Closing the Loop 2007

Program: Workshop for laboratory demonstrators 2007

This workshop was held on 19th February 2007.

15 Attendees
15 Respondents

The feedback indicates high level of satisfaction with participants finding the workshop a worthwhile experience. The gender ratio was even.

• 100% of respondents agree or strongly agree that the workshop was a worthwhile experience
• 100% of respondents agree or strongly agree that it was pitched at the right level
• 100% of respondents agree or strongly agree that the level of interaction and discussion was appropriate

Program: Teaching Skills Development 2007

Completions:
1st Semester 15
Respondents 15

Participants indicated a very high level of satisfaction with the overall course. They found the course informative, practical and useful and welcomed the opportunity to think through their roles as a tutor in relation to student learning and student-centred approaches to teaching. A few suggested that more time would allow deeper and broader discussions about personal and contextual issues for tutors.

• 100% of respondents either strongly agreed or agreed that the course was well organised
• 93% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that they now have a better understanding of learning and teaching
• 100% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that they did not anticipate any barriers to using what they had learnt
• 100% of respondents would recommend the TSD program to other tutors

Tertiary Teaching Course Feedback 2007

In 2007, 13 staff completed the Tertiary Teaching Course (TTC). The course was offered three times during the year, and on-line in response to numerous requests for more flexibility. A short winter session was included for the first time in response to requests from staff who could not participate during either semester one or semester two. Early in 2008, these staff who completed the TTC were invited to participate in an interview to obtain feedback. Seven agreed and their responses are summarised below.

Respondents generally agreed that the TTC helped them to develop a better understanding of learning and teaching. One participant did not agree but already had a background in tertiary teaching.

All but one respondent was satisfied with the course overall. As is so often the case, the range of strengths noted varied, as did the suggestions for improvement. For example, while one person felt the feedback was terrific, another indicated more would have been helpful.

Two respondents noted that more on-line discussion by course participants would have been useful. Participants agreed overwhelmingly that would recommend the Tertiary Teaching Course to other staff. One did point out, however, that time management was important to mange the assignments.

Respondents noted various aspect from the course that they have, or intend applying, in their own teaching. These include assessment, curriculum related issues, discussion in lectures, and reflection.

Respondents identified a broad range of ‘most useful aspects of the course’. These included, the readings, finding out how other people deal with students’ problems and their different teaching styles, reflection about the process, the knowledge base, the course module information which was well summarised to compliment the readings and link information together, the review of the unit guides, and reading some of the theoretical material. Several commented on how useful it was to discuss issues with colleagues.

There were a wide range of suggestions on how the course could be improved, but most revolved around online discussion by participants, particularly in the short winter session. While the TTC aims to enable flexibility by offering the TTC at various times of the year in response to requests for such, this can be problematic. There were some useful suggestions such as having the tasks on a separate page and providing more information on how to submit assignments. Some respondents asked for more face-to-face interaction. In response to that request, some meetings have been included in the 2008 schedule. However, as was frequently pointed out by respondents, participants also need to be prepared to invest some time in the discussion and interactive components of the course.