However, due partly to a lack of resources, this digital shift has added inordinately to academics’ workload; generated confusion regarding ethical and legal requirements; caused stress among academics; and led to disengagement among students.[2, 3]  

It does not have to be this way. Embracing the digital shift can bring about new opportunities [4] for teaching staff [5], while significantly improving learning outcomes for students.[6] OxCo developed resources enabling scholars to create high-quality hybrid lectures, enhancing the experience of both teachers and students. 

Our e-teaching training programme leverages automation tools, especially auto-animation software, allowing busy scholars to shortcut the process to proficiency. Emphasis is NOT placed on a classical or technical understanding. Instead, participants engage in an active, hands-on learning experience during which they will create their own high-quality blended learning experiences.  The programme covers a full curriculum in hybrid teaching, from course material design, to legal and ethical guidance on online publishing.

Maximising the benefit of online teaching requires students’ active participation. Therefore, this workshop series does not focus solely on producing digital content; it also stresses the importance of designing hybrid learning experiences that combine high-quality videos, face-to-face interactions (where possible), and a series of research communication tools which are currently available, but largely unfamiliar, to teaching staff. By inviting  faculty to re-think their approach to teaching in response to the current context, this training programme supports academics in a key way, at a time when they are expected to deploy academic engagement and science communications methods to meet the new needs of today’s students.