Association for Learning Development in Higher Education
6th LDHEN Symposium:
Bournemouth University
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The 2009 LDHEN Symposium
Post-conference resource now published!
Click here to view
presentations and papers from the symposium workshops
The 6th annual symposium of the Learning Development in Higher Education Network (LDHEN) was held on Monday 6th and Tuesday 7th April 2009 at Bournemouth University. This year's symposium theme offered an opportunity to engage with a range of debates about the nature and purposes of learning development.
Keynote Speakers
Dr Dennis Hayes: From flagellation to therapy: what are students learning today?
A chronological survey of approaches to study skills shows an important shift from ‘studying’ to ‘learning’. In a few generations ‘study’ has completely changed in meaning. It has ceased to be about mental and physical discipline, the application of scientific understanding of study or even preparation for employment. The process of ‘study’ and supporting student ‘study’ is now an inward looking exercise encouraging young people to learn about themselves. Presented as enabling and empowering this support is in essence about offering therapeutic activities to learners who are seen as vulnerable and diminished. But the philosophy of the diminished self behind contemporary initiatives is never clearly articulated and, until it is, young people will continue to be denied what Oakeshott called the ‘conversation between the generations’. View full details
Professor Alan Mortiboys: Using Emotional Intelligence in Learning Development- what does it mean for the tutor to use emotional intelligence in learning development, and why is it important?
Alan Mortiboys, author of Teaching with Emotional Intelligence spoke on the second day to give his perspective on the challenges of our work.
Parallel Sessions
Sessions were organised around the following strands
- Working directly with students
- Working with discipline-based academics
- Working with ‘support’ services
- Uses of learning technologies
- Policy, strategy and institutional structures
Click here to view full details of parallel sessions
A post-conference resource including presentations and workshop materials is currently being compiled.