Associate Professor Rob Phillips Educational Development Murdoch University Perth, Western Australia

Academic History

Murdoch University

In 1998, I was employed at the Teaching and Learning Centre (TLC) at Murdoch to play a leadership role in its strategic move towards online and flexible learning. The nature of my duties varied from year to year, as the TLC restructured, evolved and responded to various budget constraints, and as I grew in my role. In 2006, I was seconded to Central Student Administration as Manager, Open, Distance and E-learning, but in 2007 I returned to the TLC. In 2007, I was seconded 3 days a week to the Australian Learning and Teaching Council to assist with the development of the ALTC Exchange – something like a mySpace for academics.

My major duties have been:

• leadership in open, distance and e-learning;
• supporting academics to become better teachers, particularly through the use of educational technology;
• staff development in educational design and educational technology;
• scholarship and expertise in flexible teaching and learning;
• policy development and implementation of educational initiatives;
• project management of educational development projects;
• management of staff;
• community service through peak Australasian bodies in educational technology.

My publications since working at Murdoch are here. See a copy of my CV. You can also go to my personal home page.

In 2007, I was awarded both the VC's and ALTC citations "For leadership in scholarly academic practice in the use of Information and Communications Technology to improve learning and teaching". I have been a Fellow of the Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia since 2006.

Grants and projects

I have been able to attract $900,000 in grant funding over the last ten years. The most significant grants are described here.

Enhancing the Student Educational Experience through School-based Curriculum Improvement Leaders

Carrick Institute grant for Leadership for Excellence in Learning and Teaching. $199,069

This project aims to facilitate sustainable long-term change in learning and teaching at Murdoch University through developing the academic leadership capacity of a group of key staff to lead curriculum improvement within their schools. It aims to develop a scalable approach to educational change that distributes leadership and responsibility to Schools while still retaining central oversight.

The Impact of Web-based Lecture Technologies on Current and Future Practice in Learning and Teaching

Carrick Institute competitive grant in the category of Innovation in Learning and Teaching, particularly in relation to the role of new technologies. This is an Innovative Research Universities of Australia collaboration. $192,175

This project is conducting research into the use of web-based lecture technologies used for recording and delivering lecture experiences to students both on and off campus. It is a consortium application between Macquarie, Murdoch, Flinders and Newcastle universities. A very successful collaboration has been developed, and the project is proceeding very smoothly. Student and staff surveys have been administered, and in-depth interviews have been conducted. Preliminary results point to some important implications for flexible learning and teaching, and the role of lectures and lecturers.

Staff Development in Evaluation of Technology-based Teaching Development Projects: An Action Inquiry Approach

Committee for University Teaching and Staff Development grant with ASCILITE and a consortium of 11 universities. $101,740

In 1999 and 2000, I led a CUTSD funded project about staff development in evaluation of technology-based teaching development projects. During 2000, 41 university staff from all over Australia took part in 20 evaluation studies, supported by 11 mentors. Participants were assisted by a draft Evaluation Handbook.

The project final report contained an independent evaluation of the conduct and effectiveness of the project, which indicated that it "largely achieved its stated outcomes".
"Given the ambitious and complex project, the project has been largely implemented as planned and has achieved its outcomes to a considerable measure."

Personal Characteristics

• leader with a collaborative and collegial approach to management;
• team bulder;
• strong commitment to 'customer' service;
• problem solving;
• big-picture thinking;
• lateral thinking – thinking 'outside the box';
• strong analysis skills;
• keen eye for detail and inconsistencies;
• excellent proof-reader;
• strong internal locus of control – if something needs to be done, I get out there and do it.

Technical Computing Skills

I have a good background in both Macintosh and Windows, but prefer Macs. Before moving into academic staff development, I had extensive experience in user support work. Prior to that I had many years experience in scientific programming with FORTRAN. I have also been a systems programmer on numerous mainframe computers. I also used to like stretching what authoring languages such as Allegiant Supercard and Oracle Media Objects could do.

Qualifications

1972-1975 Bachelor of Science with Honours (2A) in the Department of Physical and Inorganic Chemistry, University of W.A. Thesis title: Investigation of the Photovoltaic Effect in Solutions of Lanthanoid Ions.

1977-1982 Doctor of Philosophy, Department of Physical and Inorganic Chemistry, University of W.A. Thesis title: A Theoretical Investigation of the Molecular Properties and Spin Densities of some Selected Compounds of Co, Cr and Ni.

1986-1987 Graduate Diploma of Computing Science, Department of Information Science, University of Tasmania.

Previous work history in Educational Technology

Prior to Murdoch, I worked in the School of Communications and Multimedia at Edith Cowan University for most of 1998. I taught in the first year unit IMM1101, which is an overview of the principles of Interactive Multimedia; and IMM3202/4201, which is a final year unit on project management. Joe Luca and I developed IMM3202/4201 for online delivery through WebCT.

I used to work in the Academic Services section of the Computing Centre at Curtin University, where my main task was general promotion of the academic use of Information Technology (IT). Part of this involved the promotion of Interactive Multimedia (IMM) and Web-based applications for learning with IT, but extended into the management of IMM project development. Unfortunately, a restructure and budget cuts led to my contract there not being renewed.

I have edited and authored much of a book about IMM development in academic environments. The Developer's Handbook to Interactive Multimedia was published by Kogan-Page in 1997.

My Educational Technology publications prior to Murdoch are shown here.

Previous work history in Theoretical Chemistry

Prior to 1992, my research was in the area of theoretical quantum chemistry. I worked for three years with a world leader in this field, Prof. R. J. Buenker, and subsequently at the University of Tasmania. See the list of publications from this part of my career.