By date, most recent first
- Grief crept up on me, unexpectedly: a story of Christmas Eve.by Paul KleimanAs a Jewish family, we don’t really do Christmas. Yes, we’ll gather together, have a big meal, play board games, and watch far too much television. … Continue reading “Grief crept up on me, unexpectedly: a story of Christmas Eve.”
- Lessons from the Gardenby Paul KleimanThere’s a corner of our garden where I keep a number of pots and containers that have nothing in them except some earth or compost and … Continue reading “Lessons from the Garden”
- Separate grading from learning!by Paul KleimanOne of our engrooved or deep-seated beliefs in higher education is that grades are important because they motivate students to do the work. Take them away, … Continue reading “Separate grading from learning!”
- ‘See me. Feel me. Touch me.’by Paul KleimanFrom virtual to visceral learning After I wrote a piece on inspiring learning through objects and artefacts, I began to think a bit more about what … Continue reading “‘See me. Feel me. Touch me.’”
- Revealing assessment through drawingby Paul KleimanWhen leading workshops on assessment I often start with a ’warm-up’ exercise in which the participants, supplied with sheets of paper and plenty of coloured pens, … Continue reading “Revealing assessment through drawing”
- A brush, with silence and solitudeby Paul KleimanI really enjoy painting. Not the sort of thing one might frame and hang on a wall, but the actual walls one might hang them on. … Continue reading “A brush, with silence and solitude”
- Thinking, Making, Doing, Solving, Dreaming: reflections on completing a PhD thesis on creativity in higher educationby Paul KleimanRecently, I undertook a PhD viva as external examiner at the university department where I did my own PhD. The viva took place in a room … Continue reading “Thinking, Making, Doing, Solving, Dreaming: reflections on completing a PhD thesis on creativity in higher education”
- F-AI-L: forget about assessment?by Paul KleimanYou can’t move these days in Higher Education without reading about how AI has completely compromised most, if not all, the approaches to assessment that require … Continue reading “F-AI-L: forget about assessment?”
- Adventures in HE: time for a Skunk Works?by Paul KleimanA few years ago, a UK university established a new initiative with funding from central government. The initiative was one of about 70 such initiatives across … Continue reading “Adventures in HE: time for a Skunk Works?”
- Assessment: paradigm shift required?by Paul KleimanThere has been a slew of recent journal articles, blogs, podcasts etc. on the challenges posed by Generative AI in higher education and, particularly, the threat GenAI … Continue reading “Assessment: paradigm shift required?”
- Design for Learning: a case for detangling education?by Paul KleimanAcademics, eh? We may be great teachers. We may be great researchers. We may even be great managers and administrators. But that does not make us … Continue reading “Design for Learning: a case for detangling education?”
- Notes from the edge: piano lessonsby Paul KleimanI aim to play the piano most days, if I am near one. I work from home a great deal of the time, and I do a lot of writing. The work … Continue reading “Notes from the edge: piano lessons”
- ”It’s cheating Jim, but not as we know it”: the problematic arts of plagiarismby Paul KleimanRecently, while the academic world attempts to negotiate its path through the minefield posed by Generative AI, I was looking at some university policies about academic … Continue reading “”It’s cheating Jim, but not as we know it”: the problematic arts of plagiarism”
- Telling Talesby Paul KleimanI was once helping to run a ‘New to Teaching’ workshop for new/early career lecturers in languages and linguistics. I was one of several presenters during the … Continue reading “Telling Tales”
- ‘Taking a Line for a Walk’: reflections on interviewing academics about creativityby Paul Kleiman“You just get this one idea, which might, at first, seem a bit daft. But something just holds you back from thinking it is completely daft. … Continue reading “‘Taking a Line for a Walk’: reflections on interviewing academics about creativity”
- When something(s) need to change…by Paul KleimanWhen a higher education provider calls in a consultant, it’s usually because they want and need some thing or things to change. Usually, at least some … Continue reading “When something(s) need to change…”
- Beyond the Debatable Hills: is it curtains for the arts in education?by Paul KleimanAs yet another UK university announces major course closures and redundancies – mainly affecting arts and humanities – it’s worth being reminded that entries for A … Continue reading “Beyond the Debatable Hills: is it curtains for the arts in education?”
- Plus ça change: a taxonomy of pressures and hard times in higher educationby Paul Kleiman12 years ago I came across and wrote a blog piece about Terran Lane, a tenured associate professor in the US, recently moved from academia … Continue reading “Plus ça change: a taxonomy of pressures and hard times in higher education”
- We’d never get away with it now!by Paul Kleiman6 problems and developing creative confidence in students LIPA (Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts) welcomed its first students in 1996. In those early days, as a … Continue reading “We’d never get away with it now!”
