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Clara Hiskey

Clara Hiskey

  • Position: Learning Advisor
  • Areas of expertise: Supporting students' transition to UG study, inclusive and critical pedagogies
  • Email: C.Hiskey@leeds.ac.uk
  • Location: Edward Boyle Library

Profile

I am a Learning Developer with 12 years’ experience working with diverse cohorts of students across a variety of educational settings in the UK and abroad. As an Education Consultant in Hong Kong and an instructor in rural Sumatra, I taught topics ranging from critical thinking and public speaking to EFL in community settings and prisons. I have also worked in community-based education in the UK, coordinating adult education projects for the Workers’ Educational Association. For the past 7 years I have worked within Universities in Leeds, first as a Senior Outreach Officer  in Educational Engagement and currently as a Learning Advisor in the Learning Development Team. I strive to create inclusive and accessible learning spaces which center students’ experience, and provide a welcoming and engaging classroom environment, regardless of students’ level and background. 

My academic interests include the role of Learning Developers in decolonising Eurocentric research and writing practices, as well as the development of students’ critical information and literacy skills through critical pedagogies. I am also interested in potential for library Makerspaces to empower students from diverse backgrounds to develop technical, digital and creative skills outside of their curriculum, and to and facilitate interdisciplinary learning which overcomes traditional class, race and gender stereotypes.  

Responsibilities: 

  • I work with module and programme leads within the Faculty of Biological Science and the School of Mechanical Engineering, advising on the strategic embedding of academic literacies within modules and delivering teaching within these Schools.
  • I co-lead the Skills@Library co-curricular offering, developing and delivering workshops which facilitate the development of students’ academic skills across all subjects and levels. 
  • I deliver one-to-one appointments, guiding students to develop their own academic literacy skills.
  • I work closely with colleagues involved in Student Success at Leeds, focussing on pre-arrival support and working with Educational Engagement and DES as a Subject Matter Expert for the Access to Leeds module. 
  • I am involved in the running of the Library Makerspace, facilitating self-directed learning for students within the space. 
  • I am a member of the AldinHE LearnHigher working group and regularly peer-review resources and provide guidance to colleagues developing academic literacy lesson plans and materials for students and staff. I represent LearnHigher at AldinHE Conferences.  
  • I have been a Subject Matter Expert (SME) and contributor for various MOOCs and online courses, including “The IB Extended Essay: managing your research project” which achieved an average rating of 5* on CourseCentral, and was listed as one of “2019s Most Popular Online Courses” and in “Class Central’s Best Online Courses of 2019”. 

Scholarly activity: 

Hiskey, C. (2018) Developing Research and Study Skills: Support for Supervisors. Leeds University Teacher’s and Advisors Conference (Leeds and London, June and July 2018) 

Hiskey, C. & Nash, B., (2019) Benefits of the Extended Project Qualification and transitions to HE. UCAS Annual Conference for Teachers and Advisers (Manchester, February 2019) 

Hiskey, C. & Vallance, S., (2020) Evaluating the IB Extended Essay MOOC. Leeds Student Education Conference (Leeds, January 2020) 

Hiskey, C. & Schneider, M., (2024) Deficit to development: Rethinking centralised workshops. AldinHE Conference (Glasgow, June 2024)  

Hiskey, C. & Haikney, E., (2024) Supporting students to use AI safely and effectively: reflections on a pilot workshop series for taught students. Academic Libraries North Conference (Leeds, July 2024) 

Hiskey, C. & Schneider, M., (2024) Developing Academic Literacy Teaching for Diverse Learners. Student Success Conference (Leeds, November 2024) 

Responsibilities

  • Learning Advisor aligned to Biological Sciences and the School of Mechanical Engineering

Qualifications

  • BA (hons) Classical Civilisation with Philosophy (Warwick)
  • MRes Classics and Philosophy (Warwick)
  • MA Education and Social Justice (UCL, ongoing)
  • CELTA certificate for teaching English

Professional memberships

  • Fellowship of the Higher Education Authority (FHEA)