MA Digital Teaching and Learning Alumni Profiles

Yiting Shen

Year of graduation: 2024
Home country: China

Yiting chose to study at the University of Nottingham primarily for its strong academic reputation and the future opportunities it offered. The university’s consistent position within the QS World University Rankings (top 100) provided a competitive advantage for career development and PhD applications. Additionally, the university's presence in Ningbo and its recognition in China were important factors in her decision.

Yiting says "The MA Digital Teaching and Learning broadened my understanding of how technology could transform classroom practices and student engagement. It strengthened my research skills and gave me practical experience with digital pedagogies, particularly in gamification and immersive learning. During the course, I was still exploring both career options and the path toward further study, but knowing that I had a supportive supervisor who was willing to help me identify opportunities was very encouraging. If I choose to work, the course helped me discover which educational theories and digital tools resonated most with me, enabling me to integrate them effectively into my teaching. If I pursue doctoral study, the knowledge and skills I gained there will serve as a strong foundation for my research.

"The best part of the course was the collaborative environment: meeting a diverse cohort, engaging with supportive staff, sharing ideas, and conducting research together. Those interactions were invaluable for expanding my perspectives and practice".

Yiting enjoyed The Future of Digital Education module the most saying it opened her eyes to technology-driven possibilities in education and included immersive, hands-on activities, for example, using a Nintendo Switch to explore game-based learning. 

Commenting on support received whilst studying at the university, Yiting said "Before each module, lecturers clearly explained learning objectives and recommended readings. Support was readily available via email, Moodle, and face-to-face meetings. The school organised workshops and events that helped with academic writing and communication. I felt that staff were approachable and encouraging, they welcomed any questions and supported students generously. I also discussed my intention to pursue a PhD with my supervisor, who was very supportive, actively helped me identify potential projects, and offered to provide guidance for future academic development". Yiting believes this course provides an excellent opportunity to explore the intersection of education and technology and the staff are patient and dedicated, encouraging students to pursue their ideas and provide strong academic guidance.

In conclusion, Yiting offers the following advice for anyone considering this course: "If you are passionate about digital teaching and educational technology, this course is an excellent choice. However, be aware that in just one year, you may only scratch the surface of certain topics and you will need to take the initiative to explore them more deeply through independent study and research. Good time management is essential, as the workload can be intense. From the very beginning of the course, I would recommend actively engaging with your tutors: share your opinions, discuss your research interests, and seek feedback. While some modules were more theory-based, I found it important to balance that by creating my own opportunities for practical application, so I could truly connect theory with real-world teaching".

 Sylvia Olayinka-Olaniyi 

Year of graduation: 2023
Home country: Nigeria

Sylvia chose the University of Nottingham because the content of the MA Digital Teaching and Learning course was in line with her future career aspirations. The multicultural environment of the school was another reason for her choice - meeting students from different backgrounds  is good for international students.

Sylvia said "I absolutely love my course, I am proud to say that I have gained new skills and competencies for a variety of career pathways. There were lots of design practice exercises which has prepared me for an exciting future and career in learning design and I am confident and looking forward to taking on the opportunities out there". 

Learning Theories for a Digital Age was Sylvia's favourite module and she said the course opened up a new way of thinking and considerations when designing learning for impact. It helped to focus her attention more on the learner and not just on the subject. With that mindset, she is going into practice with the goal of designing learning programmes that will deliver improved learning experiences and help people become better versions of themselves. 

The best part of the course for Sylvia was the multicultural context of the class community saying "It was great making friends with people from different cultures and backgrounds who have become part of my life. I cherished the experience when I hosted friends from my study group to a cooking timeout. We cooked assorted Asian foods, listened to music from Sudan, Vietnam, China and Nigeria. We had so much fun and decided to learn how to make the food from each of the countries represented before the end of our course. These experiences will go with me into the future, now I can confidently travel to each of these countries knowing that I have friends from there". 

"The course provides an excellent opportunity to gain deep insight on the science of learning and innovations in the field of education. The seminar structure allows students to collaborate on tasks, share diverse perspectives and experiences and make friends".

