Teaching @ University:
Facilitating Excellent Learning Outcomes (FELO)

Two and a half day course for tenure track and contract academic staff

Introduction

The Teaching @ University: FELO course focuses on learning and teaching at the University of Adelaide. The course is designed for staff teaching, or intending to teach, at the University of Adelaide. The Teaching @ University: FELO course offers University of Adelaide contract staff (fixed term and ongoing, Lecturer Level A and above) a convenient way to meet one of the requirements for tenure and ongoing employment*. The course is offered as an initial two days face-to-face, followed by two months online community engagement and support enabling staff to meet the course and assessment requirements. There is a final half-day to consolidate the course and review participants' learning and presentation of project progress reports and certificates. The two and a half day course will be held twice a year during non-teaching times in the mid-semester breaks in April and September with the half day follow up taking place in June and November. Online preparatory work will be required prior to the face-to-face course.

The course takes into account staff diversity and learning needs, encourages active engagement and learning, and includes flexible learning and delivery. The course is aimed to enhance all aspects that positively impact on learning and influence, motivate and inspire students.

* As an alternative, staff may choose to complete University Teaching for Effective Student Learning, the first course in Graduate Certificate in Education (Higher Education) in order to meet the formal requirements for tenure or ongoing employment.

Courses

Semester 1, 2012
Day 1	Tuesday 3 April	9.00 am - 5.00 pm
Day 2	Wednesday 4 April	9.00 am - 5.00 pm
Follow-up	Tuesday 29 May	9.00 am – 1.00 pm
Venue	Seminar Room 2, Level 2, Schulz Building West, North Terrace Campus (map)
	Please note: Online preparatory work will begin 1 month prior to the face-to-face course. Due date for registrations: Friday 24 February.

Semester 2, 2012
Day 1	Tuesday 18 September	9.00 am - 5.00 pm
Day 2	Wednesday 19 September	9.00 am - 5.00 pm
Follow-up	Tuesday 30 October	9.00 am – 1.00 pm
Venue	Seminar Room 2, Level 2, Schulz Building West, North Terrace Campus (map)
	Please note: Online preparatory work will begin 1 month prior to the face-to-face course. Due date for registrations: Friday 3 August.

Flexible Study Options

Attendance is a requirement. Staff who are unable to attend specific sessions are expected to complete the relevant online module for that session from University Teaching for Effective Student Learning, the first course of the Graduate Certificate in Education (Higher Education).

Flexible study options are available. Staff may negotiate to undertake the course as a blended learning program (combined face-to-face and online modes) or to undertake the program fully online if required.

Participants seeking to make use of these options will need to negotiate their study schedule, their group interaction, and their assessment timelines with a Convenor prior to undertaking the program.

Aims

The Teaching @ University: FELO course is the non-award version of University Teaching for Effective Student Learning, the first course of the Graduate Certificate in Education (Higher Education). The Teaching @ University: FELO course aims to assist participants in developing their skills as academic teachers by providing opportunities to:

• interact with colleagues from other discipline areas in a collegial and supportive learning environment
• become familiar with University policies, guidelines, structures, processes, sharing individual/school resources and teaching practices
• experience a range of teaching/learning strategies
• develop understanding of how students learn, related to various teaching strategies and styles
• explore and engage with relevant learning and teaching research and scholarship
• reflect on own learning and teaching experiences, practices and beliefs
• plan and implement a variety of methods to monitor and evaluate own teaching to inform ongoing cycles of improved practice
• receive peer feedback on their teaching
• develop a teaching portfolio, documenting personal learning reflections and professional development
• participate in the two and a half day program and online activities/seminars and community discussions

The course provides a constructive and supportive environment, based on adult learning principles, for staff to discuss issues in university teaching, and to implement changes in their own teaching areas.

The course is interactive and builds on participants' experience and knowledge. Research and teaching are linked, and two teaching sessions (microteaching and peer observation) will provide an opportunity for participants to practise different approaches applicable to large and small groups, with observation and feedback from peers. A discipline-specific project is undertaken in an area of interest. The course is open to all academic staff at the University. Completion of the Teaching @ University: FELO course is one of the requirements for confirmation of tenure or promotion. See also guidelines for exemption for exemption from this course.

Course requirements

A Certificate of Completion is issued, following

• Participation in the two and a half day program, with online completion of any missed sessions
• Successful completion of all four assessment tasks
• Evidence of experience in using MyUni as an 'Instructor', or completion of a 3.5 hour MyUni training course.

Assessment requirements

Course participants are required to satisfactorily complete

1. a discipline specific project proposal
2. a peer observation report of teaching
3. a learning reflection, and
4. a teaching portfolio.

Cost

The cost of the Teaching @ University: FELO course is $250 for University of Adelaide staff.

Enrolment

To book for this course please go to the University Course Booking System.
Please note due dates for registration.
For further information please email clpd@adelaide.edu.au.

Learning and Teaching Resources

Details on print and online resources of relevance.

Additional Optional Modules

1. Developing a Teaching Portfolio

In this practical, hands-on module staff are assisted in developing and maintaining an up-to-date Teaching Portfolio. Bring along your draft portfolio.
For full details see the Developing a Teaching Portfolio page.

2. Spoken Language Strategies for Staff from Non-English Speaking Backgrounds

This module, of 6 hours of contact time, is for staff who have concerns that their spoken English is difficult for students or colleagues to understand.
For full details see the Spoken language for NESB lecturers page.

Cost

These additional modules are free of charge for University of Adelaide staff.
For further information or to enrol separately in these additional modules please email clpd@adelaide.edu.au  

Exemptions

Academic Staff on probation are generally required to complete the CLPD's Teaching at University: FELO course as a condition of tenure. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic) may grant an exemption from attendance/completion of this course, conditional on the Academic Staff member providing documentary evidence, acceptable to the University of Adelaide, of one of the following.

Either:

• completion of a postgraduate award in teaching; or
   
• an equivalent teaching development program offered within a faculty or school of the University of Adelaide or another university. Academic Staff granted tenure under equivalent development program provisions may be required to provide evidence of attendance at an Introduction to MyUni or demonstrate competence in the use of the MyUni system; or
   
• prior university teaching experience AND the submission of a teaching portfolio that includes evidence of the reflective use of student feedback. The teaching portfolio requires evidence of at least four years experience as a university teacher, evidence of improvements to educational practice through reflection, and may include supporting material such as peer evaluation and evidence of scholarly work in teaching (publications, awards, teaching materials, activities conducted, changes implemented, leadership in curriculum and teaching development, etc.).

A member of staff seeking an exemption is required to submit an Application for Exemption form to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic).
Application for Exemption form
Application for Exemption form (MS Word template format - requires macros enabled)

See also: Continuing Employment for Academic Staff (Tenure) Guidelines.

 

For Further Information Contact

Convenor, Teaching @ University course
Associate Professor Kogi Naidoo
Tel 831 36088, Email kogi.naidoo@adelaide.edu.au
 

Convenor, Graduate Certificate in Education (Higher Education)
Dr John Willison, Senior Lecturer
Tel 831 33219, Email john.willison@adelaide.edu.au