1. ‘Transformations and meeting challenges with best practice’- share together!   Criminology at the Cutting Edge of the Curriculum ( BSC LT Network) 14th September The University of Derby
This one day conference came at an ideal time for planning in Higher Education and learning lessons from others- sharing best practice. Papers presented and thought provoking discussion addressed core challenges of engagement, student experience, value of international reflection and lessons to be learnt! Innovative pedagogical approaches were raised, reflecting on how to overcome some of the challenges we face, increasing cohorts, diversity, REF/ TEF, employability and embedding digital into our teaching.
The first paper by Jill Dealey discussed efforts to engage students in employability and skills training in her module. Reflections were made on what can be learnt from working on live cases, and what the module gave the students in terms of learning from experience of getting involved. Throughout the paper evident links made to the importance of employability and the integral place of social justice within our discipline. Following on from learning from experiences, Natacha Harding presented her approach to teaching about sexual offending. The importance of a safe and comfortable student environment, how to work through some of the conflicts and challenges and concluding by framing the challenges to stereotypes and the need to ‘unpick’ misinformation. The identification of trigger warnings, and the role that a support network can offer, were shown to have a clear impact on student satisfaction towards a module. The papers took an international gaze with a presentation by Michaux Parker and Cassidy Whitehead. The focus again led to a discussion about the role that social justice has in increasing civic engagement. The importance of measurement and data being empirically focused meant that social justice came alive through student voice and engagement. The role Internships play, providing economic benefits to organisations, the institution and student. Concluding with the experience that having students as ‘agents of change’ can have an impact on the criminal Justice sector.
Discussion developed more on innovations in teaching and learning as the day progressed. Micheal Fiddler applied his knowledge on using games in criminological teaching through the expansion of gamification. Approaches such as role play and board game mechanics were applied to Sherlock Holmes, not only as part of a formulative assessment, but also to enable greater interactivity on applying criminological theories for students. Phil Johnson, Steven Case and David Manlow presented their new text ‘Criminology’, identifying the role students’ played in the writing process and how the text aimed to demystify. Debbie Jones and Emma Jones further developed similar themes of meeting challenges by focusing on the development for employability embedded into university ethos- integrated but also discreet. Using reflective portfolio assessments and providing lessons learnt from partnerships and collaboration the mutual exclusivity was evident. Opening student minds towards new career options and the benefit of developing contacts between the Industry and Institutions were framed as invaluable for all parties involved in employability.

2. Michaux Parker and Bella Pavey gave an inspiring collaborative presentation as tutor/ student. The viability of new programmes and benefits of applying statistical analysis to scale, as an assessment tool in teaching, again empathised the importance of both student engagement and inspiring students through our teaching.
Jennifer Rainbow continued with the importance of keeping students at the forefront of our minds in module/ curriculum development, when discussing trigger warnings. Again the importance of a safe space and reflecting on student satisfaction and NSS led to a consideration of obligations and changing responsibilities as learners. Dave Walsh raised professional learning from practice, the importance of evaluation and how to apply a ‘reflective cycle to our teaching. Ruth McAlister further expanded our knowledge of teaching on a less traditional topic- cyber crime. Exploring her module she reflected on how different theories and legal aspects can be merged with digital forensics and ‘learning by doing’. Opening student’s eyes to less traditional career paths furthered the importance of sharing experiences and practices. Stephanie Whitehead and Shay Clammie reflected on the humanity of teaching with online learning approaches, the challenges that interactive on line courses can bring and ‘unintended sights’ . The final paper of the day was presented by Suzanne Young and Helen Nichols. Their approach to using technology in class was based around two case studies which explored blended learning, and how this can meet the challenges of large cohorts and problems with attendance. Expertise learnt through their experiences was shared, identifying issues of accessibility, and increasing softer skills for students, such as confidence and attainment.  
‘Share and share alike’ were the lessons learnt from this one day event> The evident benefits of discourse on teaching and learning, and its fit within the discipline of criminology sent everyone on their travels with new ideas and enthusiasm for meeting the challenges we are faced with.
Kate Strudwick