Welcome to the CADI Connect newsletter

Your monthly update on all things learning, teaching and innovation at the University of Portsmouth

In this edition, we’re sharing new opportunities to develop your practice, enhance student learning and stay ahead of emerging trends across the sector. Alongside our expanding AI workshop programme, we’re opening applications for the 2026 Collaborative Growth cohort and recruiting for the next Teach Well: Principles to Practice module starting in January. You’ll also find key updates on online exams, new CPD opportunities, professional development resources, and support for estranged students and care leavers — all part of our continued commitment to inclusive, high-quality teaching.

We’d also like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a relaxed Christmas break and to return feeling refreshed and energised for 2026.

Dive in to discover what’s new and how you can get involved.

Training and events

Book on a CPD session


Discover our programme of tailored CPD sessions designed to support and inspire staff across the University. Covering topics such as AI in education, assessment and feedback, closing awarding gaps, learning design, student engagement and the Connected Curriculum, our workshops focus on the themes that matter most to teaching and learning today.

These 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 a full list of sessions including dates below or download the latest CPD Catalogue (pdf)

Screengrab of CPD Catalogue - Dec Edition

AI in the Classroom: Foundations and First Steps

The pace in which AI is developing is faster than most could have projected and it’s easy to feel left behind. Focused on those new to AI, this interactive and collaborative session will explore what AI is and identify the AI tools that are available to you.  

Next session(s): 8th December, 8th January, 4th February, 16th February, 5th March, 17th March, 6th April, 12th May, 15th June


Harnessing AI: Enhance Teaching, Empower 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): 9th December, 7th January, 3rd February, 16th February, 4th March, 19th March, 6th April, 12th May, 16th June, 14th July, 5th August


AI and Assessment - Academic Integrity and Innovation

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): 9th December, 8th January, 3rd February, 17th February, 4th March, 17th March, 7th April, 13th May, 17th June, 15th July, 5th August


From Outputs to Insight: 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): 5th February, 10th March, 8th April, 14th May, 17th June, 17th July, 6th August

Feedback That Clicks: Empowering Students to Engage and Act

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): 3rd December, 30th January, 19th March, 30th April, 11th June


Revitalising Assessment and Feedback

If you’re looking to breathe new life into your assessment design and craft purposeful feedback while enhancing student engagement and success, this is the workshop for you.  Have you ever wondered if your students even read your feedback or if your assessments truly enhance the student experience and prepare them up for the world of work.

Next session(s): 12th December, 26th January, 18th March, 29th April, 8th June


Marking with Confidence: Using Categorical Marking and Assessment Criteria

Are you looking to enhance the transparency, consistency and fairness of your assessment processes? This interactive and practical workshop will equip you with strategies to apply categorical marking while linking to effective assessment criteria and rubrics. Whether you’re aiming to refine your marking practices, ensure alignment with the categorical scale, or better support student success, this session offers valuable insights and tools to elevate your approach.

Next session(s): 29th January, 9th March, 16th April, 3rd June

Mind the Gap! Guidance and Tips for Tackling Awarding Gaps with Confidence

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, 9th March, 2nd June, 3rd September, 3rd December


Access All Areas: Incorporating Inclusive Learning Design

Want to make your teaching more accessible and engaging for all students? Join our interactive CPD workshop where we’ll explore practical ways to create more equitable learning experiences that support the diverse needs of your learners. 

Next session(s): 28th January, 26th February, 25th March, 30th April, 4th June


Fair, Flexible and Feasible: 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): 8th December, 29th January, 5th March, 9th April, 7th May, 3rd June

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): 16th March, 23rd April, 21st May, 11th June

The Enterprise Programme

This interactive workshop will explore what we mean by ‘being enterprising’ and put this into action. The research and academic environment offers many opportunities for enterprising individuals. You might be contemplating how you can build a business from your research using your researcher capabilities or perhaps you have never contemplated this. Whatever stage you are at, this workshop will help you analyse and develop your enterprising capabilities through self reflection and practical activities.

Next session(s): 11th March

Let's be reasonable: anticipating and integrating reasonable adjustments

This session will explore the statutory requirements for University of Portsmouth staff regarding reasonable adjustments, the role of anticipatory duties, and practical strategies for supporting diverse student needs.

Next session(s): 5th December

Getting the Basics Right: 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): 12th December, 26th January, 13th March, 23rd April, 18th June


Engage to Learn: Design Context-Rich Activities for Active Blended Learning

Do you find it challenging to get students to engage in the classroom or participate in asynchronous activities? Are your teaching strategies feeling a bit stale, or are you unsure how to design learning experiences that truly resonate? This interactive and collaborative workshop is your chance to refresh your approach and create context-rich, sense-making activities that inspire engagement, foster belonging and enhance student understanding.

