Virna Rossi BA PGCert MTeach SFHEA FSEDA NTF
Biography
A passionate teacher since 1999, Virna has worked in all educational sectors and has been a teacher educator since 2009. Her research focuses around the challenges of implementing more inclusive learning design and the use of threshold concepts in learning design.
She has been awarded the prestigious National Teaching Fellowship by AdvanceHE, JLDHE Reviewer of the Year and has been added to the SEDA Roll of Honour.
She is the author of an innovative book (by Routledge) on inclusive learning design.
Preview or order Virna Rossi's book 'Inclusive Learning Design in Higher Education - A Practical Guide to Creating Equitable Learning Experiences' from Routledge or from Amazon
Find out more about the inclusive learning design approach on the website inclusivelearningdesign.com
- Course Leader
- Central Academic Services
Research
With an MA in Teaching (IoE) and several awards, Virna has been active in research and knowledge exchange for many years, with a keen interest in:
- Curriculum design
- Inclusivity
- Threshold concepts
- Visual representation of assessment briefs
Here is a sample of her research and knowledge exchange activities:
Books:
V. Rossi (2023) Inclusive Learning Design - Inclusive Learning Design in Higher Education
A Practical Guide to Creating Equitable Learning Experiences. London: Routledge. Available here.
Companion website. Available here.
Articles:
Rossi, V. and ChatGPT (2023) Perspectives on the use of ChatGPT for PGCert courses [blog post]. thesedablog - Supporting and Leading Educational Change. SEDA, 13 February. Available here.
Rossi, V. (2023) Roots to shoots: a holistic approach to inclusive learning design. AdvanceHE. Available here.
Rossi, V. (2023) Root to shoots: A holistic route to designing high quality inclusive learning environments. QAA. Available here.
Rossi, V. (2021) “Just-in-time pandemic CPD using short screencast videos”, Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education, (22). doi: 10.47408/jldhe.vi22.677
Rossi, V. (2020) Just-in-time CPD [blog post]. thesedablog - Supporting and Leading Educational Change. SEDA, 20 November. Available here.
Compton, M. and Rossi, V. (2019) Teaching observations, teaching quality and grading: ‘A huge can of worms’ [blog post]. thesedablog - Supporting and Leading Educational Change. SEDA, 4 Dec. Available here.
Other outputs in the public domain:
Rossi, V. (n.d.) Educational Developer's Padlet Collection, EDTA. University of York (Canada). Available here.
Rossi, V. (n.d.) Quick Transition to E-Learning [video series], INCLUDE Collaboratory. Available here.
Knowledge Transfer Activity:
- 2022 to date active member of the SAGE Pedagogy Advisory Board (a special consultancy body)
- 2021 to date EE for BIMM - guest speaker on the PGCert/MA at BIMM and curriculum design advice
- 2020 to date ongoing collaboration/exchange with Aga Khan University
- 2019 staff development events for Morley College
A sample of recent public speaking:
2023
(Jan) Inclusive Learning Design – challenges and opportunities – Half day workshop for UoL Student success/CODE Fellows event. More information here.
(Feb) Academic communities – QAA conference panel member
(July) Inclusive Learning Design - Roots and Shoots with Virna Rossi - #MyFest23 More information here.
2022
(Feb) How ‘contextual analysis’ helps us plan better, more personalized learning – Aga Khan University
(Mar) Inclusive by design – a roots to shoots approach - EDI AdvanceHE conference
(Apr) Inclusive Learning Design at TU Dublin - Staff development session - TU Dublin
(Jul) Inclusive by design - opportunities and challenges - Centre for Distance Education, UoL
2021
(Mar/Apr) Rear-view mirror: reflecting about practice through the lens of Universal Design for Learning principles and practices - Webinars: UoL Experiences in Digital Learning; INCLUDE
(Jun) Roots to Shoots: Inclusive Course Design to support wellbeing - Greenwich University; UoL
(Jul) Keynote: Intentionally Inclusive - University of Liverpool Learning and Teaching Conference. More information here.
(July) The case for using Threshold Concepts for Learning Design in Creative Education - 2021 Threshold Concepts conference
(Sep) Threshold Concepts in the context of curriculum design – Speakeasy event
2020
(Apr/May) Global webinar series: Starters/Main activities/Closures - Ravensbourne University London
(Sep) Inclusive feedback: Principles and practices - UEL Teaching & Learning Symposium
(Nov) Keynote: 360° inclusive feedback - University of the Highlands and Islands: Assessment & feedback symposium