We need to help students overcome their textbook troublesAs institutions re-examine the costs of attending university, the affordability of course materials is again moving to the centre of the conversation, writes Raj KajiRaj KajiAkademos
Self-directed learning is becoming the forgotten ingredient in HEIn the heady rush to extol the virtues of asynchronous learning, we are watering down the main element of students’ learning experience, says Linda KayeLinda KayeEdge Hill University
How can we solve Japan’s student mobility issues?Japan struggles with multiculturalism as a concept, let alone a reality, and overseas students can suffer. But online education could offer help, says Haruko SatohHaruko SatohOsaka University
Let’s embrace flexible learning as much as we have flexible workingMuch like working from home, remote teaching and learning come with a range of benefits to learners if we just make room for them Matt JennerFutureLearn
Blended learning is so bland − we need to punk things upJust like musicians on tour, we must focus more on delivery and start holding ourselves to the same standards as any broadcaster or media company, says Jonathan WilsonJonathan WilsonRegent's University London
Making grading in university courses more reliableInconsistent or inaccurate grading can have serious real-world consequences for students. Paige Tsai and Danny Oppenheimer offer tips on how to recognise and fix the problemPaige Tsai, Danny Oppenheimer Harvard Business School, Carnegie Mellon University
We must help our students make this a ‘summer of self-love’It would be wise to keep an eye on our students over the coming months, as the period after lockdown typically brings intense emotional responses, says Bertus JeronimusBertus JeronimusUniversity of Groningen
Want to be a better teacher? My daughter showed me we need to play moreTesting silly ideas and pushing boundaries are crucial − and liberating − but universities must provide digital spaces where we can do so freely, says Andy FarnellAndy FarnellVisiting professor
Choppy digital waters lie ahead for many storied institutionsTraditional universities are too often led by the interests of lecturers rather than the employment needs of students or recruitment needs of businesses, says Dilshad SheikhDilshad SheikhArden University
Is blended learning just a pipe dream for Indian HE?It’s unlikely we are ready for a seismic shift while simultaneously trying to improve the quality of university education in general, say Gunjan Rajput and Swapnarag SwainGunjan Rajput , Swapnarag SwainRishihood University, International Management Institute Kolkata
The foundational steps needed to advance online higher education post-CovidThe will to evolve is essential, followed by a technology-led approach to pedagogy, student engagement and interactivity, says Steve DaviesSteve DaviesUniversity of South Wales, Learna
A low-touch approach to high-touch online teachingA little strategising can go a long way in increasing contact points with students without sacrificing work-life balance, says Sarah Rose CavanaghSarah Rose CavanaghAssumption University
Blended learning should be embraced for the benefit of allBy using online capabilities, higher education could be transformed from a privilege into a basic human right for anyone who wants it, says Sir Tim O’SheaTim O'SheaKortext
We shouldn’t confuse online engagement with logging inWhen assessing the all-important ‘engagement’ metric, the sector often defaults to the crude measurement of attendance − which is clearly flawed, says Chris HeadleandChris HeadleandUniversity of Lincoln
Funny memes and other ways to encourage students to keep their cameras onFrank R. Castelli offers advice from his evidenced-based strategy to get students to use their cameras without requiring itFrank R. CastelliCornell University
This is how administrators can support faculty to develop their online teachingFaculty are poised to take their online teaching to the next level, but they’ll need time to reflect as well as appropriate resources and professional incentives Elizabeth A. LehfeldtCleveland State University
Is it possible to think big thoughts virtually?When discussing complex problems online, without the ability to read the room, the focus often shifts to what can be achieved rather than taking risks, says Donna MurrayDonna MurrayThe University of Edinburgh
Government needs to step up in the student retention battleThe higher education sector needs the resources to get better at spotting students at risk of falling behind or dropping out altogether, says John CouperthwaiteJohn CouperthwaiteEcho360
My first post-Covid conference showed me we need to prep for the campus returnAt this conference, faculty were like the walking wounded, but we can and should learn from it because our students deserve our best selves, says Flower DarbyFlower DarbyNorthern Arizona University
It’s time for the media to work with universities, not against usThe next school year is going to be challenging enough as it is without the skewed and absolutist coverage we’ve seen in the media lately, says Harriet Dunbar-MorrisHarriet Dunbar-MorrisThe University of Portsmouth
Chinese universities face a tricky route to the topChina’s institutions are undoubtedly on the up, but they need to smash their glass ceiling to truly register on the world stage, says James ChinJames ChinUniversity of Tasmania
Why miss out on revenue when universities can take more blended learning in-house?Institutions are embracing the opportunity to create and deliver their own online programmes, but they’re realising that means more to think about, says Elliot FelixElliot FelixBrightspot
Don’t be fooled – community outreach can be even better onlineCovid and the move online made audiences even larger for our student-led social media workshops aimed at local businesses, say Dennis Olsen and Kristin BreweDennis Olsen, Kristin BreweUniversity of West London
Dead rank? Non-native speakers losing out on local dialects onlineLet’s face it, the virtual classroom isn’t the best environment for international students to get to grips with linguistic diversity, says Andrew MackenzieAndrew MackenzieBritish Council
Don’t forget that not all internet access is created equal Broadband quality, and thus suitability for online tuition, varies greatly depending on where students come from, say Darragh Flannery, Dónal Palcic and John CullinanDarragh Flannery, Donal Palcic, John CullinanUniversity of Limerick, National University of Ireland Galway
