MA Digital Teaching and Learning Student and Alumni Profiles

 Sylvia Olayinka-Olaniyi 

Year of graduation: 2023
Home country: Nigeria
Studied: Full-time 

Why did you choose this course at the University of Nottingham?

I chose the University of Nottingham because the content of the MA Digital Teaching and Learning course is in line with my future career aspirations. The multicultural environment of the school was another reason for my choice - you get to meet students from different backgrounds which is good for international students.

How do you hope the course will help you with your career?

I absolutely love my course, I am proud to say that I have gained new skills and competencies for a variety of career pathways. There were lots of design practice exercises which has prepared me for an exciting future and career in learning design and I am confident and looking forward to taking on the opportunities out there. 

Was there a particular module that you enjoyed the most?

Learning Theories was my favourite, the course opened me up to a new way of thinking and considerations when designing learning for impact. It has helped to focus my attention more on the learner and not just on the subject. With that mindset, I am going into practice with the goal of designing learning programmes that will deliver improved learning experiences and help people become better versions of themselves. 

What was the best part of the course?

The best part was the multicultural context of our class community. It was great making friends with people from different cultures and backgrounds who have become part of my life. I cherished the experience when I hosted friends from my study group to a cooking timeout. We cooked assorted Asian foods, listened to music from Sudan, Vietnam, China and Nigeria. We had so much fun and decided to learn how to make the food from each of the countries represented before the end of our course. These experiences will go with me into the future, now I can confidently travel to each of these countries knowing that I have friends from there.

How have you been supported on the course?

The lecturers kept us engaged, this helped to hone my skills. Also, frequent feedback on class activities helped me to improve in subsequent assignments. We also enjoyed a great relationship with our lecturers.

Why do you think students should come to the University of Nottingham to study this course?  

The course provides an excellent opportunity to gain deep insight on the science of learning and innovations in the field of education. The seminar structure allows students to collaborate on tasks, share diverse perspectives and experiences and make friends.

Do you have any advice for someone studying the course?

Go for it!!!  You will gain the most from the course if you actively participate and engage with lectures and peers in class.

Louise Costigan

Year of graduation: 2024
Home country: UK
Studying: Part-time

Why did you choose this course at the University of Nottingham?

I had thought about studying for a masters for a while but couldn’t find a course related to education that interested me. After integrating more digital methods of teaching during Covid I could see this would become more important in educational pedagogy and the University of Nottingham were the only university in the local area that combined digital technology with education so it was a natural progression to study here. The university also has an excellent reputation! 

How do you hope the course will help you with your career?

I am a mature student so this proves that age isn’t a barrier to studying at a higher level. It has given me confidence that I still have skills to offer in the workplace and that my practice is current. It’s good to continue to challenge yourself. 

Is there a particular module that you enjoyed the most?

I have enjoyed all of the units but perhaps the one I have enjoyed the most is The Future of Digital Education. This opened my eyes to all the amazing and exciting ways that new technology can be used to transform teaching and learning in the future. It was fun to then think about how this can be applied and adapted to our own teaching practice. 

What is the best part of the course?

I’ve loved researching new ideas on digital teaching and learning. I have also made some really great friends, we have supported each other on the course through sharing ideas and also helped to keep each other on track. 

How have you been supported on the course?

All of the teaching material is on moodle so fully accessible at any time which is so important when you are part-time and juggling a job and family. The staff were also flexible and enabled me to choose module times that worked around my teaching so I could attend the classes.

You also have access to a one-to-one tutorial per module to discuss your assignment which I found helpful to make sure I was on the right path. 

How are you balancing studying with a job/personal life?

I work as a lecturer part-time and have a busy home life with two teenage boys so sometimes it was hard to stay on track but I found that scheduling specific times in the week to do the work helped me focus and complete the work on time. 

Why do you think students should come to the University of Nottingham to study this course?

Digital teaching and learning is such a current topic that the information you learn will definitely be used in your career. It helps you consider new technology based on its effectiveness for learning not just because it’s a form of technology. Not all digital learning activities are effective and this course helps you to develop the critical thinking skills to identify those that are.  

Arwa Omer Gadelsied Abdelrahman

Year of graduation: 2023
Home country: Sudan
Studied: Full-time 

Why did you choose this course at the University of Nottingham?

I picked the University of Nottingham because of its multicultural atmosphere and its unique learning approach, which involves more than just academic knowledge but also exploring many social activities that assist to develop a full personality that can result in changes in a person's profession and benefit communities.

My ultimate goal is to improve and develop Sudan's educational system. Therefore I felt there is no better place than the University of Nottingham to take a masters degree. Since it is founded more than 200 years ago, Nottingham University has been a preeminent academic institution, with graduating scholars who are true enablers, revolutionising vocational education and training in developing nations, as well as others who have investigated efficient learning theories and methods.

How do you hope the course will help you with your career?

Now I have the opportunity to pursue a new professional path that I had always envisioned. This course prepared me for a job as a professional learning designer, which requires a set of specialised abilities that may be acquired through familiarity with learning theories, psychological principles, and the impact of technological tools on the learning process. These special combinations of knowledge will, of course, assist me in the future in ensuring that I am accomplishing my objective of enhancing societies using technological tools based on a strong intellectual background.

