In Episode 42, in addition to lightbulb moments, treasure island pedagogies/props and luxury items, our discussion focused on supporting doctoral journeys as supervisors including themes of agency and the transformative power of students taking ownership of their own development, holistic and student-centred approaches; the importance of the pedagogy of care and creating inclusive communities for doctoral education.
Speakers: Tünde Varga-Atkins, Doug Cleaver, Hala Mansour, Saneeya Qureshi
16 June 2025 | 53 Minutes
In this podcast episode, we hear about the development of a collaborative master’s programme between partner universities. The episode explores how staff and students from each institution visited either the University of Liverpool or Garden City University in Bengaluru. In Part 2, the University of Liverpool’s Professor Helen Wallace and Dr. Lesley Iwanejko speak with students Chloe Grierson, Corie Rushworth about their visit to Garden City University and what they took away from the exchange.
Transcript Available Here
Speakers: Tünde Varga-Atkins, Professor Helen Wallace, Dr. Lesley Iwanejko, Chloe Grierson, Corie Rushworth
Date: 17th July 2025
Length: 25 Minutes
In this podcast episode, we hear about the development of a collaborative master’s programme between partner universities. The episode explores how staff and students from each institution visited either the University of Liverpool or Garden City University in Bengaluru. In Part 1, we hear from Garden City University staff, Dr. Vanitha Krishna and Dr. Pinky Dutta, along with students Rajalakshmi and Divya Garg as they reflect on their experience visiting Liverpool.
Transcript Available Here
Speakers: Tünde Varga-Atkins, Dr. Vanitha Krishna and Dr. Pinky Dutta, Rajalakshmi R and Divya Garg
Date: 17th July 2025
Length: 21 Minutes
In Episode 41, in addition to lightbulb moments, treasure island pedagogies/props and luxury items, our discussion covered polls on a roll, guess the concept, connecting with students, role-play and drama in different contexts closing with some excellent bartering resulting in a really fun islands experience! Have a listen.
Speakers: Hillary Briffa, Luciana Brondi, Gustavo Espinoza Ramos
6th June 2025 | 46 Minutes
In Episode 40, the Treasure Island Pedagogies podcast features insights on postgraduate research supervision, with guests sharing coaching strategies, interdisciplinary tools, and collaborative approaches that support PhD students' growth. From lightbulb moments to luxury items, the episode highlights the balance between guidance and independence in research supervision.
Speakers: Eva Caamano Gutierrez | Christopher Overton | David Joss
23/05/2025 | 41 Minutes
In this episode of the Centre for Innovation in Education podcast, host Rob Lindsay is joined by Claire Ellison, Ruby Jenkins (Senior Content Designer), and Chris Hine (Digital Analyst) to discuss the creation of generative AI marketing guidelines at the University of Liverpool.
Together, the team reflects on a collaborative and research-led project that explored how marketing and communications staff at the university are currently using generative AI, how they feel about its use, and how best to guide its responsible and effective adoption. From focus groups and surveys to thought-provoking conversations about accountability and transparency, the project has led to the development of a set of practical, people-centred guidelines.
You’ll hear insights into:
Why the project was anything but boring.
The importance of human oversight in AI-assisted content creation.
How students, staff, and stakeholders helped shape the final outputs.
Whether you're curious about how generative AI is reshaping digital content workflows or looking to create your own responsible use frameworks, this conversation offers a compelling behind-the-scenes look at what it means to use AI thoughtfully in a university context.
Please contact CIE@liverpool.ac.uk if you would like a full transcript.
In Episode 39, our discussion explored sustainability, critical perspectives, and the power of reflection in education. We examined climate action pedagogy and the role of student voice in creating meaningful, non-tokenistic sustainability resources. We also discussed the effectiveness of using a single artefact—like a Twix—to explain complex theoretical ideas and enhance engagement. Finally, we explored the use of digital exit tickets to foster reflective learning and bridge abstract theory with personal decision-making. Speakers: Paul Astles | Yigit Oezcelik | Samuel Saunders
07/04/25 | 35 Minutes
In Episode 38, our discussion explored lightbulb moments in education, from fostering student confidence through social constructivism to the power of pedagogies of care and kindness. We examined inclusive assessment, digital wellbeing, and the role of language in shaping learning experiences. Our guests shared insights on creating supportive environments where students and educators alike feel valued, capable, and inspired.
Speakers: Errol Jones-Rivera | Karine Yusuff | Kathy Chandler
10/02/25 | 38 Minutes
In Episode 37, our discussion covered enhancing small group discussions in online learning, using exploratory talk to foster collaboration, and leveraging visual arts to develop communication skills in medical education. We also explored the power of storytelling and case studies in engaging diverse learners and the educator’s role in moderating discourse and fostering dialogue. These approaches were connected to broader themes such as intellectual moderation, multimodal communication, and the holistic integration of knowledge, emotion, and interaction in education.
Speakers: Denise Sweeney | Frederick Yeung | James Cronin Date of recording 20/01/2025 | 44 Minutes
In Episode 36, in addition to lightbulb moments, treasure island pedagogies/props and luxury items, our discussion covered embedding micro-credentials to boost student CVs, leveraging low-latency tech for music education, and gamification strategies like trading simulations to enhance engagement. The discussion tied these innovations to broader themes such as sustainability and interdisciplinary potential.
