Collective improvement of teaching? Some ideas...

Collaborative research and publication on teaching strategies in your discipline

Talk in-house, investigate, then publish on teaching in your discipline. A range of generic journals on teaching and learning in higher education exist, as well as issue specific journals such as Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education, and many disciplines also have journals dedicated to educational issues.

Peer Observation and Mentoring

Get together with a colleague. Video a sample of your teaching review this with a colleague. Sit in on a sample of her/his teaching (lectures, tutorials, or some other learning activity) and provide supportive, constructive feedback. Guidelines and a structure to assist with peer feedback can be found at: <www.csd.uwa.edu.au/spot/peer.html>

Standing item on departmental meetings - “Issues of Teaching and Learning”

Lobby colleagues to have a standing item on the staff meeting, not for ‘business’ aspects of the teaching process, but rather for the discussions and debate of the ‘how’ and the ‘why’ of teaching in your discipline.

TLWC – Teaching and Learning Wine and Cheese

Time’s precious but you’ve got to unwind. What about a good glass of red and a not-too-focussed discussion on the best ways you can think to improve your students’ learning? The students might want to be part of this event too.

SPOT Review Collectives

Get together with a small group of colleagues to discuss issues that arise from your SPOT Reports. This might sound a bit threatening, but with everyone bringing their report and sharing to the extent they feel comfortable, the opportunity is there for identifying common strengths as well as for collective solution seeking where teaching difficulties are identified.

Virtual conversations about teaching and learning

Join an email discussion list in order to share questions and experience about your teaching through email exchanges with other like minded individuals .One example of such a list is AAHESGIT, a highly moderated electronic discussion list from the American Association of Higher Education, focussing on new resources, insights, and challenges about improving teaching and learning with technology in higher education — both within and across institutions. 3-5 carefully selected & edited messages are sent each week. . To subscribe to AAHESGIT, send the message “Subscribe AAHESGIT yourfirstname yourlastname” to: listproc@list.cren.net .

HERDSA conference participation

The annual Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA) conference provides an opportunity to mingle with tertiary teachers from all over Australia and elsewhere. The next conference will be held in Perth in July 2002, so it’s a perfect opportunity to access this valuable learning event with a minimum of effort. See <www.ecu.edu.au/conferences/herdsa/>.

A postgraduate teaching qualification

A formal teaching qualification can assist new teachers gain confidence and expertise, provide experienced teachers with professional refreshment and improve your claim to tenure, promotion or other aspects of career advancement. Many universities in Australia now offer, in inclass mode and as independent study, certificate diplomas and masters programmes in higher education.

Western Australia’s own “Teaching and Learning Forum”

At the Teaching and Learning Forum 2002 you will meet many colleagues from Western Australian universities and some national and international participants. It is a great opportunity to keep up with innovation, share the joys and confront the challenges of tertiary teaching. Hosted by Edith Cowan University, it will be next held in February 2002. See <www.ecu.edu.au/lift/pdc/tlf2002/>.

Teaching & learning activities organised by UWA’s Organisational & Staff Development Services

You don’t have to go far afield to access professional development. OSDS provides a range of central workshops and activities to advance teaching and learning and can also assist with local departmental initiatives. See <www.csd.uwa.edu.au>.

A professional association related to teaching and learning

Membership of an association concerned with teaching in your discipline area can help to promote national and international discussion, debate and innovation e.g. Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA), Australasian Association for Engineering Education (AAEE) , Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI)