Welcome to the CADI Connect newsletter
Your monthly update on all things learning, teaching and innovation at the University of Portsmouth
As the autumn semester gets underway, this month's CADI Connect is packed with opportunities to enhance your practice, support student success and stay connected with developments across learning and teaching at the University. Discover our new safeguarding video series, designed to help colleagues recognise, respond to and refer concerns with confidence and take advantage of Coffee & CPD sessions that combine practical professional development with a complimentary coffee voucher. We're also inviting staff to help shape the future of CPD through a new research study, sharing insights into how professional development supports teaching practice across the University.
Elsewhere in this edition, learn about the move of Academic Skills resources to the Library's new Academic Support section, explore the new Learning Design area of the website and read about how CADI is contributing to sector-wide conversations on AI in education. Finally, join us in welcoming the Academic Support Advisers to CADI as they begin supporting students in developing the skills, confidence and independence needed to thrive in their studies.
In this month's edition
- New Safeguarding video series for staff
- Coffee & CPD this autumn
- Book on a CPD session
- Help shape the future of CPD at the University of Portsmouth
- Academic Skills resources moving this September
- New website section Learning Design
- Taking the AI conversation beyond the University
- Welcoming the new Academic Support Advisers
- Keep up-to-date with CADI
Training and events
New Safeguarding video series for staff
CADI has launched a new series of five short safeguarding videos, developed in collaboration with Kevin Childs, Director of Student Services and Principal Safeguarding Officer for Students.
Designed for all colleagues who work with students, the videos explore what safeguarding looks like in everyday university life and how to respond confidently when concerns arise. Using realistic Higher Education scenarios, the series focuses on three key principles:
Recognise. Respond. Refer.
Take a few minutes to explore these practical resources and strengthen your understanding of safeguarding and the support available to students.
Coffee & CPD this autumn
Looking for a way to fit CPD into a busy semester? CADI's Coffee & CPD initiative is continuing throughout October and November.
Attend a selected Empowering Students to Engage and Act on Feedback or Designing Inclusive Approaches to Assessment session, complete a short feedback survey, and receive a £5 Hideout Coffee voucher as a thank you for taking part.
These practical sessions offer ideas to enhance assessment, feedback and student engagement, while providing an opportunity to connect and share experiences with colleagues.
Session dates and booking information can be found below and on the CPD and Support page.
A little boost for your professional development and a coffee on CADI.
Book on a CPD session
Discover our programme of CPD sessions designed to support and inspire staff across the University, covering topics including AI in education, assessment and feedback, learning design, student engagement and the Connected Curriculum.
As part of our ongoing review of CADI’s CPD provision, we’ve refreshed the names of some sessions to make their purpose and focus clearer — so you know exactly what to expect.
Explore the latest programme for new session names, workshops and dates. Our interactive sessions offer practical tools, fresh ideas and opportunities to connect with colleagues.
Our CPD sessions are open to internal University staff and can be booked via Docebo.
Please see the full list of sessions below ...
AI for Teaching and Learning
In this session you will explore how generative AI tools can be meaningfully integrated into teaching practice to enhance engagement, personalise learning and streamline tasks.
Next session(s): 6th Oct
AI, Assessment and Academic Integrity
In this session, you will explore how generative AI tools can be meaningfully integrated into assessment tasks to enhance student assessment literacy and alignment.
Next session(s): 7th Oct
NEW - Building Ethical and Critical AI Practice
As AI tools become increasingly embedded in higher education, the need to engage critically and ethically with their use has never been greater.
In this session, you will explore how to evaluate AI outputs, question their reliability, and understand the ethical principles that underpin responsible use in teaching, learning, and assessment. Drawing on current sector guidance and research, we will unpack issues of fairness, transparency, privacy, and academic integrity through collaborative activities.
Next session(s): 19th Oct
NEW - AI, Creativity and Multimodal Learning Design
As generative AI tools make it easier to create images, video, audio, and visual learning materials, academic staff are increasingly faced with questions about how to use these tools purposefully, inclusively, and responsibly.
In this session, you will explore how AI can support the design of multimodal teaching activities and resources that enhance student engagement, accessibility, and understanding. Through hands-on activities and examples from across higher education, you will consider how creative AI tools can be used to redesign learning tasks, support diverse learners, and offer students meaningful choices in how they engage with content and demonstrate learning.
Next session(s): 19th Oct
APEX Orientation
The starting point for both the written route and professional conversation is attendance at an APEX orientation event. Orientation events run every two months to provide an overview of the APEX programme and to guide colleagues to the appropriate pathway for Fellowship. They provide an introduction to the UKPSF and detail the written and professional conversation routes to Fellowship.
Next session(s): 5th Oct (online), 5th Nov, 8th Dec (online), 29th Mar (online), 6th May 2027
Evidencing your Professional Values for Fellowship
Are you considering applying for Fellowship or struggling to articulate your approach to Professional Values in your APEX claim? This interactive and collaborative workshop is designed to guide you through reflecting on your teaching identity and aligning it with the Professional Standards Framework 2023.
Next session(s): 8th Oct, 5th Nov, 7th Dec
Empowering Students to Engage and Act on Feedback
Tired of feeling like your carefully crafted feedback goes unnoticed or unused? Do students seem to treat feedback as a box to tick rather than a tool for growth? Join this collaborative and interactive workshop to explore how to write feedback that resonates with your students, inspires reflection and drives meaningful action.
