School of Education & Humanities @ Bath Spa. Higher Education Practice and Educational Development. Mathematical physicist (retired), life long learner, water baby! SFHEA, FSEDA, SEDA PDF Vice-Chairhttps://bsky.app/profile/gilesdrmartin.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/gilesdrmartin.bsky.social/post/3myz6waopzc2xHE Funding debate in parliament yesterday (Westminster Hall) - various MPs raising the well known issues for the sector, gov response largely the usual, but can read details here: https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2026-10-28/debates/69AEE8D5-AA9D-445D-80BE-0EEE8C0D3AFB/HigherEducationFunding29 Oct 2026 11:45 +0000at://did:plc:f32o7b4awpit7kede6yg57ed/app.bsky.feed.post/3myz6waopzc2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/gilesdrmartin.bsky.social/post/3myk3vikbb22qSome interesting discussions from our chat today. Considering social anxiety in particular, connections with transition, linking back to academic anxiety. Emboddied learning. Online/indy learning too. Balance of support, but where enabling development to lessen, not just avoid, where suitable. [contains quote post or other embedded content]23 Oct 2026 11:41 +0000at://did:plc:f32o7b4awpit7kede6yg57ed/app.bsky.feed.post/3myk3vikbb22qhttps://bsky.app/profile/gilesdrmartin.bsky.social/post/3mxvvgi5huk2kMany years back (00s) the eternal issue of students not checking emails came up in a dept. Staff chatted with students about it. Students said they were overwhelmed but the number of emails, too many etc. Staff very sympathetic to that, everyone is familiar, staff say the same. Next... [contains quote post or other embedded content]15 Oct 2026 10:52 +0000at://did:plc:f32o7b4awpit7kede6yg57ed/app.bsky.feed.post/3mxvvgi5huk2khttps://bsky.app/profile/gilesdrmartin.bsky.social/post/3mxr3jpsxwc26It's that time of year setting up things for new cohorts, so in case it is useful to create a folder for each student, for a large group, here's a short video tip (Windows). I'd seen a few similar tips (and needed something to adapt to HE when experimenting with videos), saves times. [contains quote post or other embedded content]13 Oct 2026 12:58 +0000at://did:plc:f32o7b4awpit7kede6yg57ed/app.bsky.feed.post/3mxr3jpsxwc26https://bsky.app/profile/gilesdrmartin.bsky.social/post/3mxqs7orwzk2jOne of my possible controversial opinions is that I don't agree with honorary degrees. I get unis may want to either associate with X or recognise Y, or similar. But I find it a little insulting to the students who've just worked hard for that degree. They aren't the same, but seems unnecessary. [contains quote post or other embedded content]13 Oct 2026 10:11 +0000at://did:plc:f32o7b4awpit7kede6yg57ed/app.bsky.feed.post/3mxqs7orwzk2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/gilesdrmartin.bsky.social/post/3mxolsydqhs2rSeen the first very likely AI-written (or copy/pasted from an AI chat) piece of student feedback (not to me) I've now seen in the wild. Longer than it needed to be, following 'style' of chat. Noting this as observation over judgement - I can imagine students worried about getting things clear etc12 Oct 2026 13:12 +0000at://did:plc:f32o7b4awpit7kede6yg57ed/app.bsky.feed.post/3mxolsydqhs2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/gilesdrmartin.bsky.social/post/3mxglzdtcjs2oUniversity leadership should do the same type of thing for staff. We all know things are worse, we've worked through years of cuts, but are likely a lot of ideas on the ground and simple fixes for annoyances that a) will make staff a bit happier b) save time/enhance work (can do for students too) [contains quote post or other embedded content]09 Oct 2026 08:54 +0000at://did:plc:f32o7b4awpit7kede6yg57ed/app.bsky.feed.post/3mxglzdtcjs2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/gilesdrmartin.bsky.social/post/3mxf6k3wrzk25Not encouraging. Thinking Allowed is exactly the type of programme radio 4/podcast that should be produced if the BBC is to mean much and ought to be fairly cheap. I love in our time, which is getting some extra time from… (but right length now if scope for extras). https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cmlyknj8wj30o08 Oct 2026 19:20 +0000at://did:plc:f32o7b4awpit7kede6yg57ed/app.bsky.feed.post/3mxf6k3wrzk25https://bsky.app/profile/gilesdrmartin.bsky.social/post/3mx4ydrkjok2wIn which we discover