Giles Martin
@gilesdrmartin.bsky.social
School of Education at Bath Spa, mathematical physicist (retired), life long learner, water baby! SFHEA, FSEDA, SEDA PDF Vice-Chair
Reposted by Giles Martin
Here we go: wonkhe.com/blogs/budget...
Budget 2025 for universities and students
Team Wonkhe unpacks an unusually consequential Budget for higher education, as a complex mix of fee rises, international student levies, and stealth costs for graduates reshape the sector’s financial ...
wonkhe.com
November 26, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Here we go: wonkhe.com/blogs/budget...
Whilst I'm not a fan of 'anything with X is written by AI' type claims - I like certain ways of writing and delving into details...
this is very interesting in terms of different stylistic elements in current LLMs re: wikipedia articles:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikiped...
this is very interesting in terms of different stylistic elements in current LLMs re: wikipedia articles:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikiped...
Wikipedia:Signs of AI writing - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
November 26, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Whilst I'm not a fan of 'anything with X is written by AI' type claims - I like certain ways of writing and delving into details...
this is very interesting in terms of different stylistic elements in current LLMs re: wikipedia articles:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikiped...
this is very interesting in terms of different stylistic elements in current LLMs re: wikipedia articles:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikiped...
Reposted by Giles Martin
Join us for this week’s #LTHEchat, which will explore ‘Meeting students where they are: Making independent study work for every learner’ with Nikita-Marie Bridgeman ( @nbridgeman.bsky.social ) on Wednesday, 8-9 pm GMT. Read the blog post at: shorturl.at/jzhWE
LTHEChat 345: Meeting Students Where They Are – Making Independent Study Work for Every Learner
Join us on Bluesky with guest Nikita-Marie Bridgeman (@nbridgeman.bsky.social) on Wednesday, 26th November 2025 at 20:00 GMT Independent study is a core element of academic courses and often forms …
shorturl.at
November 24, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Join us for this week’s #LTHEchat, which will explore ‘Meeting students where they are: Making independent study work for every learner’ with Nikita-Marie Bridgeman ( @nbridgeman.bsky.social ) on Wednesday, 8-9 pm GMT. Read the blog post at: shorturl.at/jzhWE
ChatGPT vs 'old fashioned' Googling
Though for me 'old fashioned' googling is from when google actually seemed to work ok, pre the massive decline in utility that we've seen. Now they're probably motivated to make it even worse...
This is the paper:
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
Though for me 'old fashioned' googling is from when google actually seemed to work ok, pre the massive decline in utility that we've seen. Now they're probably motivated to make it even worse...
This is the paper:
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
November 21, 2025 at 3:15 PM
ChatGPT vs 'old fashioned' Googling
Though for me 'old fashioned' googling is from when google actually seemed to work ok, pre the massive decline in utility that we've seen. Now they're probably motivated to make it even worse...
This is the paper:
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
Though for me 'old fashioned' googling is from when google actually seemed to work ok, pre the massive decline in utility that we've seen. Now they're probably motivated to make it even worse...
This is the paper:
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
Now on MS365 at work, gradually people use reactions for emails (maybe cuts down emails a bit).
Minor point, and maybe UK cultural (?) but most common intention is thanks - thumbs up here just seems a little... sarcastic? patronising? (fine for ok, great, agree).
Really need 'thanks'
Minor point, and maybe UK cultural (?) but most common intention is thanks - thumbs up here just seems a little... sarcastic? patronising? (fine for ok, great, agree).
Really need 'thanks'
November 20, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Now on MS365 at work, gradually people use reactions for emails (maybe cuts down emails a bit).
Minor point, and maybe UK cultural (?) but most common intention is thanks - thumbs up here just seems a little... sarcastic? patronising? (fine for ok, great, agree).
Really need 'thanks'
Minor point, and maybe UK cultural (?) but most common intention is thanks - thumbs up here just seems a little... sarcastic? patronising? (fine for ok, great, agree).
Really need 'thanks'
Our next reading group session at Bath Spa is on Entangled Pedagogy, next Tuesday lunchtime for an interesting chat on our approaches to technology and pedagogy.
November's discussion and reading is on moving away from tech first or pedagogy first approaches.
Fawns, T. (2022) ‘An Entangled Pedagogy: Looking Beyond the Pedagogy—Technology Dichotomy’, Postdigital Science and Education, 4(3), pp. 711–728. Available at: doi.org/10.1007/s424....
