It is always Phil Race’s pragmatic advice that I hear whenever I’m with students – particularly when things get tricky – and it’s never let me down. This fifth edition of The Lecturer’s Toolkit is truly the complete resource for anyone working with students in higher education – for those just starting out in their teaching career, for those looking to enrich their students’ experiences (and their own!), and for those shaping and leading learning and teaching in universities and across the sector. I have one book on my desk – and this is it.
Professor Ruth Pickford, NTF, Director of Learning and Teaching, Leeds Beckett University, UK
Professor Race captures what’s needed most by busy teaching staff under enormous pressure as we head to the 2020s: opportunities to consider what makes engaged learning more likely, and prompts to ‘pause for thought’ as to what might work best with your students in your discipline. As important, this toolkit prompts you to manage your own wellbeing. When so much around us is changing, this book is like having a wise and calming mentor at your elbow.
Beverley Oliver, Professor Emerita and former Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Deakin University, Australia
Phil Race has succeeded in preparing the essential handbook for contemporary higher education professionals. He has reimagined the contents for a post-digital era in which online is just another tool in our kit. Every chapter is informed by the very latest pedagogical research but presented in the accessible style of a practitioner who practises what he teaches and cares deeply how we assess.
Simon J. Lancaster, NTF, University of East Anglia, UK
If you are just starting out in teaching – read this book! If you are a seasoned professional – read this book! If, like me, you benefited from previous editions – read this book! A lot has changed in the 5 years since the 4th edition and Phil has masterfully incorporated new research-based evidence focused on what matters: students, learning, and development.
Nick Curtis, Director of Assessment at Marquette University, Wisconsin, USA.
The Lecturer’s Toolkit is a ‘must’ for all those teaching in higher education. It offers sage advice on the enhancement of teaching and deals pragmatically with many complex challenges. The updated version of this seminal text signposts a wealth of new thinking and current research. Phil Race’s inspirational tone will undoubtedly energise all who read it.
Lydia Arnold, NTF, Educational Developer and Principal Lecturer, Harper Adams University, UK
Phil Race is unquestionably a rock star in the community of post secondary education, he is one of the giants in teaching and learning. Having Race’s Toolkit is akin to carrying a talisman – with this in your back pocket or on your shelf, how can you possibly fail as a lecturer, new or seasoned, confident or suffering from imposter syndrome? He distills half a century of experience into easily digested prose, replete with compassion, wisdom and a healthy dollop of common sense. No instructor should be without ‘The Lecturer’s Toolkit’.
Celia Popovic, Associate Professor, York University, Canada
An iconic voice and expert educator who never loses sight of the student, Phil understands deeply the pressures we are encountering now and his empathy throughout his work is palpable. As always, Phil is on top of it all, presenting us with another excellent teaching and learning enhancement resource that is practical, useful and accessible.
Marese Bermingham, Head, The Student Engagement Office and Teaching and Learning Unit, Cork Institute of Technology, Cork, Ireland
Professor Phil Race’s Lecturer’s Toolkit is a classic. This fresh edition provides a plethora of new gems, wisdoms and practical tips, that will be of value for anybody new and more experienced teaching and/or supporting students’ learning in higher education. It is a call for action and interaction, one we can’t afford to miss!
Dr Chrissi Nerantzi, NTF, Principal Lecturer in Academic CPD, University Teaching Academy, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK
Phil Race continuously re-invents the teaching profession with inspiring, new and fresh suggestions on how to promote effective pedagogical practice in Higher Education. This is not just a toolkit about excellent teaching, but also a fantastic professional development guide.
Fabio Aricò, NTF, Associate Professor in Economics and National Teaching Fellow, University of East Anglia, UK.
When I stumbled into academia, almost twenty years ago, the Lecturer’s Toolkit was the most thumbed book on my office shelf. Whether you are an early career lecturer or an ‘old hand’ working in educational development like me, this book offers practical guidance on navigating the complex world of learning, teaching and assessment as well as giving practical guidance on thinking about your own well-being.
Simon Thomson, NTF, Director, Centre for Innovation in Education, University of Liverpool, UK