Speakers: Dr. Madina Tash | Ben Redman
Date of recording 11/11/2024 | 54 Minutes
Facilitated by Tünde Varga-Atkins
@LivUniCIE
In this episode Professor Dave Webster talks to Marc Watkins, Assistant Director of Academic Innovation at the University of Mississippi. Marc Watkins is an award-winning educator and writer, with an interest in AI in Education. In this episode, Dave Webster asks him about why, despite all the threats and worry, he is still optimistic about Higher Education and GAI. You can find lots of Marc's writing here.
Speakers: Professor David Webster and Marc Watkins
8 October 2024
You can view the full Transcript here.
In Episode 35, in addition to lightbulb moments, treasure island pedagogies/props and luxury items, our discussion covered AI and academic literacies, role play, how to create a safe space for learning and co-constructing learning with our students – with a special pirate intro and outro from Tadgh!
Speakers: Charlotte Haberstroh | Gwen Moore | Tadhg Blommerde
Date of recording 7/10/2024 | 38 Minutes
Facilitated by Tünde Varga-Atkins
@LivUniCIE
In Episode 34, in addition to lightbulb moments, treasure island pedagogies/props and luxury items, our discussion from being scared to being confident, varying assessment methods, dialogue, the relativity of innovation, hackathons, authentic assessments, pets in education and neurodiverse-friendly approaches.
Speakers: Kimberly Davis, Stella Kazamia, Matthew Danes
In this episode of Learning to AI, Professor Webster talks to Dr Claire Ellison, from the University of Liverpool's Centre for Innovation in Education. Claire talks about the results of their survey into staff and student attitudes to Generative Artificial Intelligence, and the impact on her main area of expertise - assessment.
Hello – this is Tunde Varga-Atkins from Liverpool University’s Centre for Innovation in Education and our Treasure Island Pedagogies podcast. This is a very special episode, episode 33, where we return to the original guests whose conversation helped inspire today’s format of the series.
Speakers: Anna O’Connor, Diana Jeater and Stuart Wilks-Heeg
In Episode 32, we shared lightbulb moments, treasure island pedagogies/props and luxury items, which included threshold concepts, students-becoming-teachers, professional identity development, team teaching, getting out of comfort zones, collective learning and a sense of movement and using Tarot cards for reflection.
Speakers: Claire Stocks | Jennie Blake | Rhod Woodhouse |
8th May 2024 | 55 Minutes
Facilitated by Tünde Varga-Atkins
@LivUniCIE
You can view the full transcript here: Treasure Island Pedagogies Episode 32 - Podcast Transcript
How will the intersection of AI and education redefine the future of learning, and what steps must we take today to ensure that this future benefit everyone equally? And if you could sit down with Generative AI in an interview, what questions might you ask?
Tune into our latest episode of "Learning to AI" with Professor David Webster and ChatGPT, as we explore the transformative potential and challenges of integrating generative AI into academia. From personalising education to addressing ethical concerns and envisioning the university landscape of 2050, discover the role of AI in shaping a dynamic ecosystem of creativity, innovation, and lifelong learning. What future are we building, and is it one where technology serves the common good?
In Episode 31, we had a very special edition with four student guests who all shared their lightbulb moments, treasure island pedagogies/props and luxury items, which included career pathways, learning by way of teaching yourself, using generative AI, treasure hunts to connect theory with practice, physical objects, interactive polling and using discussion to aid learning. Tune in to hear more!
Speakers: Sherley Admane | Qi Qi Saw | Sophie Gresty | Yousaf Ditta
11th March 2024 | 44 Minutes
Facilitated by Tünde Varga-Atkins
@LivUniCIE
You can view the full transcript here: Treasure Island Pedagogies Episode 31 - Podcast Transcript
In this episode, Professor David Webster from the University of Liverpool talks to Professor Jon Dron of Athabasca University in Canada. They discuss the mood in Higher Education in relation to Generative Artificial Intelligence, and whether we should panic and how much. As both have a philosophy background there is some conversation about what might make us uniquely human, as well as well as what good things GAI might bring to learners. Jon discusses the decoupling of Learning and Assessment, and even gets in a plug for his (excellent) book: How Education Works: Teaching, Technology, and Technique.
We close with an optimistic eye to the future and discuss Jon's notion of seeing AI not as a 'tool', but as a 'partner' and what that might mean.
In Episode 29, in addition to lightbulb moments, treasure island pedagogies/props and luxury items, our discussion covers gamification for learning as well as the use of laser pointers, a self-created AGILE tool for reflection and the technique called Creative Enquiry Methodologies.
Speakers: Karen Clinkard | Louise Younie | Russell Crawford
15th January 2024 | 48 Minutes
(Re-uploaded due to technical issues)
Facilitated by Tünde Varga-Atkins
@LivUniCIE
You can view the full transcript here: Treasure Island Pedagogies Episode 29 - Podcast Transcript