- 2 Jews, 3 Arabs and 5 cups of teaby Paul KleimanMore years ago than I care to remember, five men sat around a hissing stove in a campsite outside Sofia in Bulgaria. It was 1969 and … Continue reading “2 Jews, 3 Arabs and 5 cups of tea”
- Performing assessment: are you an assessment Cavalier or Roundhead (or Innocent)?by Paul KleimanThere I am, sitting in my favourite balcony seat in the institute’s auditorium, pen in hand, notebook discreetly balanced on my knee, preparing to watch and … Continue reading “Performing assessment: are you an assessment Cavalier or Roundhead (or Innocent)?”
- The plagiarism (and plagiarised) icebergby Paul KleimanI once attended a conference on academic integrity. Full of academics and university managers all concerned about the rising tide of plagiarism, cheating and the exponential … Continue reading “The plagiarism (and plagiarised) iceberg”
- Higher Education, Creativity and the German Minister (+Coffee & Pastries)by Paul KleimanSome years ago, before Brexit, I happened to be standing and chatting to the then German Federal Minister for Education. We were in the (long) coffee … Continue reading “Higher Education, Creativity and the German Minister (+Coffee & Pastries)”
- A lesson from a flowerby Paul KleimanThe morning after the announcement of Trump’s victory, I, like many though by no means all, sat rather despondently at my kitchen table listening to the … Continue reading “A lesson from a flower”
- On Creativity: is ‘might’ the answer…as well as the question?by Paul KleimanThe eminent, and now sadly departed, educationalist Dorothy Heathcote used to say that the most powerful word in education is the word ‘might’. Asking a student ‘what MIGHT … Continue reading “On Creativity: is ‘might’ the answer…as well as the question?”
- Zen and the Art of Curriculum Maintenanceby Paul KleimanLike many, I am fascinated by Japan and Japanese culture. That fascination, in my case, goes back a long way. My father used to do business … Continue reading “Zen and the Art of Curriculum Maintenance”
- Armed for a multitude of jobsby Paul KleimanThis blogpost is adapted from an article that first appeared in a special learning skills supplement of the Times Higher Education. Employers frequently bemoan graduates’ lack … Continue reading “Armed for a multitude of jobs”
- The Story of a Lifeby Paul KleimanHow well do we really know the life stories of our parents? Obviously most of us will know some details of their lives before they were … Continue reading “The Story of a Life”
- Reflection: schooldays, sitting quietly and making marks on paperby Paul KleimanMy first attempt at life drawing c. 1968 During a conversation about education with a colleague who is an eminent and well-respected professor of education, he … Continue reading “Reflection: schooldays, sitting quietly and making marks on paper”
- Beyond excellence…..towards wonderby Paul KleimanIn higher education (and in education generally) we obsess about excellence. So what does excellence mean? Going by the result of the debate on excellence at … Continue reading “Beyond excellence…..towards wonder”
- ‘Keep on the Grass’: changing the language of educationby Paul KleimanIf you visit a National Trust property here in the UK, you will often see signs saying things like ׳Keep off the Grass’, ‘Don’t Touch This’, … Continue reading “‘Keep on the Grass’: changing the language of education”
- 👁by Paul Kleiman“A picture is worth a thousand words” is an old, careworn cliché but it still holds true….to an extent. What is undoubtedly true is that the … Continue reading “👁”
- “I am not a number!”: reassessing assessmentby Paul KleimanThis is the full transcript (with slides) of my end-of-conference keynote address at the International Assessment in Higher Education (AHE) Conference held in Manchester, UK in … Continue reading ““I am not a number!”: reassessing assessment”
- Stumbling with Confidence: close encounters of the creative kindby Paul Kleiman(This is a full transcript of the talk given by Prof. Paul Kleiman at the University of the Arts London’s ‘Reward and Recognition Celebration’ event in … Continue reading “Stumbling with Confidence: close encounters of the creative kind”
- Staging Sustainability: Making Sense of Sustainability in HE Dance, Drama and Musicby Paul KleimanThis book chapter was first published in P. Jones et al. (2010) Sustainability Education: policies, perspectives and practices. London: Earthscan Universities bear profound responsibilities to increase … Continue reading “Staging Sustainability: Making Sense of Sustainability in HE Dance, Drama and Music”
- Every menorah tells a storyby Paul KleimanThis is one of our menorahs (more properly a chanukiah, a menorah has seven branches, but nearly everyone calls the eight branch version a menorah) ) … Continue reading “Every menorah tells a story”
- Not a story I usually tell: the Yorkshire Ripper and meby Paul KleimanThis is not a story I usually tell, but the news of Peter Sutcliffe’s death takes me back to 1979-80 when the police regarded me as … Continue reading “Not a story I usually tell: the Yorkshire Ripper and me”
- A stone for Rockyby Paul KleimanOn a visit to the cemetery and the kindness of strangers. Our story for Baby Loss Awareness Week. The cemetery where our baby son is buried … Continue reading “A stone for Rocky”
- Is it curtains for the arts, banished beyond the Debatable Hills?by Paul KleimanAfter the UK government promised financial support to other sectors of the economy, and after intense pressure on the Culture Secretary Oliver “I won’t let you … Continue reading “Is it curtains for the arts, banished beyond the Debatable Hills?”
