This document summarizes Amber Thomas' reflections on transforming teaching and assessment at the University of Warwick during the COVID-19 pandemic. It discusses how the pandemic necessitated moving teaching online quickly at scale with huge coordinated efforts. This included new policies, increased online support services, and training for staff and students. It also addresses some misconceptions about educational technology and the role of learning design. It acknowledges alternative assessment methods that were used and reflects on how online engagement and pedagogy may continue evolving beyond the pandemic.

1. 16-18 June
Reflecting on
the pivot
Amber Thomas, head of academic technology and
digital transformation, University of Warwick

2. “The Online Pivot”
reflections on transforming teaching and assessment during the pandemic
Amber Thomas
Head of Academic Technology and Digital Transformation, University of Warwick
Jisc Connect More 18th June 2020

3. it’s not just online
it's off campus

4. it’s not a choice any more
it’s a necessity
MUST SHOULD COULD WON’T
MUST SHOULD COULD WON’T

5. scale, speed and support

6. huge coordinated effort
Summer 2020 Assessments Covid-19 Teach Online guidance
new policies and procedures,
safety net, graduate benchmark
Alternative Exams Portal
enquiry management team for
Teaching Learning & Assmt
Warwick Online Learning
Certificate
Increased capacity for Moodle,
QuestionMark Perception,
Microsoft Teams
Taskforces, Newsletters, Decision
Processes, Meetings, Forums
All IT and extended classroom
training run online
Online Pedagogy Module
Technology Enhanced Active
Learning Festival week online
Learning Design Consultancy Unit

7. educational technologists are misunderstood
straw men

8. learning design ≠ content development

9. home cooking

10. alternative assessment methods

11. online engagement

12. normal wasn’t so great anyway

13. acknowledgements
alternative assessment methods: Behind the scenes of my exams by Iona Webster
https://our.warwick.ac.uk/behind-the-scenes-of-my-exams/
educational technologists are misunderstood: Wurzel Gummidge image from Daily Mail
home cooking slide: image by Amber Thomas CC NC BY from my blogpost
https://fragmentsofamber.wordpress.com/2020/06/07/home-cooking-a-metaphor/
no turning back slide: various news images, plus quote image from https://www.activistpost.com/2020/06/problem-
reaction-solution-how-covid-19-leads-to-global-governance-complete-control.html
Thanks to the Academic Technology Team and many colleagues at the University of Warwick for being amazing