Connections in Learning and Teaching

Community site for the Connections seminar series

Connections in Learning and Teaching random header image

Upcoming Seminar: Questionmark Perception

Posted by on July 25th, 2010 · Events, Technology Enabled Learning & Teaching

Questionmark Perception™ (QMP):  A tool for authoring, delivering and reporting on web-based assessments and surveys linked from Blackboard or Moodle

A/Prof Gary M. Velan, School of Medical Sciences

26 July, 12.30 – 2pm

Learning & Teaching Workshop (Room 416), Level 4 Mathews Building

This seminar is intended to provide participants with opportunities to:

  1. Discuss the impact of formative assessments on learning.
  2. Discuss the pros and cons of online formative assessments.
  3. Compare and contrast QMP with other tools for creating online assessments.
  4. Discuss their own plans for formative assessments, and ask questions about QMP’s capacity to meet their needs.

You must register to attend.  For more information and to register online, go to: www.edtec.unsw.edu.au/event_rego/events.cfm

Upcoming Seminar – The Flat World has Swung Open: How Web Technology is Revolutionizing Education

Posted by on July 13th, 2010 · Announcements, Events, Technology Enabled Learning & Teaching

The Flat World has Swung Open: How Web Technology is Revolutionizing Education
Prof Curtis Bonk, University of Indiana
16 July, 10.00am – 11.30am, Learning & Teaching Workshop (Room 416), Level 4 Mathews Building, Kensington Campus

Building on Thomas Friedman’s book, The World is Flat, Curt Bonk’s new book “The World is Open” offers an intriguing look at ten technology trends which he called educational openers. In this presentation he shows how his “WE-ALL-LEARN” model helps make sense of the role of various technologies in open education, including open courseware, open source software, open access journals, open educational resources, and open information communities. As part of this, he will discuss e-books, podcasts, streamed videos, online learning portals, social networking tools like Facebook and Ning, YouTube videos, wikis, and virtual worlds.  Bonk also addresses important questions about the quality of such contents, and how those without Internet access still benefit immensely from these open learning tools and resources. The economic world of Friedman may be flatter, but the educational world is definitely more open than is was a decade or even a few years ago. Open up and enjoy it! See http://worldisopen.com/

You must register to attend at: www.edtec.unsw.edu.au/event_rego/events.cfm

Questions?  Please contact Erin Withers: e.withers@unsw.edu.au, ext 58636

Showcasing Learning & Teaching Practice: Video-clips

Posted by on June 23rd, 2010 · Uncategorized

You can watch a range of Connections presentations by – and interviews with- UNSW and guest speakers here (or go to http://tv.unsw.edu.au/ and search for ‘Connections’).  Clips include:

  • John Shepherd (Engineering) and Alison Rutherford (Medicine) discussing the use of Roleplay in Teaching
  • Simon McIntyre (COFA) presenting ‘Learning to Teach Online‘ Project
  • Christopher Walker (FASS) dsicussing the use of Case Studies in Social Sciences
  • Stephen Kaufman’s presentation ‘Case Based Teaching as Practised at Harvard Business School‘
  • Frances Miley (ADFA) discussing ‘Storytelling: Innovating to Engage Students‘.

New Resources Available

Posted by on May 25th, 2010 · Announcements, Resources, Showcasing Teaching, Uncategorized

We’ve added new resources to the ‘Seminar Resources’ page (see right), including:

  • John Shepherd (Engineering) and Alison Rutherford (Medicine) discussing the use of Roleplay in Teaching
  • Simon McIntyre (COFA) discussing the ‘Learning to Teach Online‘ Project
  • Christopher Walker (FASS) dsicussing the use of Case Studies in Social Sciences
  • Slides from Stephen Kaufman’s presentation ‘Case Based Teaching as Practiced at Harvard Business School‘ (coming soon: Video of Stephen’s presentation).
  • Selena Griffith’s (COFA) slides on ‘Making the Tough Stuff Fun‘.

Plus much more.  Please explore the page and check back for updates.

Upcoming: Presentation by Winners of 2009 Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Teaching Practice, 24 May

Posted by on May 6th, 2010 · Showcasing Teaching

Presentation by Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Teaching Excellence Winners
Peter Sheldon and Tracy Wilcox, ASB

May 24, 12.30-2pm, venue tbc (Kensington campus)

Peter Sheldon and Tracy Wilcox, Winners of 2009 VCATE Awards, will come along to share their practice in learning and teaching, followed by questions and a discussion on the issues and strategies raised.