Was there a particular module that you enjoyed the most?

When I applied to this masters programme, I thought I would enjoy more the The Future of Digital Education module because it contains specifically the knowledge I am seeking. But I discovered that I enjoyed Learning Theories for a Digital Age more because it gave me the base knowledge for the other modules and became the foundation of the course. I also enjoyed Social Contexts of Learning as it drew my attention to an important aspect of education which is the social part and how it improves the learning experience.

I am really thankful to the School of Education that they put a great effort into the design of the MA and the modules, they thought critically about how to organise our experience and scaffold us during it in a professional manner.

What do you want to do now you've completed your degree?

My dream would be to design solutions for a wide range of learning subjects and issues. I aspire to work in a place where clients say, “this is what we’re trying to teach, or help people learn. Give us your most creative idea.” I would love the opportunity to flex my creative muscles and use all I have learnt to make products and experiences that learners of all ages find interesting and effective. This could happen anywhere, a museum, a consultancy firm, or a company that produces these things.  

What was the best part of the course?

I can't single out one excellent aspect of the course because, during my masters, I had a variety of enjoyable moments:

• Seminar opportunities where it was possible to work in groups and think more deeply about the instructional strategies and materials we might utilise in the future to advance our own nation's educational systems
• Interactions with staff,  Dr Pryce Davis, Professor Shaaron Ainsworth and Professor Charles Crook, where we were able to freely express all our opinions which assisted us in expanding our knowledge. I felt comfortable sharing academic ideas or views with the teachers and I always received highly constructive feedback.
• The course was not solely centred on lectures and seminars; we were fortunate to be able to travel to London as part of the program to take part in the "Bett" event, which is the largest educational technology event. The School of Education provided us with a unique opportunity to learn how to be open to organisations, find workable solutions, and come up with original ideas relevant to our subject. I'll never forget how pleased we were and how excited we were for this adventure.

How have you been supported on the course?

I am incredibly appreciative of all the help I received during this extraordinary journey. Sadly, my beloved Sudan entered into war at the end of the second semester. When this war began, my course leader, Dr Pryce Davis, and all the module convenors in that semester offered support. I received numerous emails from them asking about my mental health, my family and whether I needed any assistance in my modules, and they assisted me in requesting an extension to the assignment deadline. Additionally, I had a lot of assistance from my peers to get through this difficult time, and they always pushed me to meet with them, attempt to communicate with them, and go to the library with them to begin working on my assignments.

Not just people from the School of Education, but also the university and the wellbeing centre sent me many emails asking about my mental health and whether I needed any type of support. I felt fortunate to be surrounded by so many kind individuals throughout this time, and I genuinely appreciate all their efforts to help me feel better.

Why do you think students should come to the University of Nottingham to study this course?

For a variety of reasons, I will advise anyone interested in the subject of educational technology to enroll in this course.

The first aspect to note is how well-organised and well-designed the module is that blends psychology, computer sciences, and education into a single program. Additionally, all module convenors are highly experienced individuals with excellent teaching abilities and extensive experience in the field, ensuring that every student will have the opportunity to explore the profession first-hand and gain knowledge that will change their lives.

Last but not least, I believe that one of the reasons to choose this course is that it encourages students to consider informal education as well as formal education. It also enables students to take advantage of the course based on their own interests and needs, which makes it very distinctive and useful for a variety of people with various objectives.   

Do you have any advice for someone studying the course?

My advice to everyone who will enroll in this course is to establish positive relationships with other students and the faculty because doing so will make the experience memorable. To get the most out of the modules and make use of all knowledge and abilities in the future, try to actively participate in all course activities with optimism and passion.  

Is there anything else you'd like to add about your course/time at Nottingham?

The last two things I want to add are that I particularly favoured the layout of the essays that were used as assessment tools in this masters programme. This innovative approach, in my opinion, was very helpful to me  because it allowed me to engage more deeply with the content and tested more sophisticated intellectual abilities like analysis, application, and comprehension, rather than just rote memorization, which will undoubtedly help me remember all of these concepts in the future because they are deeply ingrained in my mind.  

Additionally, I have always enjoyed living on the beautiful Jubilee Campus during the course. It has environmentally friendly structures and abundant fauna, has always given me a mental and psychological filter. 

Nguyen Phuong Le

Year of graduation: 2023
Home country: Vietnam
Study: Full-time
 

Why did you choose this course at the University of Nottingham?

I chose the course based on the course duration, location, the university ranking and scholarship opportunities.

How do you hope this course will help with your career?

I am currently applying for jobs and would like to work in the higher education sector. I'd also like to do a PhD in the future.

Is there a particular module you enjoyed most and why?

I enjoyed The Future of Digital Education, as I got to learn education from different methods and compose an assignment for a future curriculum using digital technology.

Was there a particular aspect of the course that you enjoyed the most?

Sharing ideas with tutors and other like-minded classmates was nice and helps when formulating ideas for assignment writing. 

How have you been supported on the course?

Tutoring sessions were helpful for me. Casual talks with professors outside of class time reassured me and made me feel more confident.

Why do you think students should come to the University of Nottingham to study this course?

It is an exciting course that intertwines between digital technology and educational theories.