This is our chance to create the classroom of the futureWe know what works best for learning, and most of it is easier to implement in the online world, says Daphne KollerDaphne KollerStanford University
We must encourage the art of passing (virtual) secret notes in classFar from being unwanted classroom distractions, informal communications such as gifs, emojis and online chat can fulfil basic human needs, say Claire Kinsella and Linda KayeClaire Kinsella, Linda KayeUniversity of Staffordshire, Edge Hill University
Distance learners deserve better than HE’s latest bait and switch Remote learning is the latest scapegoat being used to justify returning to the ‘normal’ of rising tuition costs and sky-high student debt, says Zachary Michael JackZachary Michael JackNorth Central College
Don’t downplay the role of community colleges in healing a nationAt a time of rampant disinformation, these two-year institutions can be the engines of enquiry and purpose that enable the next generation to rebuild our democracy, says Eduardo PadronEduardo PadronMiami Dade College
A student mental health crisis awaits. Here’s how we avoid a bad fallExtra funding should be requested now to staff up wellness centres, counselling centres and campus ministries, says Todd ZakrajsekTodd ZakrajsekUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Returning to ‘normal’ is really a return to ignoranceCovid revealed that students need flexible and inclusive learning opportunities − something that should have been obvious well before the pandemic, says Torrey TrustTorrey TrustUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst
The digital shift will have many (positive) side-effectsIn the not-so-distant future, we’ll realise the digital transformation has changed higher education for the better, in ways we never expected, say Rick Shangraw and Wayne BovierRick Shangraw, Wayne BovierCintana Education, Higher Digital
How leaders can seize higher ed’s ‘catalytic moment for change’Those that lead by example, reward innovative faculty and increase campus-wide buy-in will determine the future of higher education, says Jon McNaughtanJon McNaughtanTexas Tech University
Are online exams better for student mental health?Traditional exams under tightly invigilated conditions are highly stressful for students, but online alternatives bring their own issues, says Michael PriestleyMichael PriestleyDurham University
The joy of text in a world of tech zealotry Why do we fetishise high-tech teaching while denigrating reading as a second-rate learning style? asks Andy FarnellAndy FarnellCampus
Socialising is hugely important, but virtual campuses help learning, tooThe social elements of university help students succeed academically, so we must start transplanting them online, says Elizabeth Lehfeldt Elizabeth A. LehfeldtCleveland State University
Professors, stop pretending that you never cheatAcademics should drop the holier-than-thou attitude and look at cheating from a student’s perspective if we want to understand and eradicate it, says Hamish BinnsHamish BinnsSaint Louis University
Let’s stop confusing what just happened with true online learningDuring the pandemic, decades of research and practice were tossed aside in a matter of days, says Ali Carr-ChellmanAli Carr-ChellmanUniversity of Dayton
How do we rescue the reputation of blended learning?To convince students and stakeholders that blended learning is worth the full tuition fee, we need to tell them exactly how it will work, says Russell CrawfordRussell CrawfordFalmouth University
Never forget: your course is not only yoursToo much of our instructional design undershoots the potential of higher education to improve not only individual lives but also the public good, says Robin DeRosaRobin DeRosaPlymouth State University
Recognition of academia’s ‘invisible labour’ is long overdueWe must ensure that academic citizenship becomes a key part of our job descriptions, on par with teaching, research and management, say Shari Boodts and Fleur JongepierShari Boodts, Fleur JongepierRadboud University
After the gold rush: how to respond to the Chinese student downswingAs the country’s outbound study trend cools, student recruitment strategies must evolve – and there is no ‘next China’ to fall back on, says Matt DurninMatt DurninBritish Council
What does the rise of Asia mean for global higher education?Many hurdles remain, from racism to presumed Western superiority, but equal dialogues and collaborations will foster the global common good, says Xin XuXin XuUniversity of Oxford
Moving online could signal the death of pedagogyShifting to andragogical learning models is the ideal way to prepare students for independent study, research and the world of work, says Steve DaviesSteve DaviesUniversity of South Wales
Flexibility is key if we want students to connect with their studiesUniversal design for learning not only embraces diversity, it also uses it as the basis for providing choice in how students learn – and succeed, says Lillian NaveLillian NaveAppalachian State University
What is student engagement?The move online compounded matters, but even before that, nobody could agree on what student engagement was – and that needs to change, says Chris HeadleandChris HeadleandUniversity of Lincoln
Should lecturers be trained to deal with shortening attention spans?Would my life be easier if I had received explicit guidance in how to deliver content in TikTok-length pieces? asks Katie DavisKatie DavisUniversity of Washington
This model is the future of diversity in higher educationComing together for support is the only way forward – and the Council of Coalitions is the model for inter-group organising we desperately need, says Pardis MahdaviPardis MahdaviArizona State University
The trials of teaching a ‘new’ script in a virtual worldTeaching non-Roman scripts online throws up great challenges, but we must preserve the world’s linguistic resources, say Rana Raddawi, Jingjing Ji and Ronit AlexanderRana Raddawi, Jingjing Ji, Ronit AlexanderNorthwestern University
The sector’s mental health workers need help tooMore assistance must be offered to help students survive, let alone thrive – and the same goes for student crisis interventionists like me, says Lula TorresLula TorresInsideTrack