Please note: No lunch will be served at this event.  Please bring along your own lunch if you wish.

Go here to register: http://www.edtec.unsw.edu.au/event_rego/events.cfm
If you have any questions please contact Erin Withers (e.withers@unsw.edu.au; x58636).

Upcoming – Talking about Teaching: Assessing Less for Better Outcomes

Posted by on February 11th, 2010 · Uncategorized

9 March: Talking about Teaching
Assessing Less for Better Outcomes
Discussion facilitated by Helen Dalton & Giedre Kligyte, L&T@UNSW

This seminar is aimed at providing an opportunity for conversations and sharing ideas and strategies around teaching.   This seminar will be informal in structure and take the form of talking about teaching as “work in progress”.  Please come prepared to share your experiences and ideas.

Venue: L&T Commons, Level 4, Mathews Building, Kensington Campus
Time: 12.30-2pm

A light lunch will be provided by L&T@UNSW with support from ALTC.

To register to attend click here (www.edtec.unsw.edu.au/event_rego/events.cfm).

Film Clip: Using Case Studies in Social Sciences

Posted by on February 3rd, 2010 · Research, Resources, Showcasing Teaching

Christopher Walker from School of Social Sciences and International Studies discusses the way The Social Science and Policy Case Studies course uses structured case studies to teach policy theory and its application.

The course is structured around 3 consecutive case studies, each lasting 4 weeks and culminating in a role play where student groups present their analysis of the issues, including the group representing senior public officials response to the policy problem.

Christopher’s recent journal article: Walker, C. (2009). Teaching Policy Theory and its Application To Practice Using Long Structured Case Studies: An Approach that Deeply Engages Undergraduate Students. International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 20(2). 214-225.

Write-up: Exploring Threshold Concepts: Threshold Concepts in Learning & Teaching, 2nd December

Posted by on December 16th, 2009 · Uncategorized

Exploring Threshold Concepts in Learning & Teaching
Jan McLean, L&T at UNSW & George Hatsidimitris, Faculty of Science

In this seminar Jan presented her work on Threshold Concepts in the field on Learning & Teaching.   In addition, George Hatsidimitris (Faculty of Science) presented examples of using multimedia and animation to support learning of key Threshold Concepts in Physics.

You can download Jan McLean’s presentation on Threshold Concepts in Learning and Teaching here: Threshold Concepts Learning and Teaching

Write-up: Researching Teaching: Research Design & Analysis, 18th November

Posted by on December 15th, 2009 · Uncategorized

Phenomenographic Analysis
Presentation by Jacqui McManus, Learning & Teaching at UNSW

Many of us are interested in investigating the impact of our teaching and courses upon students’ understanding, capability and/or views of learning. This area can, however, be difficult to research.  In this seminar Jacqui presented her research project using phenomenographic methodology to explore learner experiences of a Workplace Learning programme.

You can download Jacqui’s presentation here: research design options_phenomenography_Nov 2009.

Write-up: Talking about Teaching: Teaching as a Global Scholar at UNSW, 4th November

Posted by on December 15th, 2009 · Talking about Teaching

Teaching as a Global Scholar at UNSW: Adaptations and Insights Gained
Facilitated by Colina Mason and Felicity Rawlings-Sanaei

The purpose of the session was to explore the extent to which an academic’s educational and cultural background impacts on three domains of learning and teaching: classroom practice; discipline knowledge and teacher-student relationships.

The session started with Colina and Felicity identifying the benefits of sharing experiences, including: improving campus cross-cultural communications and helping academics to work effectively inter-culturally.  They outlined some of the scant academic literature in the area.  ‘Global scholar’ was defined as someone who adapts their knowledge from one cultural setting to another.

Following this was a facilitated discussion where a number of issues were raised, including:

  • It can be positive for students to learn about a lecturer’s global experiences; this can enculture them as global citizens and encourage them to explore inter-cultural opportunities in their own lives.
  • Importance of contextualising curriculum and providing international examples for the students to see relevance.
  • Try and learn a few words of greeting in the languages of your students as this will go a long way in building relationships.

Follow this link for resources and references linked to teaching International students: http://learningandteaching.unsw.edu.au/content/LT/diversity/welcome.cfm?ss=2.
Follow this link for resources and references linked to ‘Cultural Diversity’: http://learningandteaching.unsw.edu.au/content/LT/diversity/welcome.cfm?ss=2

Please contact Felicity (ext 51645) or Colina (ext 56977) if you would like to discuss the topic further.