How relationships and interaction reveal learning beyond assessment artefacts.

This six-episode season of The Thought Bubble explores how higher education can credibly assure learning in an AI-enabled world. Drawing on OES’s Connected Assurance Framework, the series brings together academic leaders, learning designers and policy experts to examine how learning is designed, supported and evidenced over time. Focused on quality, equity and trust, it offers a practical, sector-facing conversation on building defensible evidence of student capability.

Episode 4 focuses on the relational dimension of assurance of learning.

Hosted by Amanda Ford, this episode features OES subject matter experts in effective online teaching practices, Andrew McLean and Sally Trudgen, who share frontline perspectives from teaching and student support in online and blended environments.

The discussion explores how patterns of feedback, dialogue and interaction build a richer and more reliable picture of student capability over time.

It highlights how these relational signals can strengthen assurance, particularly in AI-enabled environments where individual artefacts may be harder to interpret.

The episode also examines how well-designed online and asynchronous environments can enhance visibility of learning, and the role of relational practice in supporting equity and student success.

This episode discusses the Connected Assurance Framework, which underpins the entire season. This framework is discussed in OES's positioning paper on Assurance of Learning which can be found here: https://oes.edu.au/assuranceoflearning/

Published by OES (Online Education Services) – www.oes.edu.au
Recorded in Melbourne, Australia.

How relationships and interaction reveal learning beyond assessment artefacts.
This six-episode season of The Thought Bubble explores how higher education can credibly assure learning in an AI-enabled world. Drawing on OES&rsquo;s Connected Assurance Framework, the series brings together academic leaders, learning designers and policy experts to examine how learning is designed, supported and evidenced over time. Focused on quality, equity and trust, it offers a practical, sector-facing conversation on building defensible evidence of student capability.
<hr>
Episode 4 focuses on the relational dimension of assurance of learning.
Hosted by Amanda Ford, this episode features OES subject matter experts in effective online teaching practices,&nbsp;Andrew McLean and Sally Trudgen, who share frontline perspectives from teaching and student support in online and blended environments.
The discussion explores how patterns of feedback, dialogue and interaction build a richer and more reliable picture of student capability over time.
It highlights how these relational signals can strengthen assurance, particularly in AI-enabled environments where individual artefacts may be harder to interpret.
The episode also examines how well-designed online and asynchronous environments can enhance visibility of learning, and the role of relational practice in supporting equity and student success.
This episode discusses the <a href="https://oes.edu.au/assuranceoflearning/">Connected Assurance Framework</a>, which underpins the entire season. This framework is discussed in OES's positioning paper on Assurance of Learning which can be found here: <a href="https://oes.edu.au/assuranceoflearning/">https://oes.edu.au/assuranceoflearning/</a>
<hr>
Published by OES (Online Education Services) &ndash; <a href="http://www.oes.edu.au">www.oes.edu.au</a> Recorded in Melbourne, Australia.

The Thought Bubble is OES’ flagship podcast for higher education, bringing together university leaders, policy experts and industry practitioners to explore the ideas shaping the future of learning.

Each season focuses on a critical shift in the sector, combining expert perspectives with practical insight into how institutions can respond, adapt and lead.

From artificial intelligence and student experience to learning design and quality assurance, The Thought Bubble goes beyond trends to examine how higher education is evolving in practice.

Tune into our higher ed podcast for insights on strategic shifts in Australian higher education, shaping the future of academia.

The Thought Bubble is OES&rsquo; flagship podcast for higher education, bringing together university leaders, policy&nbsp;experts&nbsp;and industry practitioners to explore the ideas shaping the future of learning.
Each season focuses on a critical shift in the sector, combining expert perspectives with practical insight into how institutions can respond,&nbsp;adapt&nbsp;and lead.
From artificial intelligence and student experience to learning design and quality assurance, The Thought Bubble goes beyond trends to examine how higher education is evolving in practice.
Tune into our higher ed podcast for insights on strategic shifts in Australian higher education, shaping the future of academia.

Through expert interviews and industry perspectives, season one of OES' The Thought Bubble podcast it explores how universities are responding to technological acceleration, changing workforce expectations and new models of delivery.

The Thought Bubble by OES

As Higher Education is catapulted into the digital era, many in the sector are scrambling to catch–up with the needs of our rapidly changing world. This podcast from OES shares insightful interviews with experts from around the world, examining emerging technologies and the ways in which they’re transforming how we teach, learn, evaluate, and experience Higher Education. Hosted by OES Executive Director, Claire Sadler.

Find out more about what we do: https://oes.edu.au/

As Higher Education is catapulted into the digital era, many in the sector are scrambling to catch–up with the needs of our rapidly changing world. This podcast from OES shares insightful interviews with experts from around the world, examining emerging technologies and the ways in which they’re transforming how we teach, learn, evaluate, and experience Higher Education. Hosted by OES Executive Director, Claire Sadler.
Find out more about what we do: <a href="https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Foes.edu.au%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cjhansen%40oes.edu.au%7C3b5735c2a8894838f2c208da84bacd37%7C57d289898c4541189cde8a03712e508d%7C0%7C0%7C637968235112317827%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=gTmeEN6oxcIVWyhedqRXtg%2FwbQM%2FtVZB7gtG51bMSvc%3D&amp;reserved=0">https://oes.edu.au/</a>

The Thought Bubble

OES experts in online teaching and university program delivery unpack how interactions between students and educators can reveal evidence of learning in ways that expand beyond formal assessment artefacts.

Episode 4: Learning through relationship – The human element that AI can’t see

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/bd83cac2-c86b-4c95-b314-aefb00235aaa/clips/4e98fe36-dd48-40de-b31b-b42e0071356b/transcript