10 Tips to be a learner’s leader
By Shan Wikoon, Senior Lecturer in Business and Module Leader, LSST Elephant & Castle
Listen to the Podcast version of this blog (by NotebookLM)
When I joined LSST in 2019, I carried with me conventional notions of higher education. However, the diverse learning needs of our students – mature learners juggling work and family, international students navigating language barriers, and individuals with varying academic backgrounds – quickly taught me that one size definitely does not fit all. This realisation sparked a transformation journey that led me to reimagine education through ten key innovations that I’m excited to share with fellow educators.
.Just as we wouldn’t use a horse-drawn carriage on today’s motorways, we cannot rely solely on yesterday’s teaching methods to prepare students for tomorrow’s challenges. Here’s how I’ve tried to evolve from a traditional lecturer into a learner’s leader, always putting our students’ success at the heart of every innovation.
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1. The Spiral Curriculum Revolution
When I took on the role of module leader for two foundation year modules – “Preparing Success Knowledge and Creativity” and “Inquiry Based Learning” – I recognised that our Business and Health degree students may need more than just content delivery. They need a learning experience that would build their confidence progressively.
This is where Jerome Bruner’s spiral curriculum became my guiding principle. Rather than presenting topics once and moving on, I redesigned our module materials to revisit key concepts with increasing complexity throughout the student’s educational journey. Think of it like learning to drive – you don’t start on the motorway; you begin in an empty car park, progress to quiet streets, then gradually build up to complex traffic situations.
How the spiral curriculum works in practice:
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- Students encounter topics, themes, or subjects multiple times
- Each revisit introduces greater complexity and deeper analysis
- New learning connects seamlessly to previous understanding
- Students consolidate knowledge while building critical thinking skills
Spiral Curriculum Visualisation
The results have been remarkable. Students who previously struggled with academic writing and IT skills now approach these challenges with confidence, knowing they’ll have multiple opportunities to master these essential competencies.
.2. Templates and Visual Learning
Have you ever tried to assemble furniture without clear instructions? That’s exactly how many students feel when facing assessment requirements. The integration of templates and visual breakdowns into our assessment guidance has revolutionised clarity and accessibility for our learners.
Templates provide that consistent structure students crave, reducing cognitive load and facilitating knowledge transfer. When students can see exactly what’s expected – through visual frameworks rather than lengthy text descriptions – their anxiety decreases and their performance improves significantly.
.Assessment Template Example
This approach particularly benefits our diverse student population, including those with learning difficulties and international students who may struggle with traditional text-heavy instructions. Visual content captures attention, enhances engagement, and leads to improved retention of complex concepts.
.3. Gamification That Actually Works: The Harvard Referencing Success Story – Learning should be engaging, not intimidating.
When I first created interactive quizzes using Microsoft Forms to help foundation students master Harvard referencing, I had no idea they would become such a phenomenon at LSST.
The numbers speak for themselves:
Data of LSST QUIZ 1- In-text citation training (From Sep 2021 to Feb 2025)
This quiz has been in action since 2021. The above data (as of 18-02-2025) reflects LSST students’ performance on an in-text citation quiz. Overall, there were 4,527 submissions from 2,738 unique students, with an average score of 67.77 (out of 100), a median score of 70, and a standard deviation of 28.37, indicating a moderate spread in overall performance.
We found that students played the same quizzes multiple times to master the referencing skills.
Quiz Engagement durations – Data Visualisation
What makes these quizzes special is that they function as both assessment tools and short lessons (see below). Students receive content before answering questions, creating a safe learning environment where they can fail, learn, and improve without penalty.
The timing data reveals another fascinating insight: while most activity occurs during class hours (10 AM to 5 PM with 3,730 attempts), 149 attempts were made during out-of-class hours (9 PM to 9:50 AM). This demonstrates how providing flexible, gamified learning tools enables mature students to engage with material on their own schedules – a crucial factor for learners balancing multiple responsibilities.
.Quiz Usage by Time Period
How to Use the MS Forms App for Creating an Effective Quiz?
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4. Beyond Slides: Creating Comprehensive Self-Learning Resources
Traditional lecture slides often leave students with more questions than answers. By transforming my presentation slides into comprehensive self-learning tools through expanded speaker notes, I’ve created resources that work both during live sessions and for independent study.
This approach involves enriching the speaker notes section with detailed explanations, illustrative examples, and deeper insights into complex topics. Students can access the same rich content that I share verbally during lectures, ensuring that those who learn better through reading, or who need to revisit concepts multiple times, have equal access to knowledge.
Enhanced Slide Example
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5. Fighting Information Overload: The Summary Page Solution
In our digital age, students often feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of available resources. My solution? A concise, one-page compilation of essential learning materials that serves as a navigation compass through their academic journey.
This streamlined approach helps students efficiently locate key information without getting lost in endless document searches. By consolidating crucial resources into a well-designed document, we reduce cognitive load and allow students to focus on learning rather than hunting for materials.
Resource Guide
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6. Technology for Inclusion: Microsoft Learning Tools Revolution
Every student deserves equal access to learning, regardless of their linguistic background or learning differences.
Integrating Microsoft Learning Tools such as Immersive Reader, Translator, and Dictation has significantly enhanced learning experiences for our most vulnerable student populations.
