Dr Aisling Reid, Lecturer in Late Medieval Literature at Queen’s University Belfast, has developed an innovative and inclusive approach to teaching that integrates digital tools, kinesthetic learning, and public engagement initiatives. Her teaching practice aligns with key areas of the QUB Education Strategy, ensuring accessibility, collaboration, and employability-focused outcomes for students at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. 

Engaging students with medieval literature presents challenges due to the historical and linguistic distance from contemporary perspectives. Encouraging student participation, fostering digital literacy, and creating meaningful connections with the wider community were key objectives in Dr Reid’s teaching approach. 

Dr Reid integrates multiple pedagogical strategies to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes:

• Kinesthetic Learning: Students engage in hands-on activities, such as anatomical modeling workshops in the MA module ‘Magic and Science in Medieval Writings’, where they build muscle structures on plaster-cast skulls to understand medieval anatomical texts
• Technology-Enhanced Learning: Modules incorporate online discussion groups, automatically marked quizzes, and interactive digital tools such as Microsoft Sway to promote independent learning and collaboration
• Public Engagement: Students present their research at international conferences and the Imagine Belfast Festival, providing opportunities for real-world impact and professional development
• Inclusive Teaching Practices: Dr Reid ensures flexible learning options, including subtitled lecture recordings, hybrid seminar participation, and accessible course materials

• Shortlisted twice for the university-wide SU teaching awards for ‘Most Inspirational Teaching’
• Modules consistently achieving maximum student evaluation scores (5/5)
• Integration of kinesthetic learning practices across multiple modules, improving student comprehension and engagement
• Successful public exhibition of student work, increasing visibility of medieval studies at QUB
• Contribution to staff development via digital learning training and the AHSS digital learning team

• Enhanced Student Outcomes: Improved grades and engagement levels in modules featuring kinesthetic learning elements
• Increased Employability Skills: Students develop digital competency and presentation skills through public engagement initiatives
• Broader Access to Learning: Inclusive and flexible teaching methods ensure participation for students with diverse needs
• Influence on Teaching Practices: Adoption of Dr Reid’s digital assessment methods across the School of Arts, English and Languages

• Kinesthetic and experiential learning strategies significantly improve student comprehension and engagement
• Digital tools foster collaboration, independent learning, and public engagement
• Inclusive teaching practices enhance accessibility and ensure all students can participate fully

“By integrating hands-on activities, digital tools, and real-world engagement opportunities, we empower students to connect deeply with medieval literature in innovative and meaningful ways.” 

- Dr Aisling Reid