This document discusses how universities can use technology and social media to demonstrate teaching excellence aligned with the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) criteria. The TEF measures teaching quality, learning environment, and student outcomes across three criteria: student engagement, valuing teaching, and feedback for teaching quality; resources, scholarship/professional practice, and personalized learning for learning environment; and employment/further study, employability/skills, and outcomes for all for student outcomes. The document provides examples of how technologies like social media, devices for student feedback, and digital resources can help universities meet each of the TEF criteria.

1. How technology and social media can help universities
demonstrate Teaching Excellence aligned to the TEF Criteria
Sue Beckingham NTF | @suebecks | Sheffield Hallam University
Visiting Fellow at Edge Hill University
Keynote at the 2018 Learning and Teaching Day #EHULT2018

3. Purpose of the TEF
The Government has introduced the TEF as a way of:
• Better informing students’ choices about what and
where to study
• Raising esteem for teaching
• Recognising and rewarding excellent teaching
• Better meeting the needs of employers, business,
industry and the professions
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/teaching-excellence-and-student-outcomes-framework-specification

4. What does the TEF measure?
The Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) measures teaching
excellence in three key areas:
1. Teaching quality: the extent to which teaching stimulates
and challenges students, and maximises their engagement
with their studies.
2. Learning environment: the effectiveness of resources and
activities (such as libraries, laboratories and work
experience) which support learning and improve retention,
progression and attainment.
3. Student outcomes and learning gain: the extent to which
all students achieve their educational and professional
goals, in particular students from disadvantaged
backgrounds.

5. TEF outcomes

6. TEF information
How can prospective
students [and parents]
use TEF?

7. Office for Students
https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/teaching/what-is-the-tef/

8. Office for Students
https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/teaching/what-is-the-tef/

9. UCAS website
How students should use the TEF
"TEF is intended to help students choose where to study,
by providing clear information about teaching quality,
learning environment, and student outcomes in terms of
graduate level jobs or study."
https://www.ucas.com/advisers/guides-resources-and-training/guides-and-resources/guide-teaching-excellence-framework-tef

10. UCAS website
https://www.ucas.com/advisers/guides-resources-and-training/guides-and-resources/guide-teaching-excellence-framework-tef

11. Find out more takes you to...
https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/teaching/tef-outcomes/#/

12. Unistats website
Unistats is an independent website offering
a range of useful info and statistics on
university courses.
https://unistats.ac.uk/Institutions/

13. Unistats website
https://unistats.ac.uk/find-out-more/teaching-excellence-framework-(tef)/

14. Unistats website
https://unistats.ac.uk/Institutions/Details/10007823

15. TEF Criteria
The TEF rating is made against
three criteria:
1. Teaching Quality
2. Learning Environment
3. Student Outcomes and Learning
Gain.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/teaching-excellence-and-student-outcomes-
framework-specification

16. Metrics
6 Core metrics: 3 NSS, 1 non-continuation and 2 DLHE
National Student Survey (NSS) metrics
• The teaching on course (TEACH),
• Assessment and feedback (ASSESS)
• Academic support (ACAD)
Non-continuation (NCON) metric
• Retention using Higher Education Statistics Authority (HESA) UK
Performance Indicators and the Individual Learner Record (ILR).
Destination of Leavers from Higher Education DHLE metrics
• Proportion in employment or in further study (EMP)
• Proportion in highly skilled employment or in further study (HSEMP)
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/651162/TEF-
analysis_of_metrics_flags.pdf

17. Metrics

18. TEF Assessment Criteria
Teaching
Quality
TQ1
Student Engagement
TQ2
Valuing Teaching
TQ3
Rigour and Stretch
TQ4
Feedback
Learning
Environment
LE1
Resources
LE2
Scholarship and
Professional Practice
LE3
Personalised
Learning
Student
Outcomes and
Learning Gain
SO1
Employment and
Further Study
SO2
Employability and
Transferable Skills
SO3
Positive Outcomes
for All