Next session(s): 10th December, 30th January, 20th March, 4th April


Discover your Teaching Identity: Professional Values & Personal Pedagogies

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): 5th December, 5th February, 12th March, 13th April, 14th May, 8th June, 7th July

Behaviour Management to Relational Practice: Building Inclusive Learning Cultures in HE

This interactive workshop frames behaviour in higher education as linked to belonging, motivation and relational approaches to teaching. It builds on themes introduced at the Learning and Teaching Conference 2025 and invites colleagues to consider how assumptions, learning design and institutional culture influence student engagement.

Next session(s): 11th February, 18th February, 11th May

L&T Conference: save the date and call for papers


We would like to invite colleagues to save the date for our annual Learning and Teaching Conference which will take place on Thursday 25th June 2026.

 

We’re also delighted to announce that the call for submissions is now open. This year’s theme — “Teach Well, Consistently Well” — invites colleagues to share innovative, inclusive and student-focused approaches to learning and teaching. All staff and collaborative partners are encouraged to submit, with co-created contributions with students particularly welcome.

 

Deadline for submissions: 5.00pm, Tuesday 31st March 2026.

 

Read the full article for call for submissions and details on how to submit your proposal.

Read article
Image of two people talking

Enhance your learning and teaching with ALDinHE


CADI provides free institutional membership to the Association for Learning Development in Higher Education (ALDinHE) — offering resources, events, research insights and professional development opportunities for anyone involved in learning development.

 

Colleagues can register for free and join a supportive, practice-sharing community.

Read article
Image of 3 academics networking

AI

AI workshops


Since March 2025, CADI has delivered 50+ AI workshops, supporting nearly 800 colleagues to build confidence, enhance teaching, and develop AI-resilient assessment. Our programme continues to grow, with new sessions launching in early 2026.

 

Read the full article to explore the impact and what’s coming next.

Read article

The team delivering this training are exceptional. Fantastic and engaging sessions. These AI training sessions have been absolutely brilliant and very useful for my practice. Thanks to all involved.

Teach Well

Teach Well - new recruiting for January 2026


Teach Well: Principles to Practice is a free, 30-credit Level 7 module for UoP staff that builds confidence in learning design, teaching practice and assessment through a practical, collaborative approach.

 

It’s ideal for early-career academics and anyone supporting student learning, with a new cohort starting January 2026.

Learn more about Teach Well
Image of academic presenting to class

Working collaboratively

Collaborative Growth


Refresh your teaching in 2026 with Collaborative Growth

 

Collaborative Growth is a structured, supportive partnership where you work with a colleague and a CADI learning designer to enhance a specific area of your practice. Together you will develop targeted, innovative approaches to your teaching, assessment or digital practice. Through a collaborative approach to co-design and reflection, you will explore new ideas in a safe, confidential space and trial small, meaningful improvements to your practice.

 

It’s flexible, peer-led and requires only up to five hours across the academic year. By the end, you’ll have developed new approaches, assessed their impact impact and enhanced a key aspect of your teaching. Collaborative Growth is a great way to gain evidence for a Fellowship claim and to demonstrate alignment with PSF dimensions.

 

Find out more and sign up for the January 2026 cohort.

Learn more about Collaborative Growth
Screengrab of Flyer for Collaborative Growth

Observe Well – new peer observation guidance available


Observe Well provides a clear, supportive framework to help colleagues engage in developmental peer observation. The guide promotes open, reflective dialogue about teaching, encourages the sharing of effective practice and helps build confidence and evidence for professional recognition. Rooted in trust and collaboration, it supports staff, whether observers or observees, to enhance their teaching in an inclusive and purposeful way.

 

You can view 'Observe Well - Policy and Guidance for the Peer Observation of Learning and Teaching' and download a copy below.

View and download Observe Well (pdf)
Screengrab of Observe Well - Peer Observation

Moodle

Recommendation to use 'Moodle Quiz' for online exams from 2025


CADI and Faculty Heads now recommend using Moodle Quiz for all online exams, following recent system upgrades and improved security features.

 

Read the full update on the CADI website for details.

Read article
Image of woman sat looking at a laptop

New website features

Estranged Students and Care Leavers


We’ve launched a new section highlighting the support available for estranged students and care leavers - groups who often face unique challenges around finances, housing, wellbeing and academic balance. At the University of Portsmouth, we’re committed to ensuring every student has the opportunity to thrive.

Learn more about Estranged Students and Care Leavers
Image of student sat on bed listening to music

Learning and Teaching Across the University

Help improve inclusive assessment practices


We’re seeking University of Portsmouth academic and professional services staff for a study on how reasonable adjustments for disabled students are understood and applied in assessments. Participation involves a one-hour interview (in person or online).

 

If you are interested please contact Dr Charles Barker: Charles.barker@port.ac.uk. You can find out more about the Assessment reasonable adjustments research project below.

 

Find out more
Image of student in wheelchair talking to academic

Celebrations

Big congratulations to ...


Chris Wood on obtaining his Senior Fellow (SFHEA) through AdvanceHE.

People celebrating in an office

Keep up-to-date with CADI

Image of academic on laptop

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.