For students whose first language isn’t English, these tools provide real-time translation and text-to-speech functionality. For those with learning difficulties, features like adjustable text size, background colour modifications, and voice-to-text conversion remove barriers that might otherwise prevent academic success.
The impact is transformative:
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- Immersive Reader reduces visual stress and supports focus
- Translator enables multilingual classroom participation
- Dictation assists students who struggle with traditional writing methods
These tools foster an inclusive learning environment where diverse linguistic and learning needs are not just accommodated but celebrated.
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7. AI as a team member: Building Confidence Responsibly
The integration of AI writing tools represents one of the most exciting yet challenging developments in higher education. Rather than banning these technologies, I’ve chosen to embrace them as confidence-building tools when used responsibly and transparently.
My approach emphasises ethical usage:
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- Clear guidelines requiring disclosure of AI assistance
- Emphasis on AI as a refinement tool, not a replacement for original thought
- Critical engagement with AI outputs rather than passive acceptance
- Focus on building writing skills rather than avoiding the writing process
For more insights on AI in education, read my previous articles:
Guiding the students in new capabilities of AI
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Generative AI is evolving fast – and it’s not just about writing anymore. Today’s tools can search the web in real time, breaking free from outdated data to offer fresh, accurate insights (think Perplexity AI or Bing Copilot). They can reason through problems, analysing patterns and suggesting thoughtful, step-by-step solutions – just ask ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini. And they can research with depth, using platforms like Consensus or Elicit to sift through evidence and summarise key findings. Some even remember what you upload – tools like NotebookLM can explore your own documents, connect ideas, and turn scattered notes into organised knowledge.
This Claude AI Interface (June 2025) showcases powerful research capabilities, including real-time web search, Drive integration, and extended thinking – all designed to support deeper, smarter inquiry.
I’ve also created a ChatGPT agent specifically designed to support critical writing skills development, providing students with a personalised tutor available 24/7.
Custom ChatGPT Agent Interface
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8. Learning Through Play: Educational Games and Simulations
Business education shouldn’t happen in isolation from real-world decision-making.
Incorporating educational games and simulations into our business management curriculum has transformed abstract concepts into tangible, experiential learning opportunities.
These interactive tools allow students to apply theoretical frameworks in realistic scenarios, improving knowledge acquisition, cognitive skills, and decision-making abilities. Business simulation games foster critical thinking and strategic planning – essential competencies in today’s dynamic business environment.
Business Simulation Game Interface
https://shanwikoon.github.io/InventoryM/
Leadership Dynamics Game
https://shanwikoon.github.io/Leadership-Impact-Game/
The beauty of simulations lies in their ability to create a safe environment for experimentation. Students can make bold decisions, witness consequences, and learn from failures without real-world risks – deepening their understanding of complex business dynamics.
Try some of my other games here.
https://shanwikoon.github.io/OrganizationalBehaviorGAME/
https://shanwikoon.github.io/BusinessTycoonGame/
Do I know how to code? Not at all. And guess what – you don’t need to either. Just ask any generative AI tool like ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini, and they’ll do the coding for you. It’s like having a digital assistant who speaks fluent tech – so you can focus on the ideas, not the syntax.
9. Feedback That Transforms: Good vs Bad Examples
Effective formative feedback is the bridge between current performance and future potential. Rather than simply pointing out what’s wrong, I’ve developed an approach that shows students exactly what excellence looks like through comparative examples.
By providing extensive feedback that contrasts good and poor critical writing, students can visualise the difference between surface-level analysis and deep, evidence-based reasoning. This approach is particularly powerful for developing critical thinking skills.
Comparative Feedback Example
This method helps students understand not just what to avoid, but what to aspire to, providing clear pathways for improvement.
.10. Industry Connections: Bringing the Future into the Classroom
Education should open doors to emerging career opportunities.
Recognising that many of our students are unaware of cutting-edge industry developments, I’ve actively sought engagement with industry experts to showcase emerging technologies and career paths.
One particularly exciting collaboration involved working with AdditiveX, a leading UK provider of additive technology solutions, to share their expertise in 3D printing with our students. This partnership resulted in a comprehensive blog post that introduced students to the vast potential of additive manufacturing.
Read the full blog on https://www.lsst.ac/blogs/additive-x-shares-its-3d-printing-story-with-lsst/
These collaborations serve multiple purposes: they inspire students by showing concrete career paths, provide networking opportunities, and ensure our curriculum remains relevant to industry needs. Students gain exposure to technologies and opportunities they might never have encountered otherwise.
The Learner’s Leader Philosophy: Looking Forward
As we look toward 2030 and beyond, I believe the role of educators will continue shifting from information deliverers to learning facilitators, from content experts to learner advocates. We’re not just teaching subjects; we’re nurturing human potential in an age of rapid technological change.
The ten innovations I’ve shared represent just the beginning of this transformation. Each success has taught me that when we truly listen to our students’ needs and respond with creativity, evidence-based practice, and genuine care, remarkable things become possible.
My invitation to fellow educators is simple: embrace the title of “learner’s leader” and join me in reimagining what education can become. Our students – and our future – depend on our willingness to evolve, innovate, and lead with learning at the heart of everything we do.