19. TEF Assessment Criteria
Teaching Quality
TQ1
Student Engagement
TQ2
Valuing Teaching
TQ3
Rigour and Stretch
TQ4
Feedback
Core Metrics
NSS: Teaching on my course
- Staff are good at explaining things
- Staff have made the subject interesting
- The course is intellectually stimulating
- My course has challenged me to achieve
my best work
NSS: Assessment and feedback
- The criteria used in marking have been
clear in advance
- Marking and assessment have been fair
- Feedback on my work has been timely
- I have received helpful comments on my
work
https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/media/40aad51c-1c20-4ae0-affb-5a2bfac8eb98/tef-year-three-full-metrics-descriptions.pdf

20. TEF Assessment Criteria
Learning Environment
LE1
Resources
LE2
Scholarship and
Professional Practice
LE3
Personalised Learning
Core Metrics
NSS: Academic Support
- I have been able to contact staff when I
need to
- I have received sufficient advice and
guidance in relation to my course
- Good advice was available when I
needed to make study choices
Continuation (HESA)
This metric tracks students from the year
they enter a HE provider to the two
following years.
https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/media/40aad51c-1c20-4ae0-affb-5a2bfac8eb98/tef-year-three-full-metrics-descriptions.pdf

21. TEF Assessment Criteria
Student Outcomes and
Learning Gain
SO1
Employment and Further
Study
SO2
Employability and
Transferable Skills
SO3
Positive Outcomes for
All
Core Metrics
Graduate Outcomes Survey - HESA
Employment or further study (DLHE)
Highly skilled employment or further study
(DLHE)
Supplementary Metrics
Sustained employment or further study
(LEO)
Above median earnings threshold or further
study (LEO)(LEO)
https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/media/40aad51c-1c20-4ae0-affb-5a2bfac8eb98/tef-year-three-full-metrics-descriptions.pdf

22. How technology and social
media can help universities
demonstrate Teaching
Excellence aligned to the TEF
Criteria

23. TQ1 Student Engagement
Criterion: Teaching provides effective stimulation, challenge and
contact time that encourages students to engage and actively commit
to their studies
Teaching Quality

24. TQ2 Valuing Teaching
Criterion: Institutional culture facilitates, recognises and rewards
excellent teaching
Teaching Quality

25. TQ3 Rigour and Stretch
Criterion: Course design, development, standards and assessments
are effective in stretching students to develop independence,
knowledge, understanding and skills that reflect their full potential
Teaching Quality
https://project-based-learning-toolkit.com/

26. TQ4 Feedback
Criterion: Assessment and feedback are used effectively in supporting
students' progression and attainment
Teaching Quality
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/teaching-learning/case-studies/2018/apr/how-we-raised-
our-nss-feedback-and-assessment-scores-26-three-years
Students
record on a
device of
their own
choice

27. LE1 Resources
Criterion: Physical and digital resources are used effectively in
supporting students' development, progression and attainment
Learning Environment

28. LE2 Scholarship, Research and
Professional Practice
Criterion: The learning environment is enriched by student exposure to
and involvement in provision as the forefront of scholarship, research
and/or professional practice
Learning Environment

29. LE3 Personalised Learning
Criterion: Students' academic experiences are tailored to the
individual, maximising rates on retention, attainment and progression
Learning Environment

30. SO1 Employment and Further Study
Criterion: Students achieve their education and professional goals, in
particular progression to further study or highly skilled employment
Student Outcomes and Learning Gain

31. SO2 Employability and Transferable
Skills
Criterion: Students acquire knowledge, skills & attributes that are
valued by employers & that enhance their personal & professional lives
Student Outcomes and Learning Gain

32. SO3 Positive Outcomes for All
Criterion: Positive outcomes are achieved by its students from all
backgrounds, in particular those from disadvantaged backgrounds or
those who are at greater risk of not achieving positive outcomes
Student Outcomes and Learning Gain

33. Sue Beckingham | @suebecks
National Teaching Fellow and Principal Lecturer at Sheffield Hallam
University with a research interest in the use of social media in education.
Blog: http://socialmediaforlearning.com/
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/suebeckingham
Image credit: Where not notes images used in this presentation are CC0 Creative Commons free for use https://pixabay.com/