Next session(s): 22nd Oct*
*Attend one of these sessions and provide feedback to recieve a £5 Hideout voucher
NEW - Creative Oral Assessments
The rapid growth of generative AI has pushed universities to rethink the foundations of assessment. As tools become more fluent, more persuasive, and more capable of producing polished written work, institutions are finding themselves returning to a key question: how can we assess what students really know, understand, and in a way that students reliance on AI.
Next session(s): 26th Nov, 18th Feb 2027
Mind the Gap - Supporting Change to Reduce Awarding Gaps
Do you want to ensure your students have an equitable opportunity to succeed? This practical workshop explores awarding gaps and what you can do in your day-to-day teaching to create a more inclusive learning environment.
Next session(s): 3rd December
Designing Inclusive Approaches to Assessment
How can we ensure that our assessments are fair, flexible, and feasible, both for our students and for us as educators? Join us for a hands-on, practical session on inclusive assessment, where we’ll explore how to design fair and supportive assessment experiences for all students.
Next session(s): 15th Oct*, 18th Nov*
*Attend one of these sessions and provide feedback to recieve a £5 Hideout voucher
NEW - Mentimeter: an interactive tool to enhance engagement and interactive participation
In this hands-on workshop, you’ll experience the functionality of Mentimeter from both sides of the screen: first as a student, then as a creator/presenter. You’ll explore a wide range of interactive features, such as live polls, word clouds, quizzes, Q&A, and slide design tools including the PowerPoint add-in, and see how its AI features, such as grouping text responses, can enhance your sessions. We’ll also look at how Vevox question types can be recreated in Mentimeter to support transition between the two systems.
Next session(s): 15th Oct
NEW - Padlet Essentials: Creating, Connecting and Collaborating
Join this session for an exploration of Padlet as a flexible digital tool for supporting collaboration, engagement, and active learning. You’ll find out about core and new features of Padlet, enabling you to manage your content and create Boards to suit a range of contexts. Throughout the session, we will consider how Padlet can be used purposefully to enhance learning design, with opportunities to reflect on its pedagogical strengths and limitations.
Next session(s): 5th Oct, 4th Nov, 4th Dec
Teaching Well, Consistently Well at Portsmouth
Are you new to Portsmouth or looking to refresh your approach to teaching and learning? Whether you’ve inherited a module, are navigating blended learning for the first time, or simply want a chance to review your learning and teaching strategy, this interactive and collaborative workshop is your starting point.
Next session(s): 1st Oct, 2nd Dec, 4th Feb, 10th June 2027
How to Teach Well in Challenging Learning Environments
Teaching in higher education can sometimes involve moments where engagement drops, expectations feel unclear, or the learning environment becomes harder to navigate. This workshop explores how these situations can be understood and responded to through a more relational and contextual lens.
Next session(s): 26th Oct, 7th Dec, 22nd Feb 2027
NEW - Free Speech in University Teaching
In this session, you will explore a practical decision-making framework for managing difficult issues of free speech and academic freedom in university teaching.
This interactive session focuses on how colleagues can make defensible, proportionate decisions when lawful free speech may be in tension with competing legitimate aims.
Next session(s): 11th Nov, 6th Jan 2027
NEW - Quality Assurance and Enhancement: What you need to know
This interactive session explores how quality is defined, assured and enhanced within Higher Education and why it matters for students, staff and institutions. Participants will consider how expectations of quality are shaped by student experience, professional practice, institutional processes and the wider UK regulatory landscape.
Next session(s): 15th Oct, 17th Nov, 2nd Feb, 16th Mar 2027
Help shape the future of CPD at the University of Portsmouth
How do staff engage with Continuing Professional Development (CPD), and what difference does it make to teaching practice? We're inviting all staff to take part in a research study exploring experiences, perceptions and the impact of CPD.
You can participate in a short online survey (under 15 minutes), a semi-structured interview, or both. Your insights will help build a better understanding of how CPD supports academic practice across the University.
Moodle
Academic Skills resources have now moved
Academic Skills resources have now moved from Moodle and Google Sites to the Library website, under the new Academic Support section.
The move improves accessibility, visibility and the student experience. The previous Moodle and Google Sites resources are no longer available.
Read the full article below to find out more about the changes and what they mean for staff.
New website features
New Learning Design section
A new Learning Design section is now available on the website, bringing together resources, guidance and practical examples to help you create engaging, inclusive and effective learning experiences.
Rooted in Active Blended Learning and aligned with Teach Well, Consistently Well, the section covers topics including learning outcomes, group work, Smart Capture, peer observation and designing activities for student engagement.
Whether you're refreshing a single activity or redesigning a whole module, explore the new Learning Design section for ideas and support.
CADI on tour
Taking the AI conversation beyond the University
We’ve been out and about sharing our work on AI in education with colleagues across the sector. From hands-on activities at Sparsholt University Centre to conversations with the Southern Universities Network, we’ve been exploring how AI is shaping learning, teaching, assessment and student support.
Welcome
Keep up-to-date with CADI
Latest news
For all the latest news from the CADI team please follow us on LinkedIn and here on the CADI website - CADI News.
Contact us
Do you have a question or need some support with your teaching?
If you do, then please contact the CADI team who will be happy to advise you.
- For technical queries relating to digital learning tools, please email: cadi-digital@port.ac.uk.
- For questions relating to teaching practice or for one-to-one support, please email: cadi@port.ac.uk.