who did or did not watch Watership Down as a child... [contains quote post or other embedded content]05 Oct 2026 13:08 +0000at://did:plc:f32o7b4awpit7kede6yg57ed/app.bsky.feed.post/3mx4ydrkjok2whttps://bsky.app/profile/gilesdrmartin.bsky.social/post/3mwjecu7s4224I’ve been wondering for a while whether we end up with an unfortunate version of A combined with blacklisting (including institutions), onto slightly mitigated with vouching/sponsor. This is not a proposal btw but seems a possible strategy we see taken. [contains quote post or other embedded content]27 Sep 2026 17:49 +0000at://did:plc:f32o7b4awpit7kede6yg57ed/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwjecu7s4224https://bsky.app/profile/gilesdrmartin.bsky.social/post/3mwbdld4xws2tAlso in discussion with our new lecturers this week: Not getting sucked into ppt making things linear and always the focus. You can repeat, have extras, be non-linear, go back. You can also just take them down (blank out), shift focus to something/one else. Sometimes the best slide is no slide. [contains quote post or other embedded content]24 Sep 2026 13:14 +0000at://did:plc:f32o7b4awpit7kede6yg57ed/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwbdld4xws2thttps://bsky.app/profile/gilesdrmartin.bsky.social/post/3mwbdg3dav22tIt's start of term time and as usual these quick tips came up as not all new colleagues knew about them (and with our classroom screens the latter one is often why what you think should be there, isn't!. The former one similarly for online teaching). [contains quote post or other embedded content]24 Sep 2026 13:11 +0000at://did:plc:f32o7b4awpit7kede6yg57ed/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwbdg3dav22thttps://bsky.app/profile/gilesdrmartin.bsky.social/post/3mvzzbykpgk22After an extra pre-term meeting we've now sorted the HE Reading Group topics for the first trimester of the year. Invites on their way to the BSU (and guest) group members. Looking forward to good discussions at our informal meetings. Mixture of output by colleague, reports, book chapters, papers.21 Sep 2026 15:22 +0000at://did:plc:f32o7b4awpit7kede6yg57ed/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvzzbykpgk22https://bsky.app/profile/gilesdrmartin.bsky.social/post/3mvq36kpxrs27*adding 'low risk of crocodiles' to the risk assessment section of my next conference attendance request at work.17 Sep 2026 16:29 +0000at://did:plc:f32o7b4awpit7kede6yg57ed/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvq36kpxrs27https://bsky.app/profile/gilesdrmartin.bsky.social/post/3mvp6o5kfjs24In Our Time doing the video of people talking podcast thing, via iplayer? The granddaddy of chart topping podcasts. I don’t listen like that, though now, academics, you have a chance to turn up in costume. You know you want to! https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m0030h3l/in-our-time17 Sep 2026 07:59 +0000at://did:plc:f32o7b4awpit7kede6yg57ed/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvp6o5kfjs24https://bsky.app/profile/gilesdrmartin.bsky.social/post/3mvnoqpdj5c2lThe sheep have turned up for the freshers’ poster fair.16 Sep 2026 17:41 +0000at://did:plc:f32o7b4awpit7kede6yg57ed/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvnoqpdj5c2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/gilesdrmartin.bsky.social/post/3mvkuj3xqcs2yWelcome Week for new undergraduates and despite the negative news and commentary, thousands of excited young people about to study things they have a passion for, meet new friends and enjoy the next few years. Give it one week before they figure using the letters to spell out PASTA again.15 Sep 2026 14:46 +0000at://did:plc:f32o7b4awpit7kede6yg57ed/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvkuj3xqcs2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/gilesdrmartin.bsky.social/post/3mvktjd6fy22gGood quick read on podcast assessments. Done well, supports new skills, enables different expression. Done poorly, they reproduce issues from before whilst provide a mirage of learning. As per academic writing, there are skills involved to be developed, time to be spent thinking and editing. [contains quote post or other embedded content]15 Sep 2026 14:28 +0000at://did:plc:f32o7b4awpit7kede6yg57ed/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvktjd6fy22ghttps://bsky.app/profile/gilesdrmartin.bsky.social/post/3mvke76iev32xOoh, nice, now a Tree trail walk at our campus too. I've been working through the Urban Tree Trails in the city - great to explore areas with a new lens. https://www.bathspa.