Fawns, T. (2022) ‘An Entangled Pedagogy: Looking Beyond the Pedagogy—Technology Dichotomy’, Postdigital Science and Education, 4(3), pp. 711–728. Available at: doi.org/10.1007/s424....
November 20, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Our next reading group session at Bath Spa is on Entangled Pedagogy, next Tuesday lunchtime for an interesting chat on our approaches to technology and pedagogy.
Reposted by Giles Martin
Join us on Bluesky for #LTHEchat with guests Mirjam Sophia Glessmer (@mirjamglessmer.bsky.social) and Robert Kordts (@robertkordts.bsky.social) on Wednesday, 12th November 2025 at 20:00 GMT to discuss How to teach for sustainability
lthechat.com/2025/11/07/l...
lthechat.com/2025/11/07/l...
LTHE Chat 343: How to teach for sustainability
Join us on Bluesky with guest Mirjam Glessmer (@mirjamglessmer.bsky.social) and Robert Kordts (@robertkordts.bsky.social) on Wednesday, 12th November 2025 at 20:00 GMT The title…
lthechat.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:19 AM
Join us on Bluesky for #LTHEchat with guests Mirjam Sophia Glessmer (@mirjamglessmer.bsky.social) and Robert Kordts (@robertkordts.bsky.social) on Wednesday, 12th November 2025 at 20:00 GMT to discuss How to teach for sustainability
lthechat.com/2025/11/07/l...
lthechat.com/2025/11/07/l...
Reposted by Giles Martin
Academics in Assyria in the 7th c BC complain that admin is preventing them from doing research and teaching
November 3, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Academics in Assyria in the 7th c BC complain that admin is preventing them from doing research and teaching
Reposted by Giles Martin
The Award for Digital Transformation, in partnership with Jisc is presented to Bath Spa University - Digital Transformation Strategy. The approach aligned to the Jisc framework. Executive leadership facilitated a strong and effective culture open to change and methodically operationalised. #ALTc25
October 23, 2025 at 7:37 PM
The Award for Digital Transformation, in partnership with Jisc is presented to Bath Spa University - Digital Transformation Strategy. The approach aligned to the Jisc framework. Executive leadership facilitated a strong and effective culture open to change and methodically operationalised. #ALTc25
Over the last few years has been a well discussed crisis around attendance and engagement at university.
Early anecdotal evidence I’m hearing across multiple departments is that for this year and these new first years, things are better…?
I’m curious whether people are seeing this elsewhere.
Early anecdotal evidence I’m hearing across multiple departments is that for this year and these new first years, things are better…?
I’m curious whether people are seeing this elsewhere.
October 30, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Over the last few years has been a well discussed crisis around attendance and engagement at university.
Early anecdotal evidence I’m hearing across multiple departments is that for this year and these new first years, things are better…?
I’m curious whether people are seeing this elsewhere.
Early anecdotal evidence I’m hearing across multiple departments is that for this year and these new first years, things are better…?
I’m curious whether people are seeing this elsewhere.
Friday's Bath Spa HE Reading Group is on AI as a 'wicked problem'.
Interested in any other alternative conceptualisations of the challenges or affordances of AI that are out there.
Look forward to seeing colleagues there!
Interested in any other alternative conceptualisations of the challenges or affordances of AI that are out there.
Look forward to seeing colleagues there!
October is a return to the ongoing discussions around AI, this time considering this as a 'wicked problem'.
Corbin, T. et al. (2025) ‘The wicked problem of AI and assessment’, Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, pp. 1–17. Available at: doi.org/10.1080/0260....
Corbin, T. et al. (2025) ‘The wicked problem of AI and assessment’, Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, pp. 1–17. Available at: doi.org/10.1080/0260....
October 28, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Friday's Bath Spa HE Reading Group is on AI as a 'wicked problem'.
Interested in any other alternative conceptualisations of the challenges or affordances of AI that are out there.
Look forward to seeing colleagues there!
Interested in any other alternative conceptualisations of the challenges or affordances of AI that are out there.
Look forward to seeing colleagues there!
New holiday out of office
"Your email has sadly not found me; I am however well"
"Your email has sadly not found me; I am however well"
October 24, 2025 at 11:30 AM
New holiday out of office
"Your email has sadly not found me; I am however well"
"Your email has sadly not found me; I am however well"
After being in Africa the last weeks, the U.K. was feeling very grey on my return this week, rain, wind, cloud, more cloud etc.