- Learning at the Edge of Covid Chaosby Paul KleimanWe live in a time of chaos, as rich in the potential for disaster as for new possibilities. Margaret Wheatley It is perhaps an understatement to … Continue reading “Learning at the Edge of Covid Chaos”
- It’s the same old story: Labour and Israel/Palestineby Paul KleimanWhen Labour’s ‘antisemitism crisis’ erupted after Jeremy Corbyn’s election as leader of the party in 2015, Ken Loach, when interviewed on TV at the 2017 Labour … Continue reading “It’s the same old story: Labour and Israel/Palestine”
- On the loss of a child and the kindness of strangersby Paul Kleiman(This is an adaptation of a piece written for BBC Radio and first broadcast in 2000 as the Radio 4 Listeners’ Christmas Message. At the time … Continue reading “On the loss of a child and the kindness of strangers”
- Grief crept up on me on Christmas Eve….unexpectedly.by Paul KleimanAs a Jewish family, we don’t really do Christmas. Yes, we’ll gather together, have a big meal, play board games, and watch far too much television. … Continue reading “Grief crept up on me on Christmas Eve….unexpectedly.”
- Piecing it together: a life story.by Paul Kleiman(This article first appeared under the title ‘Truly a Life Story’ in Lifewide Magazine, Issue 21, December 2018 http://www.lifewideeducation.uk/magazine.html) How well do we know the life stories … Continue reading “Piecing it together: a life story.”
- Arts Education: banished beyond the Debatable Hills?by Paul KleimanWe have replaced wonder with tick-box excellence, and mystery with an impact case study. If you collect the many dozens of articles written in the last … Continue reading “Arts Education: banished beyond the Debatable Hills?”
- Novemberby Paul KleimanOnly a lone crow breaks the chill silence sensing perhaps as autumn fades that winter’s wait is over its time has come.
- Beyond Teaching Excellenceby Paul Kleiman(On not filling and measuring the pail, but lighting the fire) [This is the transcript of a ‘provocation’ I presented at the joint conference of the … Continue reading “Beyond Teaching Excellence”
- Remembering Bill Mitchellby Paul KleimanTributes have been pouring in for Bill Mitchell the director, designer, theatre-maker and inspirational founder of the unique landscape theatre company Wildworks, who passed away on … Continue reading “Remembering Bill Mitchell”
- Assessment at the Edge 2: Clash of the Paradigmsby Paul Kleiman(or Rumble in the Epistemological Jungle) We operate, on the whole, within education systems that are based on a traditional linear, positivist, computational paradigm that has … Continue reading “Assessment at the Edge 2: Clash of the Paradigms”
- Assessment at the Edge 1: Faultlinesby Paul KleimanI know I’m not alone in feeling – increasingly as the years roll by – that all too often the way we assess is at odds … Continue reading “Assessment at the Edge 1: Faultlines”
- Predictive Textsby Paul KleimanThe full text of the opening ‘provocation’ presented at the Future of Performer Arts Training symposium, Coventry University, UK, 4-5 November 2016. This article first appeared … Continue reading “Predictive Texts”
- Nice, July 2016 and remembrance of things pastby Paul KleimanA Madeleine biscuit did it for Marcel Proust, and the horrific events in Nice did it for me. As soon as I heard the news and … Continue reading “Nice, July 2016 and remembrance of things past”
- The Story of D.by Paul Kleiman“Arts education is a seriously funny business. We demand that students conform to the formalities of the university and yet we secretly hope they will practise … Continue reading “The Story of D.”
