Plymouth University

Faculty Member, Learning Development

Head of Learning Development

About

John Hilsdon

I am Associate Professor and Head of Learning Development at Plymouth University, leading both the Learning Development and Disability Assist teams.  I am also a National Teaching Fellow. My work has contributed to Learning Development as a distinct field of practice in Higher Education. I helped set up the UK network of learning developers in 2002, and was the first Chair of the Association for Learning Development in Higher Education (see www.aldinhe.ac.uk). I am also co-editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education (www.aldinhe.ac.uk/ojs).
My main interest is in how students can participate actively to make sense of, and good use of their learning experiences at university. As a learning developer, I see this as happening most effectively when students gain confidence in and ownership of the language and practices of academic life in general, and of their subject disciplines in particular. As one of the Learning Area Coordinators for the Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, ‘LearnHigher’, I developed learning materials for academic writing (the ‘WrAssE’ project), and on the themes of critical thinking and reflection. I am co-editor of 'Learning Development in Higher Education' (Palgrave Macmillan). In the last four years I have been delivered presentations and led research seminars at the University of Lancaster; University of Oxford; Chiba University, Japan; the University of the West of England; Bournemouth University, Brighton University and De Montfort University. I am currently working towards a doctorate in education.

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