Today was the university's annual conference they hold around this time of year.

This time on the theme of differentiatial teaching for students of differing abilities/needs.

I'm sure I remember the day being more of a day, but now it's a morning. Keynote address - which was so so - and then three slots with four choices each before gathering again for a close. And lunch.

The sessions I chose were a Library colleague doing her reading list thing. Packed room which was encouraging and a good talk/activity from our law librarian that really seemed to engage the academics. Key learning points: annotated reading lists get better engagement, listing out of print books that the Library doesn't have is next to useless (doh!), and of course actually supplying a reading list to the Library so that we can put them into our reading list software really helps students as it connects them with e-resources, the catalogue and the virtual learning environment.

Next up was a cute as a button Swiss academic telling us about teaching students of differing ability German. She had some great ideas and I wish I could have her as a tutor - quantity over quality; some great activities to get learners engaged and using language; an understanding of learner approaches and backgrounds (not one size fits all). Under her tutelage I reckon I'd now be able to speak German!

Finally, and perhaps the highlight, was an older academic and a blind student doing a double act on how they coped with the latter doing a computing degree. Lots of things we maybe already know - don't assume things, but also things counter to what we might be told - don't worry about using language like "let's see how this works..." etc. But what really impressed was when the student whipped out an iPod Touch and manipulated it as easily - perhaps more so - than a sighted person.

Didn't stay for lunch - pretty exhausted by then and never overly keen on the exotica we get fed. So I made the mistake of treating myself to bought sandwiches and chose some New York Deli that tasted awful! Serves me right.