So extra points to these trees on campus making an effort with the Autumnal colours.
So extra points to these trees on campus making an effort with the Autumnal colours.
October 23, 2025 at 5:12 PM
After being in Africa the last weeks, the U.K. was feeling very grey on my return this week, rain, wind, cloud, more cloud etc.
So extra points to these trees on campus making an effort with the Autumnal colours.
So extra points to these trees on campus making an effort with the Autumnal colours.
Today begins the great teaching observation cycle (25/26), in which I learn all about an eclectic range of random subjects over the year.
Helpful for my father’s dinner party advice: learn enough about a subject to chat to an expert for long enough to change the subject.
Helpful for my father’s dinner party advice: learn enough about a subject to chat to an expert for long enough to change the subject.
October 22, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Today begins the great teaching observation cycle (25/26), in which I learn all about an eclectic range of random subjects over the year.
Helpful for my father’s dinner party advice: learn enough about a subject to chat to an expert for long enough to change the subject.
Helpful for my father’s dinner party advice: learn enough about a subject to chat to an expert for long enough to change the subject.
My pleasant surprise travelling is when unexpected places have eduroam.
Adding Cape Town and Johannesburg airports to the list.
Adding Cape Town and Johannesburg airports to the list.
October 22, 2025 at 3:44 PM
My pleasant surprise travelling is when unexpected places have eduroam.
Adding Cape Town and Johannesburg airports to the list.
Adding Cape Town and Johannesburg airports to the list.
Reposted by Giles Martin
The latest @seda-ed-dev.bsky.social Educational Developments Magazine Issue 26.3 September 2025 is out now and free to read. Please share with your networks.
www.seda.ac.uk/wp-content/u...
www.seda.ac.uk/wp-content/u...
www.seda.ac.uk
October 9, 2025 at 9:21 AM
The latest @seda-ed-dev.bsky.social Educational Developments Magazine Issue 26.3 September 2025 is out now and free to read. Please share with your networks.
www.seda.ac.uk/wp-content/u...
www.seda.ac.uk/wp-content/u...
This will hopefully be helpful for many colleagues
Mentimeter better LaTeX maths support:
help.mentimeter.com/en/articles/...
Mentimeter better LaTeX maths support:
help.mentimeter.com/en/articles/...
Math Support | Mentimeter Help Center
Learn how to insert math formulas into your presentation
help.mentimeter.com
October 21, 2025 at 8:12 AM
This will hopefully be helpful for many colleagues
Mentimeter better LaTeX maths support:
help.mentimeter.com/en/articles/...
Mentimeter better LaTeX maths support:
help.mentimeter.com/en/articles/...
The great return from break email sorting begins. Please tell me there is a paper out there analysing the best strategy to tackle for the several hundred emails?
Newest first? Oldest?
Filter out regular and storm through them first?
Go to team or students first?
Spend an hour on method not emails?
Newest first? Oldest?
Filter out regular and storm through them first?
Go to team or students first?
Spend an hour on method not emails?
October 21, 2025 at 7:33 AM
The great return from break email sorting begins. Please tell me there is a paper out there analysing the best strategy to tackle for the several hundred emails?
Newest first? Oldest?
Filter out regular and storm through them first?
Go to team or students first?
Spend an hour on method not emails?
Newest first? Oldest?
Filter out regular and storm through them first?
Go to team or students first?
Spend an hour on method not emails?
When presenting many people have trouble getting what they want on a screen. Two shortcuts, helpful to know for quick access:
Alt+Tab - switch between open windows e.g. Slides and browser/software. Good when teaching online on one screen.
Win+P - change room screen, mirror or a second display?
Alt+Tab - switch between open windows e.g. Slides and browser/software. Good when teaching online on one screen.
Win+P - change room screen, mirror or a second display?
October 2, 2025 at 12:19 PM
When presenting many people have trouble getting what they want on a screen. Two shortcuts, helpful to know for quick access:
Alt+Tab - switch between open windows e.g. Slides and browser/software. Good when teaching online on one screen.
Win+P - change room screen, mirror or a second display?
Alt+Tab - switch between open windows e.g. Slides and browser/software. Good when teaching online on one screen.
Win+P - change room screen, mirror or a second display?
PPT top 2 keyboard shortcuts for teaching:
(B) Blank screen, take the slides away from attention, shift focus. Sometimes the best slide is no slide. Online, also consider stop sharing when not in use.
