Educator support and resources
Developmental activities
Dip into the section below that best fits your career stage and role to find developmental activities that you can engage with.
Teacher training for students that teach (ALs and GLAs)
Our employment and training guidance for Assistant Lecturers covers recruitment, contracts, pay, expectations of the role and the department, training and support, and lastly, opportunities for those who don’t teach but are interested in developing the education side of an academic role. You may also be interested in the resources listed under New to Teaching below.
New to teaching
If you are new to teaching in higher education you will find a selection of events and resources here that will support your development and practice.
Use this Timeline Organiser to help navigate your first year of teaching at Essex.
Don't forget to explore the other areas of Professional Development and Training available to you from the main menu.
| Events | Focus | Next Steps |
| Induction checklist | All new employees are expected to engage with the guidance for new starters | Find out more on the Staff Directory |
| Education and Research staff induction | This event will orientate you to the institutional context and support available for you | Learning event catalogue |
| CADENZA: Pathways to Fellowship Discover all you need to know about professional recognition | Developing your education practice Awards and recognition | Access the guidance |
| Academic permanency and promotion guidance | Use this to understand Pathway to Permanency and promotion | Find out more on the Staff Directory |
| Peer review of teaching Details on the policy and requirements for teaching staff | Developing your education practice | Access the guidance |
| Introduction to Teaching and Learning in Higher Education Find out the key points to prepare for teaching | Developing your education practice Role-specific career stage support | Learning event catalogue |
| Teaching and Learning in Higher Education This short course provides an overview of topics designed to support those new to teaching. | Developing your education practice Role-specific career stage support | Enrol on the Moodle course (please contact People & Culture) |
| Active Learning engaging your learners in their learning | Developing your education practice | Article Quick Guide On-demand course |
| Voice and performance Looking at delivery approaches and care of our selves when teaching | Developing your education practice | Article Quick Guide |
| Blended Learning Baseline course This will support all teaching staff in meeting the 12 requirements of the Blended Learning Baseline. | Developing your education practice Digital skills | Article Access the Moodle course |
| Getting Moodle ready A run through on preparing your Moodle space | Developing your education practice Digital skills | |
| Introduction to Poll Everywhere A look at Polleverywhere classroom engagement tools that encourage active learning | Developing your education practice Digital skills | |
| Creating Accessible Learning Materials How to make your documents, presentations, videos and web content meet accessibility standards | Developing your education practice Digital skills | Quick Guide |
| Student wellbeing support and signposting An overview of support and resources to support student wellbeing | Student support | Access the guidance |
| Introduction to Teaching Spaces Technology Find out more about the effective use of technology-enhanced learning tools | Developing your education practice Digital skills | Learning event catalogue |
| Effective Student Advising Exploratory session to find out more on this topic | Developing your education practice |
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| Introduction to Moodle quizzes Find out more about the use and application of Moodle quizzes to test knowledge | Developing your education practice | Learning event catalogue |
| Introduction to AI Find out more about the use and application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in a teaching and learning context | Developing your education practice Digital skills | Learning event catalogue |
Experienced educators
The following events and resources are for those educators who are looking to extend their practice and develop their skills further. Note if you are an experienced educator but new to teaching at Essex make sure you check out the New to Teaching section above for additional development opportunities.
Don't forget to explore the other areas of Professional Development and Training available to you from the main menu.
| Events and resources | Focus | Next steps |
| CADENZA: Pathways to Fellowship Discover all you need to know about professional recognition | Developing your education practice Awards and recognition | Access the guidance Learning event catalogue |
| Academic permanency and promotion guidance | Use this to understand Pathway to Permanency and promotion | Find out more on the Staff Directory |
| ‘Effective Student Advising’ Exploratory session to find out more on this topic | Developing your education practice | |
| Competency Based Assessment Short online course with examples and guidance | Developing your education practice | Article Quick Guide |
| Managing Groupwork Assessment design and teaching approaches with groups | Developing your education practice | Quick Guide |
| Module design strategies Guidance on Module design processes and strategies | Developing your education practice | Access the guidance |
| Elearning design developing learning materials for online or blended teaching | Developing your education practice Digital skills | Article Quick Guide |
| Advance HE development programmes Visit their website to find topical articles and events | Accessing funding opportunities
| Access the website |
| Times Higher Education Campus Teaching & Learning best practice from around the world | Advice and insights shared from universities around the world | Find out more on the Times Higher Education Campus webpage |
| Assessment Transformation in the Age of AI Learn how assessment approaches can be enhanced and transformed through the consideration and application of AI |
Developing your education practice Digital skills | Learning event catalogue |
Student Advisors
Student Advisors work with the department to provide Advisees with essential information. All Student Advisors are supported by a Senior Student Advisor who can be contacted for further advice, information and training.
