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Professor Leanne de Main

@professor-c.bsky.social
128 followers 253 following 62 posts

Pro-Vice Chancellor & Interim Dean, Business and Law @ De Montfort University. PFHEA. Here for education, compassion, kindness and the good people. ADHD. VMO. #AcademicSky

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Professor Leanne de Main @professor-c.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
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Professor Leanne de Main @professor-c.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
and you have to be clear on what it is you are trying to improve. Block is one of many modes of teaching, essentially, it is just a scheduling tool,
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Professor Leanne de Main @professor-c.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
Thanks everyone! #LTHEchat
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Professor Leanne de Main @professor-c.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
* crawls back to business safe space *
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Professor Leanne de Main @professor-c.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
Do you have any suggestions on other modes of learning?
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Professor Leanne de Main @professor-c.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
I can introduce you to FT campus science academics who have made it a success!
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Professor Leanne de Main @professor-c.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
If anyone is interested in joining our Block community to learn more, we do have a JISCMail. Join here: www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/weba... #LTHEchat
jiscmail.ac.uk
JISCMail - LEARNINBLOCK List at WWW.JISCMAIL.AC.UK
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Professor Leanne de Main @professor-c.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
How can we call ourselves academics if we cannot be provocative? And I think sarcasm is in the job description! In all seriousness, any institution considering block needs to decide what problem they are trying to 'fix', because block may not be for everyone.
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Professor Leanne de Main @professor-c.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
A6 There are some good resources here: www.timeshighereducation.com/campus/colle... Here: learninblock.dmu.ac.uk/welcome-to-l... #lthechat
timeshighereducation.com
What is block teaching?
Whether it’s called block teaching, block scheduling, block planning or simply the block model, this mode of instruction is intense, immersive and sometimes divisive. But is it more effective than tra...
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Professor Leanne de Main @professor-c.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
I prefer the second part of your answer!!
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Professor Leanne de Main @professor-c.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
We redesigned for block. We used sprint design methodology which involved whole teams planning whole programmes together. THis made a big difference is designing for whole programme curricula and assessment.
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Professor Leanne de Main @professor-c.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
And here for a list of resources: learninblock.dmu.ac.uk/welcome-to-l...
learninblock.dmu.ac.uk
Learn in Block
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Professor Leanne de Main @professor-c.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
Have a look here for some interesting accounts: www.timeshighereducation.com/campus/colle...
timeshighereducation.com
What is block teaching?
Whether it’s called block teaching, block scheduling, block planning or simply the block model, this mode of instruction is intense, immersive and sometimes divisive. But is it more effective than traditional university semesters? This collection of resources from academics around the world looks at how it works, its capacity to support diverse student cohorts across higher education, and its drawbacks and challenges.
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Professor Leanne de Main @professor-c.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
It varies from 10 to 1000! But when teaching large cohorts we team teach so marking is distributed.
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Professor Leanne de Main @professor-c.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
We have an enhancement week between blocks for marking, preparation and the students can go on trips, have career support etc. The resit happens after Easter so b1 and b2 are completed. The fact that Easter moves each year does cause a few problems when planning the academic calendar!
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Professor Leanne de Main @professor-c.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
A4 one of the myths I have encountered is that university regulations do not allow it. But who writes the regulations? ....... the university! #LTHEchat
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Professor Leanne de Main @professor-c.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
Absolutely this, having worked in QA and working with many QA teams, I have found very little resistance to innovation and change. It is often an imagined barrier.
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Professor Leanne de Main @professor-c.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
It varies from each institution. At DMU we have a reassessment period after block 2 for either block 1 or 2 resits, then the same after block 4. Then a second summer resit.
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Professor Leanne de Main @professor-c.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
I believe programmes need to be designed FOR block.
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Professor Leanne de Main @professor-c.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
Yes, important indeed, we work to 15 working days for feedback turnaround.
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Professor Leanne de Main @professor-c.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
A very good point, too much variety isn't always a good thing. Students need to practice assessment types over time so they don't spend all of their time learning the method, not the knowledge.
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Professor Leanne de Main @professor-c.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
It also helps that we completely redesigned all programmes FOR block. 'lift and shift' is not recommended!
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Professor Leanne de Main @professor-c.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
This is a good point Sue, we did consider this. Missing one week due to illness is essentially 20% of module 'content'. We try to alleviate this somewhat by ensuring lectures are recorded and there are additional online support materials.
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Professor Leanne de Main @professor-c.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
How do you define narrow learning?
