Join Flavio Macau and John Shannahan on how simplifying course design, assessment, and communication can enhance student experience while reducing academic workload.
Simplify It is more than a catchphrase. It is the guiding principle behind curriculum transformation in ECU’s School of Business and Law. In this episode of Staff Stories from the Curriculum Transformation Program, Associate Professor Flavio Macau joins Teaching Quality Manager John Shannahan to reflect on how simplifying course design, assessment, and communication can improve both student experience and academic workload.
Drawing on the transformation of multiple master’s courses, Flavio explains how his discipline shifted the focus to clarity, staged communication, and real‑world relevance, particularly for international students adjusting to university study in Australia. The conversation explores streamlined course planners, pass/fail assessment units, portfolio‑based artifacts, and workplace‑aligned assessments that reduce overwhelm while making learning more meaningful and employability focused.
This episode is an honest look at what it takes to remove unnecessary complexity, rethink traditional assessment, and design learning that works better for students, academics, and industry.
Listen now to hear how a “simplify it” mindset is reshaping curriculum and creating more sustainable teaching and learning experiences.
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