Photo by Mitchell Kmetz on Unsplash We often talk about course design as though it exists in parts.A class, assessment, unit, course, and policy. Each of these feels discrete, manageable, and contained. But course design isn’t just a collection of isolated parts. It’s an ecosystem. And like any ecosystem, everything is interconnected. Beyond […]
The Human Side of Being an Academic
I’ve redesigned assessments, unit and entire courses that didn’t work.I’ve explained concepts that landed flat.I’ve walked out of classes knowing I could have done better. None of these moments made me less of an academic.They made me a more honest one. Somewhere along the way, academia adopted the illusion of […]
When Did Learning Stop Being the Real World?
The phrase “in the real world” is often used in higher education. Educators use it to inspire students, while industry partners critique courses with it. It’s spoken casually, as if its meaning is clear and universally accepted. In the classroom, phrases such as “in the real world……………..(fill in the blank)” […]
Not Reinvention, but Intention: Beginning a New Teaching Year
The beginning of a new year always invites reflection. Fresh diaries. Clean calendars. The quiet promise that things might feel a little different this time around. In Australia, that sense of renewal holds extra significance because a new year also marks the start of a new teaching year. New classes. […]
Do Teaching Philosophies Actually Matter?
As the new school year begins in many regions, educators are encouraged to revisit their teaching philosophy. For some, this is a real opportunity to pause and consider what genuinely matters in their teaching. Others see it as little more than busywork, a document they produce simply because it’s required, […]





