Hello, and welcome to our blog. In this, we will post some of our thoughts about teaching in FE and HE. We are Mike and Pam Birtill. Mike is the Deputy Head of Curriculum for Engineering at the Heart of Yorkshire Colleges Group. He previously taught Electrical Installation and Maintenance apprentices at Leeds College of Building and York College. Pam is an Associate Professor in Psychology at the University of Leeds.
Mike holds CertEd from the University of Huddersfield and is currently studying for an MSc in Digital Pedagogy at Leeds Beckett University. He is interested in mental health, diversity, pedagogy and AI in the context of the UK Further Education Sector. He has lead the implementation and evaluation of AI tools within Leeds College of Building. He holds professional memberships of Institute of Engineering & Technology, and the Society of Education and Training, and is an Associate Fellow of the Staff and Educational Development Association.
Pam’s academic focus is on learning theories and their practical applications in real-world settings. Currently, she is the Academic Lead for LEAF (Leeds Expectation for Assessment and Feedback), an initiative which aims to enhance the assessment and feedback landscape at Leeds. She has recently collaborated with the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) on a project concerning the hidden curriculum, which aligns with her commitment to fostering inclusive, authentic, and fair assessments. Her teaching primarily revolves around learning theory, bridging the gap between theoretical understanding and practical applicability.
We hope you enjoy reading our posts!