(#+Enter) jumping to a slide, or the end can be handy and avoid click click click, oops too far.
(B) Blank screen, take the slides away from attention, shift focus. Sometimes the best slide is no slide. Online, also consider stop sharing when not in use.
(#+Enter) jumping to a slide, or the end can be handy and avoid click click click, oops too far.
October 2, 2025 at 12:15 PM
PPT top 2 keyboard shortcuts for teaching:
(B) Blank screen, take the slides away from attention, shift focus. Sometimes the best slide is no slide. Online, also consider stop sharing when not in use.
(#+Enter) jumping to a slide, or the end can be handy and avoid click click click, oops too far.
(B) Blank screen, take the slides away from attention, shift focus. Sometimes the best slide is no slide. Online, also consider stop sharing when not in use.
(#+Enter) jumping to a slide, or the end can be handy and avoid click click click, oops too far.
As it's the start of the year, I've been supporting various new lecturers and will be starting obs soon.
There are many knowledge gaps around quite useful keyboard shortcuts that can help with some presenting needs.
There are a lot of shortcuts, a power user thing normally, so I'll post a top few.
There are many knowledge gaps around quite useful keyboard shortcuts that can help with some presenting needs.
There are a lot of shortcuts, a power user thing normally, so I'll post a top few.
October 2, 2025 at 12:14 PM
As it's the start of the year, I've been supporting various new lecturers and will be starting obs soon.
There are many knowledge gaps around quite useful keyboard shortcuts that can help with some presenting needs.
There are a lot of shortcuts, a power user thing normally, so I'll post a top few.
There are many knowledge gaps around quite useful keyboard shortcuts that can help with some presenting needs.
There are a lot of shortcuts, a power user thing normally, so I'll post a top few.
In the social media space, one of the absolutely key aspects of Bluesky, aside from decentralisation, is user control over what you see.
In terms of development work I hope they lean into this more. Have inbuilt tools to help you (with no code/knowledge) build your own feeds on rules etc.
In terms of development work I hope they lean into this more. Have inbuilt tools to help you (with no code/knowledge) build your own feeds on rules etc.
October 2, 2025 at 11:56 AM
In the social media space, one of the absolutely key aspects of Bluesky, aside from decentralisation, is user control over what you see.
In terms of development work I hope they lean into this more. Have inbuilt tools to help you (with no code/knowledge) build your own feeds on rules etc.
In terms of development work I hope they lean into this more. Have inbuilt tools to help you (with no code/knowledge) build your own feeds on rules etc.
The bigger problem we've had for 20+ years is not fees, it's living costs. This was clear 20 years ago, worse (much worse) now and you have 2/3rds of students working so many hours for pay that it negatively impacts on their study (before you add the covid hangover effects on that age group).
“Martin, should I pay my daughter’s tuition fees so she doesn’t need a loan?”
My answer… having already explained that the 1st priority is the ‘parental contribution’ for living costs.
Watch the full The Martin Lewis Money Show Young Person’s Money special on ITV X
www.itv.com/watch/the-ma...
My answer… having already explained that the 1st priority is the ‘parental contribution’ for living costs.
Watch the full The Martin Lewis Money Show Young Person’s Money special on ITV X
www.itv.com/watch/the-ma...
October 1, 2025 at 4:05 PM
The bigger problem we've had for 20+ years is not fees, it's living costs. This was clear 20 years ago, worse (much worse) now and you have 2/3rds of students working so many hours for pay that it negatively impacts on their study (before you add the covid hangover effects on that age group).
Started today with a wider group for the morning and our module group this afternoon, looking at more structured and systemic development as a researcher.
Recently we've had more staff join as well as PhD students, often with intention to help a transition or simply make things count this year!
Recently we've had more staff join as well as PhD students, often with intention to help a transition or simply make things count this year!
Bath Spa PhD students and early career researchers: we’ll have the next cohort of our Researcher Development module this year
Starts with the open RDP workshop “Developing yourself as a researcher”
Get in touch to sign up. Combine with teaching modules for PGCert.
Starts with the open RDP workshop “Developing yourself as a researcher”
Get in touch to sign up. Combine with teaching modules for PGCert.
September 29, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Started today with a wider group for the morning and our module group this afternoon, looking at more structured and systemic development as a researcher.
Recently we've had more staff join as well as PhD students, often with intention to help a transition or simply make things count this year!
Recently we've had more staff join as well as PhD students, often with intention to help a transition or simply make things count this year!