Introduction to University Teaching

Intended Audience:

The Introduction to University Teaching programme is part of a comprehensive set of professional development programmes offered by the Centre for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning (CATL). The programme is specifically designed for postgraduate students who are teaching at UWA, particularly in seminars, tutorials or laboratories.

If you are intending to apply for a Postgraduate Teaching Internship in 2010, please do not apply for this programme. (The call for applications for the 2010 Postgraduate Teaching Internship Scheme will be distributed in late July 2009. For those who apply for an Internship but are unsuccessful, you will be offered a place in the semester one 2010, Introduction to University Teaching programme.)

Programme Description:

The programme does not attempt the impossible task of covering all aspects of teaching and learning in depth, but it will provide a solid introduction to the body of research around student learning and effective teaching. For those who have some teaching experience, it will provide a firm foundation upon which to improve your teaching and develop your teaching skills. For those new to teaching, it will offer you a host of tips and strategies, and provide a framework for thinking critically and reflectively about effective teaching. However, effective teaching is not just the application of the principles and practices suggested in this programme. In your role as the teacher you must adapt these to suit you as an individual and the unique context in which you teach.

Programme Components:

The programme comprises a set of professional development activities and teaching experience. The required professional development activities total 14 hours and all participants are paid for their participation in these activities.

Intended Outcomes:

The goals of the program are to give you the opportunity to:

• gain knowledge and skills that can be applied immediately to teaching practice;

• develop teaching strategies with a focus on the learner;

• engage in a dialogue with your peers about teaching and learning;

• gain feedback on your practice as a teacher;

• explore theory and practice in teaching and learning as a foundation for an academic carreer; and

• begin to lay the foundation to engage in reflective practice.

Broad Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this program, you should be able to:

• Use a variety of teaching strategies to enable effective student learning.

• Gather feedback on your teaching using a range of techniques.

• Reflect upon your approach to, or philosophy of, teaching and learning.

• Engage in critically reflective practice to enhance your teaching.

• Work with a colleague in a learning partnership to provide each other with analysis and feedback on your teaching and to engage in meaningful dialogue about teaching and learning.

You are provided with a set of readings on teaching and learning that you can refer back to as you plan and teach your classes and reflect upon the outcomes.

Key Activities:

Professional development activities

The initial three half-day workshops cover:

• Approaches to teaching and student learning
• Small group teaching and the role of the tutor/demonstrator
• Questioning strategies and classroom management issues
• Effective communication
• Feedback on teaching, including peer observation of teaching

Follow-up seminars

• Learning partners: Participants will be asked to forge a 'learning partnership' with a peer in the programme. A learning partnership is an opportunity for you to work with a colleague in a mutually beneficial partnership to provide each other with analysis and constructive criticism on your teaching.
• Feedback: Participants are required to collect feedback on teaching, including SPOT surveys.
• Learning Journal: Participants are strongly encouraged to maintain a learning journal to document reflections on programme activities and teaching practice.
• Reflective Statement: To complete the course, participants are required to submit a reflective statement (of 750-1000 words) no later than the 20th of November 2009. This is not intended to be a summary of the programme material and activities but your reflections on them and your teaching including reflections on peer observation of teaching and your learning partnership.
• Teaching: The opportunity to be engaged in professional development at the same time as undertaking teaching practice means that each informs the other and critical reflection on practice is facilitated. Teaching while undertaking this programme also enables you to make a more informed contribution to the four follow-up seminars and it will greatly enhance the overall experience for the participants.

Requirements of programme:

• Confirmation of support from your Head of School and Research Supervisor;
• Confirmation that your school will match the $250 funding provided to assist with the cost of the teaching;
• Confirmation that your school has provided you with a Casual Teaching contract (if you are currently not on contract) for your payments.

This information will be collected from you before the programme starts. You will be sent an Enrolment Form which you will need to confirm the details and send back to CATL.

PLEASE NOTE: the programme is now full.  You may still register your interest if you would like to be placed on a waiting list.

Duration:

Program Schedule (Semester 2)

3 x ½ day workshop:

• Wednesday 15 July 2009 (9.30am - 1.00pm)
• Thursday 16 July 2009 (9.30am - 1.00pm) followed by lunch 1.00 - 2.00pm
• Friday 17 July 2009 (9.30am - 1.30pm)

Follow up seminars: Wednesdays 1.00pm - 2.30pm, dates TBA

Other workshops and seminars scheduled by CATL (optional)

Date and Time:

This workshop is offered once each semester as per the dates above.

Please note that the programme is now full.  You may still register your interest if you would like to be placed on a waiting list.

Co-ordinator:

Stacey Fox, Centre for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning (CATL), UWA

Cost:

UWA postgraduate students who were not accepted in the Postgraduate Teaching Internship Scheme will receive priority in gaining access to this programme.