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/2026/bsu-and-bath-urban-treescape/15 Sep 2026 09:54 +0000at://did:plc:f32o7b4awpit7kede6yg57ed/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvke76iev32xhttps://bsky.app/profile/gilesdrmartin.bsky.social/post/3mvin72ytuc2xI don't recall reading much with major second person writing, and now read two in a row by chance: The Raven Tower (Ann Leckie) - added fun (2nd p) narrative on reliability front due to the rules of the game for the gods. The Everlasting (Alix E Harrow) - back/forth each time loop/twist14 Sep 2026 17:30 +0000at://did:plc:f32o7b4awpit7kede6yg57ed/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvin72ytuc2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/gilesdrmartin.bsky.social/post/3mux5uue37c2fWelcome to the first half of our new cohort of the PGCHE on campus today. Our usual broad mix of disciplines to learn about and from even with our small group today, from acting to teaching, from music to creative computing.07 Sep 2026 18:41 +0000at://did:plc:f32o7b4awpit7kede6yg57ed/app.bsky.feed.post/3mux5uue37c2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/gilesdrmartin.bsky.social/post/3mup4yzfo5c2nWhilst this tip is for panels, it's also a common tip I give for teaching seminars. Many of us have been in a class with 5 groups doing the same activity, then all asked to feed back in turn. Same stuff. First group go, then get bored, etc. Give different foci, or ask only for alt/different points [contains quote post or other embedded content]04 Sep 2026 14:04 +0000at://did:plc:f32o7b4awpit7kede6yg57ed/app.bsky.feed.post/3mup4yzfo5c2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/gilesdrmartin.bsky.social/post/3mukehaevps2qSometimes they have recaps in the extra/trailer section and I keep wondering why more don't - good way to encourage watching by reminding you what you enjoyed before and want to continue vs 'can't quite recall, will look later'. Now I've said that, I have to record recaps for my yr 1 module... [contains quote post or other embedded content]02 Sep 2026 16:34 +0000at://did:plc:f32o7b4awpit7kede6yg57ed/app.bsky.feed.post/3mukehaevps2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/gilesdrmartin.bsky.social/post/3muhn3i6ivk2zHad a great chat with the group attending today. Good to see people from PGCHE cohort as well, and lots of creative assessment links as the proposer (linked to their MA work in HE) and most of group in our new merged School of Creative and Cultural Arts. Authenticity, holistic vs analytical etc etc [contains quote post or other embedded content]01 Sep 2026 14:30 +0000at://did:plc:f32o7b4awpit7kede6yg57ed/app.bsky.feed.post/3muhn3i6ivk2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/gilesdrmartin.bsky.social/post/3muh7363qd22eBluesky/social media on good days gives you lots of lovely randomness. TIL from one thread that a) England had only 15% forest cover in 1086 b) that muntjac deer here are all invasive and from a group that escaped in 1925 That's the wiki dive sorted for lunchtime... [contains quote post or other embedded content]01 Sep 2026 10:19 +0000at://did:plc:f32o7b4awpit7kede6yg57ed/app.bsky.feed.post/3muh7363qd22ehttps://bsky.app/profile/gilesdrmartin.bsky.social/post/3mu5x6vycqc2uA little rain and the green shoots are up quickly nearly turning the meadows over Bath green from a very yellow scorched look a week ago. First time pleased for a rainy August bank holiday.28 Aug 2026 18:04 +0000at://did:plc:f32o7b4awpit7kede6yg57ed/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu5x6vycqc2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/gilesdrmartin.bsky.social/post/3mtvmx3xmhc2wTrying really hard not to see this as a visual metaphor for academia... [contains quote post or other embedded content]25 Aug 2026 10:40 +0000at://did:plc:f32o7b4awpit7kede6yg57ed/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtvmx3xmhc2whttps://bsky.app/profile/gilesdrmartin.bsky.social/post/3mtlmab3k6c2hWe've found the next Chancellor's gown for graduation [contains quote post or other embedded content]21 Aug 2026 11:00 +0000at://did:plc:f32o7b4awpit7kede6yg57ed/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtlmab3k6c2h