Building inclusive, interactive computer science lessons at Peterborough University
Thomas Courtley
Teaching & Learning Lead
Dr. Raghav Kovvuri, a computing lecturer at University Centre Peterborough, began his full-time teaching journey just one year ago. Despite his PhD in Artificial Intelligence and years of research experience, his first challenge came fast: there were no lesson materials.
“I had to build everything from scratch,” he shares. “But I’d just attended a LessonUp training. I thought—this is really cool, I need to try it out!”
3 main reasons why Raghav keeps using LessonUp at Peterborough University:
Students are Motivated
"Some of my level 6 students had some very low grades, and thanks to LessonUp they improved their grades."
The Power of Real-time Feedback
"I now understand my students much better, and can design my lessons in a student-centric way."
Learning Made Easy
"Through LessonUp’s clean design I am able to offer students simple, clean interactions for maximum results."
Creating from scratch—with students at the centre
When Raghav started designing lectures, LessonUp became his go-to tool. “I decided to create all my lecture materials directly on the platform. That way, I was 100% sure I could make my lessons interactive and student-centric.”
He always starts each class by activating prior knowledge using an open question or a mind map. He prefers to keep his students' responses anonymous: it helps remove the pressure to get things ‘right’ in front of peers. “Everyone can see each other’s insights, but no one feels exposed or embarrassed."
The data from student answers also helps him adjust his lessons in real time, or in time for his next lecture: to build on what his students have learned during the previous lesson.
Turning engagement into impact
One of Raghav's students was ready to walk away from programming altogether. “He found it really, really tough. So I tried to simplify the theory, without overloading it with too much information, and added interactivity through LessonUp.”
That simple shift changed everything.
“He told me: ‘I changed my mind because of your lessons.’”
Another challenge he tackles regularly is mobile phone distraction. Instead of fighting phones, Raghav uses them to his advantage: students now scan a QR code and interact with lessons from their own phones and devices. “They’re no longer distracted by notifications. They’re still using their phones, but to engage with me, and with the lesson content. ☺️”
Teaching with confidence—and evidence
With seven presentations and roughly 80 slides a week, his lessons are packed with interactive questions, videos, and even 10-second GIFs illustrating computing processes. The result? More enthusiastic students, and stronger learning outcomes.
He ends each session with an exit ticket and follows up by analysing the student reports: “Sometimes the data confirms my gut. But sometimes it surprises me.”
One student, for example, seemed highly engaged in class—but wasn’t interacting with the lesson itself. “His grades ended up reflecting the data, not just my impression of his learning,” says Raghav. “I realised I can be biased, and that’s okay.”
By reviewing how students engage with his lessons, he’s able to adjust his approach, and trust that what he’s doing is working.
A teacher’s vision, supported by technology
As an expert in artificial intelligence, Raghav couldn’t resist trying out LessonUp’s own AI tools. Using prompt engineering, he asked AI to generate a lesson structure. “The result was a good foundation I could build on.”
It confirmed something he already believed: simple problems deserve simple solutions. When it comes to lesson design, clean layouts and engaging interactive features help reduce cognitive load, keeping things clear for students who already have a lot on their plates.
“LessonUp is straightforward. Unlike other tools, it just works.”
Join Raghav and the 200,000+ teachers who engage their students with LessonUp!
