Innovating for Scalable Student Engagement and Success at University of Free State
From teaching staff to learning designers and leadership, every university aims to drive better learning outcomes to prepare students for the future. Besides delivering quality course content and structure, it is also crucial to engage students with the content itself and have them become active participants in the learning process to ensure that the knowledge and skill uptake takes place in a meaningful way. However, this is not an easy task, especially in the context of courses with large classes, and multiple faculties and departments having diverse needs and expectations. How can universities and educators provide every student the support they need considering the limited time, resources, and the capabilities of their existing learning environments?
Join our webinar with the University of Free State to learn about how they collaborated with FeedbackFruits to transform their teaching & learning across several faculties and departments with innovative learning and assessment strategies. They will showcase examples of engaging course designs and learning activities implemented with FeedbackFruits in Blackboard, and how they improved the student experience at scale.
You will be able to
- Process of transforming teaching & learning for better student engagement and success at scale
- Aligning departmental and faculty needs with a new technology for successful implementation
- Strategies to engage students with the course content, and enrich classes with student input and discussions
- Diversifying assessment with peer feedback and low-stakes quizzes that go beyond grade attainment
Meet our speakers
Violet Phejane is a dedicated Senior Learning Designer at the University of the Free State's Centre for Teaching and Learning. Her work is grounded in a deep commitment to fostering educational equity and student success. With a proven track record in creating innovative and inclusive learning experiences, Phejane's research has been published in numerous South African Higher Education journals. Her research agenda intersects with broader higher education concerns, examining the complex interplay between technology, pedagogy, and student access/success. Phejane is actively involved and serves as an executive in various organisations, including the Kutloanong Rehabilitation for Ex-Offenders (KREO), the Global Feminist Action Group, the National Association of Distance Education and Open Learning in South Africa (NADEOSA), and serves as the project lead for FeedbackFruits. She holds a Master's degree in Gender Studies with research distinction. Phejane has been recognised for her contributions to the field of education, receiving numerous accolades, including being named one of Mail & Guardian's top 200 Young South African leaders in Education in 2024.
Jocelyn Diedericks is a dedicated and hardworking accounting professional, holding a Postgraduate Diploma in Chartered Accountancy (2023), a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting Honours (2022), and a bachelor's in commerce accounting (2021) both from the University of the Free State. She has also completed her Initial test of competence board exam in 2024 and on her way to completing her APC board exam in 2025 in her journey of becoming a Chartered Accountant. With extensive experience as a tutor in Accounting, Tax, Business, and Ethics, she has a strong background in guiding students through complex subjects. As a former Officer for Professional Development with the UFS Golden Key Honour Society, she honed her skills in event planning and student development. Currently engaged in her 1st year of Academic Articles at UFS, she continues to expand her expertise in the field.
Preview here
Subscribe to our teaching insights newsletter
