1st Edition

The Artistry of Teaching in Higher Education Practical Ideas for Developing Creative Academic Practice

Edited By Helen King Copyright 2025
268 Pages 21 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

268 Pages 21 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

268 Pages 21 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

Introducing a fresh approach to conceptualising and actioning high-quality teaching in higher education, this essential volume fills a gap in current literature by expanding beyond the mere ‘delivery’ of teaching. Instead, it offers an evidence-based discussion of ‘artistry’ and demonstrates how this may be applied successfully within a higher education setting to enable better student learning.... Read more

Part I: Creativity, Improvisation and Context

1:    Taking the “art” in “artistry” literally: an art-based theory of teaching expertise

       Mike Bryant

2:    Blackholes and Revelations: understanding everyday creativity in higher education teacher practice

       Sam Elkington

3:    The embodied realm of teaching

       Curie Scott

4:    Love Expertise is . . . never having to say you are sorry: academic development and the artistry of improvisation

            Jennie Mills, Jenni Carr, Natasha Taylor & Catriona Cunningham

5:    The artistry of teaching as culturally self-aware, learning-centred, imaginative co-creation
            Anna Santucci

Part II: Authenticity and Professional Identity  

6:    Authenticity in delivering contextual pedagogy and materials in cybersecurity

       Abdullahi Arabo

7:    Developing online communities of practice through relational pedagogy

       James Layton

8:    The MIPA model of professional identities of dance teachers: negotiating professional identities in and across higher education

       Michelle Groves

9:    From disciplinary expertise to academic artistry: the shifting professional identity, expertise and artistry of the programme leader

       Jenny Lawrence

10:   The many identities of a Learning Technologist (and how to make the most of them)

       Evan Dickerson

Part III: Developing the Artistry of Teaching

11:   Developing the artistry of teaching and approaches to learning: what we can learn from those teaching theatre improvisation

       Petia Petrova, Shaun Mudd, Imogen Palmer & Stephen Brown

12:   The characteristics of expertise in online teaching in higher education

       Sarah Wilson-Medhurst & Mark Childs

13:   Developing the artistry of language teaching through practitioner research

       Anna Costantino

14:   Facilitating in the moment: being ready for change

       Lucy Nicholson, Ruth Spencer & Kerstin Wellhöfer

15:   Professional development for artistry in higher education

       15.1: To ‘toy with’, ‘think about’ and ‘experiment with’: teacher development programmes as space for developing the artistry of teaching: Emma Kennedy & Martin Compton

       15.2:  Developing teaching expertise for disciplinary contexts – building the bridges between institution and discipline perspectives: Jackie Potter & Moira Lafferty

       15.3:  “What’s in it for me?”: Professional Services Colleagues and Teaching Expertise: Sarah Floyd & Fiona Smart

       15.4:  Engaging in feedback dialogue to enhance expertise in healthcare teaching: Lucy Spowart & Tristan Price

       15.5:  Sketching new horizons: what does evaluation of staff development events tell us about developing expertise?: Charlotte Stevens

       15.6:  Building confidence through appreciative self-study: Caitlin Kight          

Biography

Helen King is Professor and Director of Learning Innovation, Development & Skills at Bath Spa University, UK. Her career in educational development spans nearly three decades including leading roles within three UK universities and several UK-wide learning and teaching enhancement projects and organisations and as an independent consultant collaborating nationally and internationally.