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Professor Leanne de Main @professor-c.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
A2 Transitions into block are vital, especially if students join from A Levels. It can be a bit of a shock hearing your first assessment is due in 7 weeks and it counts for 25% of your yearly grade! We have found that giving students a road map, or yearly overview is helpful.
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Professor Leanne de Main @professor-c.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
Good idea if it is self/auto marked, like an MCQ. But marking mid-block whilst also teaching can make an academics' workload a bit of a tricky balance!
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Professor Leanne de Main @professor-c.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
Yes, the contact time is no different to other modes of delivery. Students tend to build stronger bonds with peers and on campus as they spend more time together in the same groups.
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Professor Leanne de Main @professor-c.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
The contact time is no different to non-block. It is just all centred on one module.
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Professor Leanne de Main @professor-c.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
Very big :)
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Professor Leanne de Main @professor-c.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
I often say that it is 'block design, not block thinking'. Ideas, concepts and activities can move through blocks and be applied and revisited. We have generally seen better retention in block.
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Professor Leanne de Main @professor-c.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
Over 90% of courses at DMU are fully block, UG and PG.
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Professor Leanne de Main @professor-c.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
This covers a lot of the students we see in HE today. In terms of student personas, more and more are 'jugglers'.
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Professor Leanne de Main @professor-c.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
At DMU it is also for UG FT students too!
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Professor Leanne de Main @professor-c.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
This was how I did my masters too!
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Professor Leanne de Main @professor-c.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
Maybe it is more about the different priorities different learners have?
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Professor Leanne de Main @professor-c.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
See you there!
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Professor Leanne de Main @professor-c.bsky.social · 31/03/2025
I am looking forward to this!
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Reposted by Professor Leanne de Main
LTHEchat @lthechat.bsky.social · 31/03/2025
Join us for this week’s #LTHEchat which will explore Block Teaching with Professor Leanne de Main @professor-c.bsky.social on Wednesday 8-9pm GMT/BST. Read the blog post at: tinyurl.com/af44t6xm
tinyurl.com
#LTHEchat 325: The move to Block teaching: Understanding our learners, supporting academics, uncovering the real and imagined barriers, and managing change.
Led by Professor Leanne de Main, Pro-Vice Chancellor – Pedagogic Transformation, Interim Dean – Faculty of Business and Law, De Montfort University @professor-c.bsky.social From 2022, D…
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Professor Leanne de Main @professor-c.bsky.social · 31/03/2025
I’m really looking forward to all things Block with @lthechat.bsky.social this week! #LTHEchat
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Professor Leanne de Main @professor-c.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
It's neurodiversity celebration week! "Many ‘challenges’ neurodivergent people face are more to do with the environment and systems they are placed in, often designed by a majority population." www.neurodiversityweek.com/resource-hub #IAmAuDHD #AUDHD #ASD #ADHD #Neurodiversity #Neurospicy
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Professor Leanne de Main @professor-c.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
@johnweldon.bsky.social
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Professor Leanne de Main @professor-c.bsky.social · 19/03/2025
Know where to signpost to
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Professor Leanne de Main @professor-c.bsky.social · 19/03/2025
Completely agree Emily. It doesn't have to be either/or. It can be both!
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Professor Leanne de Main @professor-c.bsky.social · 19/03/2025
A3 Perhaps we are transparent about success factors. Can we share the research with them in a way that they can embrace. I know I still struggle with a strategy and can quickly dismiss suggestions without trying them! Is it about being open to trying something different.
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Professor Leanne de Main @professor-c.bsky.social · 19/03/2025
A2 Recognising that our students are jugglers, managing many other things outside of studies (caring, working etc.) This could mean study skills take the hit in favour of just getting things done as quickly as possible.
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Professor Leanne de Main @professor-c.bsky.social · 19/03/2025
How do we make events inclusive? www.timeshighereducation.com/campus/creat...
timeshighereducation.com
Creating inclusive spaces for inclusive events
Inclusivity efforts must go beyond physical accessibility to include how events are advertised and who is consulted and invited to speak, write Meredith Wilkinson and Leanne de Main. Here they offer e...
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Professor Leanne de Main @professor-c.bsky.social · 19/03/2025
A1 How much of study skills in HE requires unlearning of prior study skills? #LTHEchat
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Professor Leanne de Main @professor-c.bsky.social · 19/03/2025
Absolutely this! #ADHDer
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Professor Leanne de Main @professor-c.bsky.social · 19/03/2025
A flashback to when we shared our approach to rapid curriculum design.... www.timeshighereducation.com/campus/sprin... #Block #Education #Sprint #HigherEd
timeshighereducation.com
Sprinting in hindsight: what we learned from validating university programmes at pace
Having used a Design Sprint methodology for university-wide academic programme validation, has the dash to a photo finish improved quality processes? Zoë Allman and Leanne de Main share their experien...
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Professor Leanne de Main @professor-c.bsky.social · 21/01/2025
Latest book on Block out now! link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
link.springer.com
Block Teaching Essentials
This book provides in-depth, authoritative, theoretical, and practical information on block teaching and addresses the need for more research and writing.
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