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Annual event highlighted the innovative teaching and assessment methods created by staff in the School of Health & Medical Sciences

By Mr George Wigmore (Senior Communications Officer), Published

Novel educational innovations were on full display at this year’s Health’s Got Talent event, which was held in early May at City St George’s, University of London.

Organised by Professor Stian Reimers and Lucy Myers, Directors of Education Enhancement and Digital Innovation in the School of Health & Medical Sciences (SHMS), the annual celebration of education excellence on the Clerkenwell campus brought together over 50 staff within the School to share fresh ideas for improving teaching, learning and practice in health education.

Held in a hybrid format, and broadly focusing on the theme of ‘Student Engagement’, the event showcased inspiring educational projects from across the health disciplines, spanning everything from radiography and optometry to midwifery and psychology.

Showcasing innovation

The event began with an introduction from Dr Grace Lucas, Deputy Dean of SHMS, who praised the creative, innovative and impactful methods to engage students in their learning journeys.

Professor Reimers then spoke about the nature of the event. “If you’re new to Heath’s Got Talent, don't let the name fool you. This is not a mere talent show. This is a celebration of the serious and impactful work that is going on in teaching all across the School,” he said.

Split according to academic department, academics from across what was previously known as the School of Health & Psychological Sciences then had 10 minutes to present their ideas to support students with their learning and assessment.

The winning project came from Optometry, represented by Dr Ben Evans, with a submission that demonstrated how traditional educational resources are being updated using interactive open-source HTML-5- package (H5P) tools in Moodle, which enhances recorded video with interactivity and feedback, creating more engaging learning materials.

Dr Ben Evans (second left) with the trophy for the winning project

The People’s Choice award, voted for by the in-person and online audience was Language and Communication Science. Their submission featured three projects from a team of 15 staff and students, including Louise Occomore-Kent, Morganie Naidoo, Katherine Potter, Colin Day, and Dr Sally McVicker, covering novel placement models, employability podcasts, and a new voice care project.

Educational excellence

Besides from the winning presentations, the other talks covered a wide range of themes and areas, including:

  • In Midwifery, Dr Emma Jane Berridge and colleagues presented two exciting initiatives. The first, Singing Mamas (with Dr Gemma Hurley), explored the power of group singing to support maternal wellbeing. The second, with Lisa Doyle, focused on interprofessional simulation with a number of immersive scenarios where either a paramedic or midwifery student was the first responder, showcasing how collaborative practice between professions can enhance maternity care education.
  • The Nursing section featured a presentation on the evolution of simulated practice following changes by the Nursing and Midwifery Council. The talk highlighted how immersive training environments are changing to prepare students for real-world challenges (Kelly Turner, Dr Caroline Laker, James Brailey, & Evana Downes Rolewicz).
  • In Radiography, Sam Penry showcased a Moodle-based digital game developed to enhance online learning and assessment.
  • The Psychology presentations brought together pedagogical innovation and current issues, with sessions on engaging teaching activities using ChatGPT (Dr Jutta Mortlock), and flipped classroom pedagogy and its benefits for student learning in the Psychology MSc conversion (Dr Hannah Thompson & Dr Seraphine Clarke).

Judging the presentations

During the lunch break, attendees had the chance to network and discuss the presentations while the judging panel deliberated. This year’s judges were:

  • Professor Rachael-Anne Knight, Professor of Phonetics at the University of Essex and former Associate Dean for Education in SHPS.
  • Dr Saranne Weller, Reader in Higher Education Practice and Development in the Centre for Innovation and Development in Education, Tooting campus.
  • Dr Luis Pereira, Senior Lecturer in Educational Development in the Department of Learning Enhancement and Development (LEaD)

Plans are already in motion for next year’s celebration of teaching excellence, in a revised format that encompasses both Clerkenwell and Tooting campuses for 2026.

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