If you are considering this course, Sylvia's advice is to go for it, you will gain the most from the course if you actively participate and engage with lectures and peers in class.

Louise Costigan

Year of graduation: 2024
Home country: UK

Louise had thought about studying for a masters for a while but couldn’t find a course related to education that interested her. After integrating more digital methods of teaching during Covid she could see this would become more important in educational pedagogy and the University of Nottingham was the only university in the local area that combined digital technology with education so it was a natural progression to study here.  As a mature student, Louise feels the course has given her confidence that she still have skills to offer in the workplace and that her practice is current and she believes it is good continue to challenge yourself.  

 "Digital teaching and learning is such a current topic that the information you learn will definitely be used in your career. It helps you consider new technology based on its effectiveness for learning not just because it’s a form of technology. Not all digital learning activities are effective and this course helps you to develop the critical thinking skills to identify those that are."

Louise said "I have enjoyed all of the units but perhaps the one I have enjoyed the most is The Future of Digital Education. This opened my eyes to all the amazing and exciting ways that new technology can be used to transform teaching and learning in the future. It was fun to then think about how this can be applied and adapted to our own teaching practice. I’ve loved researching new ideas on digital teaching and learning. I have also made some really great friends, we have supported each other on the course through sharing ideas and also helped to keep each other on track.

Talking about the support she received on the course, Louise said "All of the teaching material is on Moodle so fully accessible at any time which is so important when you are juggling a job and family. You also have access to a one-to-one tutorial per module to discuss your assignment which I found helpful to make sure I was on the right path".

Arwa Omer Gadelsied Abdelrahman

Year of graduation: 2023
Home country: Sudan

Arwa's ultimate goal is to improve and develop Sudan's educational system. Therefore she felt there was no better place than the University of Nottingham to take a masters degree saying "Since it is founded more than 200 years ago, the University of Nottingham has been a preeminent academic institution, with graduating scholars who are true enablers, revolutionising vocational education and training in developing nations, as well as others who have investigated efficient learning theories and methods".

 "This course prepared me for a job as a professional learning designer, which requires a set of specialised abilities that may be acquired through familiarity with learning theories, psychological principles, and the impact of technological tools on the learning process. These special combinations of knowledge will, of course, assist me in the future in ensuring that I am accomplishing my objective of enhancing societies using technological tools based on a strong intellectual background".

Arwa enjoyed the Learning Theories for a Digital Age module most because it gave her the base knowledge for the other modules and became the foundation of the course. She is grateful to the School of Education as they "put a great effort into the design of the MA and the modules and they thought critically about how to organise our experience and scaffold us during it in a professional manner".

Having compelted the course Arwa's dream would be to design solutions for a wide range of learning subjects and issues saying "I aspire to work in a place where clients say, “this is what we’re trying to teach, or help people learn. Give us your most creative idea.” I would love the opportunity to flex my creative muscles and use all I have learnt to make products and experiences that learners of all ages find interesting and effective. This could happen anywhere, a museum, a consultancy firm, or a company that produces these things".  

Unable to single out just one feature of hte course she enjoyed the most, Arwa picked seminars where it was possible to work in groups and think more deeply about the instructional strategies and materials that might be utilised in the future to advance educational systems. She also enjoyed nteractions with staff where students were able to freely express opinions which assisted in expanding their knowledge.

Arwa advises anyone interested in the subject of educational technology to enroll in this course saying " the first aspect to note is how well-organised and well-designed the course is, belnding psychology, computer sciences, and education into a single program. Additionally, all module convenors are highly experienced individuals with excellent teaching abilities and extensive experience in the field, ensuring that every student will have the opportunity to explore the profession first-hand and gain knowledge that will change their lives. I believe that this course encourages students to consider informal education as well as formal education. It also enables students to take advantage of the course based on their own interests and needs, which makes it very distinctive and useful for a variety of people with various objectives".

Concluding with advice for ne students starting the course, Arwa says "Establish positive relationships with other students and the faculty because doing so will make the experience memorable. To get the most out of the modules and make use of all knowledge and abilities in the future, try to actively participate in all course activities with optimism and passion".