- Among HE’s dark academic millsby Paul KleimanA recent anonymous long diatribe in the Guardian Higher Education from a “semi-employed thirtysomething on a zero-hours contract, sitting at home in pyjamas, staring at a … Continue reading “Among HE’s dark academic mills”
- ‘Hitler was a Zionist’. Really?by Paul KleimanThe suspensions of Ken Livingstone and Naz Shah has brought the bubbling issue of antisemitism in the Labour Party to the boil. There seems to be general agreement … Continue reading “‘Hitler was a Zionist’. Really?”
- On the IFS ‘let’s bash HE creative arts’ report on graduate earningsby Paul KleimanReading through the just published and much anticipated Institute for Fiscal Studies’ report on graduate earnings http://www.ifs.org.uk/publi cations/8233 it is almost as if the authors have taken their … Continue reading “On the IFS ‘let’s bash HE creative arts’ report on graduate earnings”
- ‘See me. Feel me. Touch me.’ (Pt. 1)by Paul KleimanObject lessons and reflections on the HEA Arts & Humanities conference 2016 Early March. Brighton is an alluring place, despite the chill in the air. The … Continue reading “‘See me. Feel me. Touch me.’ (Pt. 1)”
- On the loss of a child and the kindness of strangersby Paul KleimanTwenty nine years ago, on a bright, blue, cold winter’s morning, I walked out of the maternity hospital in the city where we live, and headed … Continue reading “On the loss of a child and the kindness of strangers”
- Arts Education: banished beyond the Debatable Hills?by Paul KleimanWe have replaced wonder with tick-box excellence, and mystery with an impact case study. If you collect the many dozens of articles written in the last … Continue reading “Arts Education: banished beyond the Debatable Hills?”
- The death of a baby, the kindness of strangers, and a seasonal messageby Paul KleimanAs the year ends and as families gather together to celebrate, amidst the good cheer and good will there is often sadness and grief at the … Continue reading “The death of a baby, the kindness of strangers, and a seasonal message”
- On the Eight Days of Chanukah….by Paul KleimanOver the years we’ve acquired a small collection of menorahs (properly called a hannukiah): family heirlooms, gifts, and a couple we’ve bought. It’s become a family … Continue reading “On the Eight Days of Chanukah….”
- Higher Education and the Myth of the Level Playing Fieldby Paul KleimanFor as long as I can remember, the idea that the many and diverse higher education institutions in the UK are playing, and must continue to … Continue reading “Higher Education and the Myth of the Level Playing Field”
- The Emperor’s Folderol or Tales of the TEFby Paul Kleiman(with apologies to Hans Christian Andersen, adapted from the translation by Jean Hersholt.) Many years ago there was an Emperor so exceedingly fond of excellence in … Continue reading “The Emperor’s Folderol or Tales of the TEF”
- Dialogues of the TEF: considering teaching excellenceby Paul KleimanAmongst the plethora of analyses, critiques, diatribes etc. concerning the recent HE Green Paper, and particularly the introduction of the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), it’s worth … Continue reading “Dialogues of the TEF: considering teaching excellence”
- Autumn fades (1st November)by Paul KleimanOnly a lone crow breaks the chill silence sensing perhaps as autumn fades that winter’s wait is over its time has come. Photo & poem © … Continue reading “Autumn fades (1st November)”
- No, you started it (a brief and incomplete history)by Paul KleimanNo No No, you No, you No, you start No, you start No, you started it No, you started it No, you started it by…. No, … Continue reading “No, you started it (a brief and incomplete history)”
- Family photos (1948)by Paul KleimanWhen my mother, Shirley, died aged 86, we knew that she had kept a detailed page-a-day diary from the age of 16 until the day before … Continue reading “Family photos (1948)”
- Selma Connections: A King, a Rabbi and a Cautionby Paul KleimanLike many, I’ve been watching the commemorations and celebrations of the 50 years since the momentous ‘Bloody Sunday’ on 7 March 1965 in … Continue reading “Selma Connections: A King, a Rabbi and a Caution”
- ‘The war is now nearly over…’ (remembrance of things past)by Paul KleimanAs we commemorate 70 years since the liberation of Auschwitz and, no doubt, in a few months time, the end of WW2, my mother’s journals and … Continue reading “‘The war is now nearly over…’ (remembrance of things past)”
- ASSIMILATIONISM VS MULTICULTURALISM…and the failure of both.by Paul KleimanOriginally posted on Pandaemonium:
One of the key debates in European social policy has been that between multiculturalism and assimilationism. French ‘assimilationist’ policies are generally seen… - Anthem for Doomed Academicsby Paul Kleiman(This has been written as the momentous results of the Research Excellence Framework, known to all and sundry as the dreaded REF, are about to be … Continue reading “Anthem for Doomed Academics”
- A response to the Secretary of State for Educationby Paul KleimanNicky Morgan MP, recently called on students to avoid studying the arts and humanities, and to focus on science and maths. Here is my response:
- Don’t (always) throw away the script!by Paul KleimanThis week, Oct 9th – 15th 2014, marked Baby Loss Awareness week. On the 15th I went to see, and participate in the post-show discussion of … Continue reading “Don’t (always) throw away the script!”
