The Lecturer's Toolkit: A Practical Guide to Assessment, Learning and Teaching

by Phil Race, Sally Brown

Overview

With a focus on practical, implementable strategies to enhance learning experiences, the extensively updated sixth edition of The Lecturer’s Toolkit is an essential guide for those new to teaching in Higher Education, as well as a companion to improve the practice of more experienced teachers.

Centred around the Race model of learning, which proposes a pragmatic exploration of how students learn, it offers research-informed practical tips and advice, with question prompts to cement knowledge, key tips to enhance best practice, and chapter outcomes to help shape learning. This edition has been fully updated to recognise changing approaches to higher education learning including online and distance learning and consideration of how of AI and Large Language Models are impacting on ways of teaching and assessing students. Covering all of the need-to-know information that is essential to thrive in tertiary teaching environments, this book includes information on:

• Understanding how students really learn, including online and hybrid learning
• Ways to increase student motivation and engagement
• Ways to design assessments that are both authentic and compassionate
• Pragmatic and positive ways of using feedback to enhance learning
• Practical advice on large and small group teaching
• Advice on looking after yourself in stressful working contexts
• Some thoughts on where higher education is moving next.

This accessible toolkit is based on decades of experience of higher education and is written with authority and clarity in a jargon-free style. An invaluable guide, it is a must-read for every higher education professional.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781032738345
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	04/16/2025
Edition description:	6th ed.
Pages:	318
Product dimensions:	7.44(w) x 9.69(h) x (d)

About the Author

Phil Race is Visiting Professor at Edge Hill University, UK.

Sally Brown is a UK-based independent higher education consultant. She is Emerita Professor of Higher Education Diversity in Teaching and Learning at Leeds Beckett University and Visiting Professor at Edge Hill University, UK.

Table of Contents

1. How Students Really Learn 2. Assessment in Higher Education: Principles and Philosophies 3. Assessment Practicalities 4. Feedback Dialogues 5. Large-Group Teaching 6. Making Small-Group Teaching Work 7. Looking after Yourself 8. Onwards and Upwards

Editorial Reviews

"The Lecturer’s Toolkit has long been an indispensable resource for educators in higher education, and this extensively updated sixth edition only enhances its value. Drawing on decades of experience, Phil Race and Sally Brown seamlessly integrate timely considerations, including the impact of AI, hybrid learning, and post-pandemic shifts in education. With its practical insights and actionable strategies, this edition continues to set the standard for supporting educators in creating meaningful learning experiences. Having collaborated with the authors for many years, I can confidently attest to their profound expertise and unwavering commitment to advancing teaching and learning. This is a must-have for anyone dedicated to improving teaching and learning practices in higher education."

Nick Curtis, Director of Assessment, University of Wisconsin–Madison, USA.

"In this 6th edition of The Lecturer’s Toolkit, Phil and Sally’s signature collaborative approach is further illustrated by joining their voices with those of colleagues from across the sector. This approach adds greatly to the breadth and depth of the work, and demonstrates the immense value of working with colleagues towards higher education teaching, learning and assessment enhancement. The blend of applicable advice and practical strategies, infused with a deep commitment to the broader purposes of a higher education, and complemented with up-to-date observations on current topics and trends, makes this 6th edition an excellent professional development read for those new to teaching in HE and more experienced colleagues alike."

Alison Farrell, Teaching Development Officer, Maynooth University, Ireland, and Chair, Educational Developers in Ireland Network (EDIN).

"An indispensable resource for all Higher Education teachers, The Lecturer’s Toolkit continues to evolve, inspiring excellence in learning and teaching. This Sixth Edition is a treasure trove of insights and practical guidance, equipping educators to navigate a rapidly changing educational landscape. Covering everything from Generative AI to learning outcomes, and from authenticity to inclusivity, it leaves no stone unturned in supporting effective teaching, learning, and assessment—whether in large classrooms or small student groups. The Lecturer's Toolkit empowers experienced practitioners, and those on PGCHE courses alike, with the confidence that meaningful, sustainable, and impactful innovations are within reach, for the benefit of both students and staff."

Fabio Arico, Professor in Higher Education and Economics, University of East Anglia, UK.

“A melting pot of ideas, resources, advice and guidance wrapped up in a single volume- This book will be invaluable to anyone teaching in Higher Education. The new edition of the Lecturer’s Toolkit not only supports lecturers with ideas for in class activities and assessments but also encompasses recent developments, such as advances in artificial intelligence, developments in how to embed inclusivity into practice and new requirements for fellowship applications. This really is the one-stop shop that both guides and supports all Higher Education practitioners.”

Wendy Garnham, Professor at The University of Sussex, UK.

"The sixth edition of The Lecturer’s Toolkit represents a way for academic teachers to overcome the solitude of teaching. It supports all of us in understanding the main theoretical aspects of learning and to find solutions to daily challenges we face in helping our students to learn. In this book, we don’t find only practical tips but also prompts for reflection to constantly improve our practice and transform our pedagogical approaches."

Anna Serbati, Associate Professor in Education and Director of Teaching and Learning Center, University of Trento, Italy.

From the Publisher