifest25. Looking forward to learning lots and catching up with colleagues from across the sector.

NEW on Wonkhe: Moving the conversation on from hype and worry, Sue Attewell details the current range of use cases for AI in HE bit.ly/4ig1LF8

Perfect timing this morning waiting for my train to see the sun rising and hear greenfinch and goldfinch singing. #LittleThings

Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus!

Useful thread of tips on getting your alt text right.

Trends in assessment in HE www.jisc.ac.uk/reports/tren... Good to see programme level assessment so prominent

Yesterday saw the second session of the Jisc Adobe transforming together: leading and learning programme. With HE members sharing exciting developments how they had used learnings to raise awareness and interest of Adobe Express across their organisations 🎨

Was sorry to have missed this but big thank you to Jack Sutherst for presenting on updates to the Digital Education CPD offer.

Initial thoughts and advice from Jisc on DeepSeek

Wordle 1,314 3/6* 🟨⬜⬜⬜⬜ ⬜🟩⬜🟨🟨 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 😁

Wordle 1,313 2/6* ⬜⬜🟩⬜⬜ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Do you know a UK-based wheelchair user who works in a lab and would be willing to user-test our prototype of what is believed to be the first-ever lab coat adapted for wheelchair users? Please share far & wide! Interest form: forms.office.com/e/66FhcQjqRT More info: www.ucl.ac.uk/ucl-east/new...

Very much enjoyed taking part in the Adobe Education Institute CPD week. Learned lots and even got a badge at the end of it! www.credly.com/badges/ee7c7... Some great resources available to staff and students at Creative Campus institutions like Manchester Met.

Consistent layout makes websites easier to navigate and understand as it helps users learn what elements to expect and in what order. This is especially helpful to low vision users or blind users using a screen reader. It also helps those with cognitive and learning disabilities.

Merry Christmas to me! Started December off at the Albert Hall, Manchester, by watching @billryderjones.bsky.social and band - better than ever - and @gruffrhys.bsky.social and band for third time (this year 😁). Two amazing sets - thanks all! 😃

Avoid emoji icons in alt text. Emoji icons are a visual element, so it's counterintuitive to add them to non-visual content. You'll likely confuse people with messages that don't make sense. In alt text, use plain text, free of symbols, icons, or any weird special characters.

I do still love a paper notebook and have managed to get my hands on a nice new selection recently. 😁

Wow! Not every day you get to see something like this at work. Chinese lion dance to bring good luck to the new Science and Engineering building.

There is not one font that will be optimal for all users with dyslexia. Experts disagree on which fonts provide the best readability. But simplicity in typefaces is critical. Ideally, use fonts that are familiar or at least easily-parsed so that they quickly become familiar.

Fantastic view of London skyline from Adobe offices for the #AdobeJisc Transforming Together event

That was an unexpected treat from the back garden. This was with night mode on the phone but I could see it with the naked eye. 😀

Wordle 1,206 2/6* ⬜🟩⬜⬜⬜ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 That doesn't happen very often 😁

Text blocks that are justified are aligned to both left and right margins. The spaces between words can create "rivers of white" running down the page, which can make the text difficult to read for some people. Allow people the option to choose the styles that work for them.

Today we were delighted to see our new partners, Adobe, at our Freshers Fair. All students at ManchesterMet now have FREE access to Adobe Express- a brilliant tool for your studies, for developing digital skills & for your socials! We are proud to be one of the few Adobe Creative Campuses!

Attended a fantastic community concert on Friday night for Remembering Gresford. Organised by the #WrexhamMinersProject and #NewSinfonia, with performances from Fron Male Voice Choir, Wrexham City Brass Band, Llay Colliery Band and a steel band from Ysgol Clywedog. Mix of very loving and uplifting!

Weekend of commemoration in Wrexham. 90 years since 266 miners lost their lives in the Gresford Mining Disaster, which could and should have been avoided, and in which the dead miners' pay was docked for them not finishing their shifts. #WrexhamMinersProject have done a great job organising events.

Avoid emoji icons in alt text. Emoji icons are a visual element, so it's counterintuitive to add them to non-visual content. You'll likely confuse people with messages that don't make sense. In alt text, use plain text, free of symbols, icons, or any weird special characters.

New #WeeklyResourceRoundup of articles and online events useful for educators in higher education. wordpress.aber.ac.uk/e-learning/2... #AberPGCTHE #EduSky #AcademicSky

The ongoing saga of big tech and AI and its impact on climate & sustainability. This piece also highlights the impact AI is going to have in the Philippines where call centres are major employers.

Had a great afternoon at #WrexhamComedyFestival yesterday. Saw Myra Dubois and Reginald D. Hunter - both very different and both very funny. Last minute decision - will try and plan better and attend more next year. Thanks Theatre Clwyd/ William Aston Hall!

TBT two weeks ago to another fantastic #AraDeg festival in Bethesda. Headliners #DasKoolies, #BillRyderJones and #GruffRhys. Saturday was a tribute to Emyr 'Ankst' Williams. Goosebumps moment when Gruff and band played Y Teimlad with Pat Morgan from Datblygu.