An e-portfolio is a digital collection of evidence and artefacts that represents the knowledge, skills, and accomplishments of an individual or group. There are different types of e-portfolios but in SMLC we use the ‘assessment portfolio’, where our students can reflect about their learning, achievements and challenges in their own time. Thus, it can be very beneficial in the promotion of metacognition. It can also include more specific tasks or group work projects. Another advantage of using these online platforms is that students can be creative and include audio-visual materials.

Support for staff members across the university can come in many forms – such as line management, team meetings, support and advice from Human Resources, Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), etc. However the support from colleagues is vitally important and can be extremely beneficial when either starting a new job/ role, during challenging times or in general. Subsequently the introduction of buddying systems can be beneficial in the development of staff members, the management of work, creating a support network and improving general wellbeing. Shadowing opportunities can also be beneficial and built into the buddying system and into inductions for new members of staff.

This approach is for use in anticipation of a short to medium term project in which students are to work together in a team. It affords the team the opportunity to identify and agree to a set of ground rules in the form of a social contract which they will all respect in order to facilitate optimal teamworking and consideration of one another’s wellbeing.

Acknowledging emails is a very simple wellbeing practice to put in place. It takes very little time to send a quick response acknowledging receipt of an e-mail. Within a learning and teaching context, it helps to set boundaries and expectations. The acknowledgement of an e-mail reassures the recipient that you have received their communication, but also gives you a little more time to respond, helping you to manage your own workload.

A module design tool and accompanying video that aims to help plan workload expectations and assignment deadlines around the assortment of the expected student work hours.

In order to improve student inclusion in teamwork, student experience and learning from the outcomes associated with group work, and student access to help and support, team formation methods should be considered. This pedagogy advises the use of personality profiling, and consideration of student’s ‘minority status’ to form well-balanced teams.

Methods to improve answering student questions over email.