I would-¯recommend this book to anyone thinking about beginning a teaching career in higher education. It provides a highly engaging and accessible style of writing throughout, as Erik communicates how his pedagogical approach places student engagement at the heart of meaningful thinking and learning through collaboration and critical thinking. The chapters explore pedagogy and teaching in a meaningful way, clearly explaining key terms, while the -˜little nuggets of wisdom'-¯offer an excellent conduit towards putting these ideas into practice. A great resource to help educators navigate the experiences of working in higher education. 

Independent Thinking on Teaching in Higher Education is an authoritative book that will be of much value to both new and experienced teachers in higher education, sharing theoretically informed and practically rooted advice on how to plan for better student learning. It offers outstanding accessible guidance for good teaching by drawing on ideas and empirical evidence from practice, and provides thoughtful and wide-ranging analysis of the multiple aspects informing good teaching practice. Furthermore, the -˜nuggets of wisdom' at the end of each chapter provide excellent ideas to implement in our teaching and stimulate our thinking to enhance our practice.  

Essential reading for anyone concerned with, and committed to, offering high-quality learning experiences to their students. 

This book is extremely timely, offering what teachers in higher education want and need: practical support in how to improve their everyday practice. Blair's -˜little nuggets of wisdom' give useful tips that can serve as a reminder to those who have been teaching for some time and as a confidence-builder for those who are new to the profession.  

Supported by an easy-to-read narrative style, Independent Thinking on Teaching in Higher Education is a must for those wishing to give more to their students. 

Independent Thinking on Teaching in Higher Education is a very interesting and timely publication that offers a comprehensive overview of many aspects of teaching and learning in higher education.  

The book asks important questions and offers useful insights into the ways in which the role of a university lecturer has changed over time. There is both a philosophical and practical element to the text, and Erik's voice of experience comes through in a reassuring manner. Each area of discussion is forward-thinking and concludes with challenges to consider and tips to try out. Also provided is a selection of useful teaching tools for those who are new to teaching in higher education and as well as those who offer training and CPD within higher education institutions. 

The author understands very well that the key to successful encounters in education at any level is engagement: getting students involved and interested. Erik employs many useful analogies and metaphors in this regard that I imagine will be used again and again as the book comes into common usage, as it is often quite difficult to offer examples that cover generic principles over a wide range of subject areas. He also weaves key messages throughout the text, such as that of placing emphasis on learning rather than on content or what might be termed knowledge, while other crucial pointers - such as clarity around success criteria and ensuring purposefulness within any lesson structure or plan - are explored too. 

The book provides a great deal of useful background to the debates that have been circling for many years about the purpose of higher education. These tensions are important and Erik provides a portal to understanding why it is so crucial for students to remain critical throughout their studies and into their own careers, whatever they may be.  

Erik also explores the nature of assessment in relation to the pros and cons of the multitude of methods on offer. There is a strong emphasis on the key questions of -˜What?' and -˜So what?' in this discussion, which is a useful reminder when discussing this thorny issue. The reader is reminded that the role of an educator is crucial to every individual's relationship with assessment, whether as a conduit for information, a guide through the journey of discovery or as a cultivator of growth in skills - as each is equally important. 

Ultimately, Independent Thinking on Teaching in Higher Education offers a very reassuring guide to the important things to consider as one develops their craft as a teacher in higher education.