Virna Rossi BA, PGCert, MTeach, PFHEA, FSEDA, NTF
Currently reading: Research
Biography
Virna Rossi is the Course Leader for Central Academic Services.
She has been a dedicated teacher since 1999, working across all areas of education, and has trained other teachers since 2009. Virna's research looks at the challenges of creating more inclusive learning experiences and how key ideas, known as threshold concepts can support effective learning design.
- Central Academic Services
- Course Leader
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.
Virna recently won Teacher of the year award and came runner up for the Change Maker academic award at Ravensbourne University London.
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
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
Books
- Rossi, V. (forthcoming) Designing better PGCert provisions – creating impactful staff development experiences – London: Routledge.
- Rossi, V. (2023) Inclusive Learning Design - Inclusive Learning Design in Higher Education. Companion website.
- A Practical Guide to Creating Equitable Learning Experiences. London: Routledge.
Articles
Articles
- Rossi, V., Stevenson, C., Tilbury, A. (2024) The power of three. Educational Developments Spring 2024 issue.
- 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.
- Rossi, V. (2023) Roots to shoots: a holistic approach to inclusive learning design. AdvanceHE.
- Rossi, V. (2023)
Root to shoots: A holistic route to designing high quality inclusive learning environments. QAA.
- 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.
- 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.
Knowledge Exchange projects
Knowledge Exchange projects
2022 to present: Active member of the SAGE Pedagogy Advisory Board (a special consultancy body).
2021 to present: EE for BIMM Music Institute - guest speaker on the PGCert/MA at BIMM and curriculum design advice.
2020 to present: Ongoing collaboration and knowledge exchange with
Aga Khan University.
2019: Staff development events for Morley College.
Public speaking
Public Speaking
2024
May: The power of three, Island of Innovation (Liverpool University) presentation with A. Tilbury and C. Stevens; ‘Roots to shoots’ inclusive learning design workshop ICED conference Kenya.
June: Roots to shoots’ inclusive learning design, Oxford Brookes International T&L Conference. Cross-pollination for innovation, keynote speaker at Solent University and South Wales University.
July: PGCert refresher, SE Academic Development Network - UoL session for PGCert students.
September: Can we deliver effective student engagement when learners dip in and out? QAA conference.
2023
January: Inclusive Learning Design, challenges and opportunities.
Half day workshop for UoL Student success/CODE Fellows event.
February: Academic communities – QAA conference panel member
July: Inclusive Learning Design, Roots and Shoots with Virna Rossi - #MyFest23
2022
February: How ‘contextual analysis’ helps us plan better, more personalised
learning, Aga Khan University
March: Inclusive by design, A roots to shoots approach - EDI AdvanceHE conference
April: Inclusive Learning Design at TU Dublin - Staff development session - TU Dublin
July: Inclusive by design, opportunities and challenges - Centre for Distance Education, UoL
2021
March to April: Rear-view mirror, reflecting about practice through the lens of Universal Design for Learning principles and practices - Webinars: UoL Experiences in Digital Learning; INCLUDE
June: Roots to Shoots, Inclusive Course Design to support wellbeing - Greenwich University; UoL
July: 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
September: Threshold Concepts in the context of curriculum design Speakeasy event
2020
April to May: Global webinar series, Starters/Main activities/Closures - Ravensbourne University London
September: Inclusive feedback, Principles and practices - UEL Teaching & Learning Symposium
November: Keynote 360° inclusive feedback - University of the Highlands and Islands, Assessment & feedback symposium
Further Published Works
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.