- The related Student Advising Staff Directory article (which includes the institutional policy)
- United Kingdom Advising and Tutoring Association (UKAT) website
Support for Postgraduate Research Supervisors
There are a number of resources available to help guide you through the process of supervising PGR students.
Role-based support for Heads of Departments and Leadership Roles
A tailored role-based support programme is available to support academic Heads of Departments and different leadership roles transition into and flourish in their role.
Which roles have a dedicated role-based support programme?
- Academic Heads of Department or School
- Different leadership roles each academic year (e.g. Directors of Education, Directors of Research and/or Impact, PGR Directors and Senior Student Advisors)
What is the role-based support programme?
These colleagues will be invited to attend role based support events and encouraged to frame their professional development plan with the following four areas of the role-based support programme:
- events
- role-based resources and information
- faculty-based support
- peer support and networks
Our role-based support programme infographic (.pdf) provides a visual representation of the four areas above.
Further information about the role-based support programmes can be accessed in the Role-Based Support Moodle resource.
Educator development for Technicians
Here is an overview of accreditation opportunities, learning events and resources to support Technicians to develop their education practice.
Achieve Fellowship with the Higher Education Academy
Depending on the level of student support that is being provided, you could be able to achieve Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (Advance HE). Find out more about our CADENZA Pathways to Fellowshipor book to attend an introduction to CADENZA session on HR Organiser.
| Events and resources | Focus | Next steps |
| Essential training Including health & safety, safeguarding and information security | Essential training | Access the guidance |
| Introduction to Poll Everywhere A look at classroom engagement tools that encourage active learning | Education delivery | Quick Guide Learning event catalogue |
| Blended Learning Baseline course This will support all teaching staff in meeting the 12 requirements of the Blended Learning Baseline. | Education delivery | Article Access the Moodle course |
| Teaching and Learning in Higher Education This short course provides an overview of topics designed to support those new to teaching. | Education delivery | Enrol on the Moodle course |
| Learning to Teach Online This LinkedIn Learning course provides learners with some key information to successfully teach a digital class. (Sign into UoE Linkedin Learning first) | Education delivery | Access the LinkedIn Learning course |
| Active Learning Strategies Quick Guide Some examples of active learning strategies for both small and large groups. | Education delivery | |
| Managing Groups Quick Guide Supports teaching staff to consider assessment design and implementation at the module level. | Education delivery | Article Quick Guide |
| Branded PowerPoint templates Guidance to ensure that your PowerPoint templates are accessible and impactful. | Preparing teaching materials | Access the guidance |
| Creating Accessible Learning Materials Quick Guide How to make your documents, presentations, videos and web content meet accessibility standards. | Preparing teaching materials | Quick Guide |
| Student Wellbeing support and signposting An overview of support and resources to support student wellbeing. | Student support | Access the guidance |
Student Engagement Resources
Find a selection of resources below that are specifically targeted at enhancing student engagement with their learning and assessment.
Focus on students
| Events | Focus | Next Steps |
| Active Learning | Developing your education practice | Article Quick Guide On-demand course |
| Introduction to Poll Everywhere A look at classroom engagement tools that encourage active learning | Developing your education practice Digital skills |
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| Supporting and welcoming new students at the University of Essex | Student support | Access the guidance |
| Partial Flipped Classroom Approach and Student Engagement in the Classroom: Evidence from a UK University. | Research from the Essex Research Repository | Access the research |
| THE Article: Enhance Student Engagement | Developing your practice | Read the article |
| Education for mental health toolkit |
Mental health in the curriculum | Access the toolkit |
| Embedding mental wellbeing in the curriculum |
Mental health in the curriculum | Share your interest with the project team |
