Perplexagogy: Recent Episodes
Perplexagogy Podcast
Puzzled by pedagogy ? Unsure about how best to use digital learning to enhance the experience of your students ? You need Perplexagogy brought to you by the staff from the Centre for Academic Development at Durham University.
Ideas and opinions expressed belong to the individuals involved and are not representative of the University.
In this episode we reflect on our time at the Playful Learning Conference held in Leicester in July 2022. Transcript available here
In this episode we debate a question that continues to trouble digital learning teams; is the VLE dead ? We explore the pros and cons of Virtual Learning Environments, how they influence our pedagogy and how students experience them. With Sam Nolan, Nic Fern and Rachelle O'Brien and special guest Head of Digital Learning at Durham Dr Malcolm Murray.
A transcript is available at this link.
Further reading includes:
- Phipps, L. Cormier, D. Stiles, M. 2008. Reflecting on the virtual learning systems – extinction
- or evolution?. Educational Developments. May 2008. 9. 2. SEDA. Available at:
- The VLE Is Dead Symposium' ALT-C. Available at: https://youtu.be/m6KnJPeAWog
- Clay. J. 2019. 'The VLE is still dead...' Available at: https://elearningstuff.net/2019/09/02/the-vle-is-still-dead-altc/
- Weller, M. 2007. 'The VLE/LMS is dead' Available at: https://nogoodreason.typepad.co.uk/no_good_reason/2007/11/the-vlelms-is-d.html
- JISC 2020. VLE Report 2020. Available at: https://www.jisc.ac.uk/reports/vle-review-report-2020
In this podcast we explore the weird world of Hybrid/Dual Model/Hyflex Teaching. What is it ? Why do we get confused over the terminology ? Why is it being used ? How are the students engaging with it ? will it last in the post pandemic period ? and other interesting questions on this hot topic are explored. The regular team are joined by Dr Alistair Brown, Assistant Professor (Teaching), Digital Humanities and Modern Literature in the Department of English Studies at Durham.
In this special summer episode we're exploring a key element of teaching and learning, community. We'll explore two frameworks (Communities of Practice and Community of Inquiry) and discuss how these can be helpful to you in engaging your students and building learning communities in both online and face to face classrooms. We'll explore from our own experiences challenges we've experienced in feeling included in communities as both students and staff members.
A Transcript for this recording is available here via this link.
In this podcast we introduce the Universal Design for Learning Framework, which can help you design a more accessible and inclusive curriculum. We discuss the pros and cons of the framework and introduce some top tips for making your teaching materials more accessible. In addition, we have an interview with Justine Wolfenden, Assistant Professor (Teaching), Dept of Classics and Ancient History at Durham University where we cover online teaching, access to HE and other topics. A transcript of the recording is available here.
In this first episode, we explore:
- Learning Analytics - what can the VLE do to help you understand how your students learn, what is important and what is challenging about this
- Interview - We're delighted to be joined by Dr Aziza Zaher, Assistant Prof. (Teaching) in the School of Modern Languages and Culture at Durham University
Transcription is available via this link.