- Jerusalem: City of Mixed Blessingsby Paul KleimanDue to the way their respective religious calendars work, important Jewish and Islamic festivals occasionally coincide. For example, in 2014 while Jews around the world observed … Continue reading “Jerusalem: City of Mixed Blessings”
- On beauty and elegance in educationby Paul KleimanIn his book ‘Fearful Symmetry: the search for beauty in modern physics’, Anthony Zee describes how Einstein displayed a supreme disinterest in any proposed formula or … Continue reading “On beauty and elegance in education”
- Eccentricity, conformity and arts educationby Paul KleimanSome years ago I happened to be standing and chatting to the then German Federal Minister for Education. We were in the (long) coffee queue during … Continue reading “Eccentricity, conformity and arts education”
- From out of the educational wilderness…towards what?by Paul KleimanTwo things became clear to me this week, both connected with education. The first, I suspect, has been clear to many for quite some time, so … Continue reading “From out of the educational wilderness…towards what?”
- A kindness that repairs the worldby Paul KleimanKindness, whether one follows a particular faith or creed or not, is regarded as an essential human virtue, and acts of kindness – whether large or … Continue reading “A kindness that repairs the world”
- On history and all that (Part 2): a marvellous lessonby Paul KleimanI was once privileged to witness the most marvellous history lesson…taught by a drama teacher. It was in a comprehensive school. The students, a mixed class … Continue reading “On history and all that (Part 2): a marvellous lesson”
- On history and all that (Part 1): my deal with historyby Paul KleimanThere’s been much sound and fury recently about the teaching of history in schools, prompted by the pronouncements and interventions of Michael Gove, the Secretary of … Continue reading “On history and all that (Part 1): my deal with history”
- The Elixir of Wonderby Paul KleimanYesterday I spent the morning discussing future strategies and scenarios in higher education. What struck me was that over the course of three hours the words … Continue reading “The Elixir of Wonder”
- Sad, strange days…of comfort but little joy.by Paul KleimanA few weeks ago we were standing by the luggage carousel at Malaga Airport waiting for our cases to arrive. Next to us, also waiting, were … Continue reading “Sad, strange days…of comfort but little joy.”
- Musings on a ‘monsterous’ conference callby Paul KleimanSomething more near Though deeper within darkness Is entering the loneliness. . . (Ted Hughes, “The Thought-Fox”) In the wake of the recent announcement and … Continue reading “Musings on a ‘monsterous’ conference call”
- Forget Excellence…we need wonder!by Paul KleimanPaul Kleiman (First published in the Higher Education Academy’s EXCHANGE MAGAZINE, Issue 7, 2008) Excellence! Everyone is writing, talking, researching, obsessing about it. But what is … Continue reading “Forget Excellence…we need wonder!”
- Where have all the conkerors gone?by Paul KleimanThere are several large horse chestnut ‘conker’ trees near our house. When we first moved on to the street, thirty years ago, and at this time … Continue reading “Where have all the conkerors gone?”
- Why is it so damn hard to get rid of books?by Paul KleimanThere it sits in the middle of our hallway, awaiting departure to the local charity bookshop. A box full of books. Behind the picture is … Continue reading “Why is it so damn hard to get rid of books?”
- Straight to the Core: Gove, the Arts and the Core Curriculumby Paul KleimanNelson Mandela said that “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”, which is why politicians can’t help but meddle. … Continue reading “Straight to the Core: Gove, the Arts and the Core Curriculum”
- Why I’m stumbling with confidenceby Paul KleimanA few people have asked me why this blog is called ‘Stumbling with Confidence’? The phrase stems originally from my research into university teachers’ conceptions and … Continue reading “Why I’m stumbling with confidence”
