ABOUT
Every year, the School of Social and Political Sciences Innovative Pedagogy hub at University of Glasgow organises Best Practice in Social Sciences Teaching conference. The conference seeks to showcase class activities that demonstrate imaginative teaching, so colleagues can share and develop new ideas for their own classrooms going forward.
We are looking for innovative pedagogical approaches such as experiential approaches, co-creation with students, skills based learning, use of technology and/or AI in class, inclusive teaching in practice, storytelling in the classroom, ungrading, new and engaging spins on old approaches, other active learning strategies.
We welcome proposals from any thematic area or subject within social sciences.
2026
Call for Proposals
The School of Social and Political Sciences Innovative Pedagogy hub at University of Glasgow is organising its third annual Best Practice in Social Sciences Teaching conference for May 12th, 2026. The conference seeks to showcase class activities that demonstrate imaginative teaching, so colleagues can share and develop new ideas for their own classrooms going forward. We are looking for innovative pedagogical approaches such as experiential approaches, co-creation with students, skills based learning, use of technology and/or AI in class, inclusive teaching in practice, storytelling in the classroom, ungrading, new and engaging spins on old approaches, other active learning strategies.
We welcome proposals from any thematic area or subject within social sciences, and two types of contributions:
Demonstration Session (tried-out activities): For colleagues who have already implemented a teaching activity and would like to showcase it, reflect on outcomes, and discuss lessons learned. You are asked to deliver a real activity from your class (that you have previously delivered to a class of students) to a classroom composed of 10-15 fellow educators in the social sciences. You are not being asked to deliver a full lecture or seminar. Rather the activity should last no more than 20 minutes, including any briefing, with the rest of the time to debrief the activity and Q&A from participants.
Sandbox Poster Session (design‑stage activities): For colleagues who are developing a new teaching activity and PGRs/PhD students, who would like to test ideas, gather feedback, and refine their design. You are asked to state the intended learning goals, describe the teaching activity you plan to develop, the context in which it will be used, and the key challenges you anticipate.
Please submit your 200-word session or poster plan by 13th March 2026 HERE.
If you have any questions, please contact us at socpol-pedagogy@glasgow.ac.uk. Limited funding for travel costs is available upon application for presenters based outside Glasgow. Lunch and tea/coffee refreshments will be provided.
2025
BEST PRACTICE IN SOCIAL SCIENCES TEACHING CONFERENCE
JUNE 16TH, 2025
42 BUTE GARDENS, UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW
9:00-10:00- Registration
Location: Room 718, 42 Bute Gardens
10:00-11:30- Introduction/Session 1: Innovation in Teaching Concepts and Methods
- CTT 42 BUTE GDNS:706, Andrew Scott (University College London): “Problem identification and framing”
- CTT 42 BUTE GDNS:909 TEAL LITE, Catherine Lefevre (University of Glasgow): “Deepening Subject Understanding Through Visual Learning”
- CTT 42 BUTE GDNS:915, Jo Ferrie and Sharon Greenwood (University of Glasgow): “How emotional can transcription be?”
11:30-11:45- Tea break
11:45-13:00- Session 2: Games and Role-Plays
- CTT 42 BUTE GDNS:706, Marzieh Kouhi Esfahani (Durham University): “Introduction to International Actors in the Syrian Civil War Through Role Play”
- CTT 42 BUTE GDNS:909 TEAL LITE, Vladimir Maltsev (Adam Smith Business School, University of Glasgow): “Of politicians and median voters: the teaching of the median voter theorem”
- CTT 42 BUTE GDNS:915, Jonathan Parker (University of Glasgow): “Democracy in Zubrowka”
13:00-14:00- Lunch
14:00-15:30- Session 3: Tech and Apps in the Classroom
- CTT 42 BUTE GDNS:909 TEAL LITE, Paul McHugh (University of Glasgow): “Using generative AI to help develop game-based elements for teacher education”
- CTT 42 BUTE GDNS:915, Petar Bankov (University of Glasgow): “Using Mentimeter to teach concepts in political science”
2024
BEST PRACTICE IN SOCIAL SCIENCES TEACHING CONFERENCE
JULY 2024
8:30-10:00- Registration
Location: 236 Atrium, Wolfson Medical School Building, University Avenue, Glasgow
10:00-11:30- Introduction/Session 1: Delivering an introductory lecture/seminar
- Wolfson Medical School 235: Zoe Jay (University of Helsinki): “Human Rights Begin at Home”- collaborative syllabus design
- James McCune Smith Learning Hub (JMS) 407: Alison McCandlish (University of Glasgow): “Why Urban Conservation?”- peer-to-peer learning in an introductory lecture
- Wolfson Medical School 235: Faye Donnelly (University of St. Andrews): “Constructing Security Boundaries and Environments”- active learning in an introductory lecture
11:30-11:45- Tea break
11:45-13:00- Session 2: Knowledge and skills transfer
- Wolfson Medical School 235: Dan O’Sullivan (University of Limerick): “Empathetic Pedagogies in Education Settings”- narrative 4 story exchange and restorative practice
- James McCune Smith Learning Hub (JMS) 407: Tanya Wilson (University of Glasgow): “Rational Economic Decision-Making and the Efficient Operation of Markets”- practical application of theoretical concepts through interactive gaming
- Wolfson Medical School 235: Kristin Hay (University of Glasgow): “Integrating skills development with knowledge building”- innovations in Jigsaw learning
13:00-14:00- Lunch
14:00-15:15- Session 3: Simulations in practice
- Wolfson Medical School 235: Jonathan Parker (University of Glasgow): “Democracy in Zubrowka”- simulating political party competition in semi-authoritarian regime settings
- James McCune Smith Learning Hub (JMS) 407: Nicole Cassie and Michael Loader (University of Glasgow): “Reassessing Brezhnev's Leadership of the Soviet Union (1964-1982)” Area Studies/Political History mini-lecture and game