Learning and Teaching Initiatives

2008-2010 Education Plan

University Learning and Teaching Committee

Division of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic) Newsletter with information on learning and teaching.

University of Adelaide Awards for University Teaching
Vice-Chancellor and President's Award for Excellence in Teaching and the Stephen Cole the Elder Awards for Excellence in Teaching.

The introduction of the Learning and Teaching Performance Fund has had a positive impact within the University in eliciting a greater focus on student experience and innovation in learning and teaching, and in drawing attention to existing and new mechanisms to support and reward excellence in teaching. The funds received by the University in the 2007 round have been reinvested in innovative projects addressing a broad range of institutional priorities in the area of learning and teaching. Some examples include the development of processes and systems designed to identify students at risk, teaching support for sessional teachers and clinical titleholders and curriculum development and review.

The Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC)
The Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC) was established by the Commonwealth Government with the aim of promoting and advancing learning and teaching in Australian higher education.

The University of Adelaide has been successful in achieving a number of ALTC Awards, Fellowships and Grants in recognition of the quality of its learning and teaching.

Citations for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning
Citations were awarded to eight University teaching staff for 2008 Citations, namely:

• Dr Karin Barovich
• Associate Professor Tom Burton
• Dr Katrina Falkner
• Associate Professor Simon Pyke
• Professor Hemanta Sarma
• Associate Professor David Walker
• Team award: Associate Professor Peter Devitt & Mr Edward Palmer

Citations were awarded to all eight of the University's nominees for 2007 Citations, namely:

• Dr Peter Ashman
• Dr Colin Kestell
• Associate Professor Elizabeth Koch OAM
• Associate Professor Maree O'Keefe
• Ms Lucy Potter
• Associate Professor Anne Tonkin
• Associate Professor Tracey Winning
• Team award: Associate Professor Mark Buntine & Mr Justin Read

Seven University of Adelaide teaching staff were awarded in the 2006 Citations, namely:

• Dr Ben Cazzolato
• Dr Anna Chur-Hansen
• Associate Professor Mark Jaksa
• Associate Professor Amanda LeCouteur
• Associate Professor Holger Maier
• Dr Joy McEntee
• Associate Professor David Paton

Australian University Award for Teaching Excellence
Associate Professor Holger Maier was presented with an Australian University Award for Teaching Excellence in 2006. [Read more]

ALTC Associate Fellowship
Professor Geoffrey Crisp was awarded a prestigious ALTC Associate Fellowship for excellence in learning and teaching in 2006. [Read more]

See: www.adelaide.edu.au/dvca/grants/carrick/

Summary of participation in staff development programs in learning and teaching:
Selected Centre for Learning and Professional Development Statistical Information

• Teaching Development for New Academic Staff
• Introduction to Tertiary Teaching
• Sessional Staff Development
• Graduate Certificate in Education (Higher Education)
• Graduate Certificate in Online Learning (Higher Education)

Tenurable academic staff are required to undergo reviews in accordance with the rules relating to "Continuing Employment For Academic Staff (Tenure)", (University of Adelaide Collective Agreement 2006-2008, clause 8. Teaching (and related duties) including evaluation by students and evidence of teaching expertise).

Staff are required to provide evidence of evaluation of teaching in the last 3 years and explain how that evaluation has contributed changes in their teaching practice, in accordance with the Promotions Policy (Academic Staff and Titleholders).

Assessment against the criteria for tenure and promotion includes evaluation of evidence provided by applicant, including SELT.

Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT)
The SELT Policy provides guidelines for evaluating learning and teaching processes and practices to enable the University and individual teaching staff to continue to improve student learning outcomes with an emphasis on student centred, lifelong learning.

• Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) System
• Student Experience of Learning and Teaching Policy

Aggregated reports of the SELT (Student Experience of Learning and Teaching) course and teacher surveys conducted by each academic Faculty and their associated Schools and Disciplines for each academic year listed are available at: www.adelaide.edu.au/clpd/evaluation/aggregates/.
Summary aggregate reports are available for the Faculty, School and Discipline (where available and where course SELT surveys were conducted).
Summary aggregate reports are also available for the University of Adelaide as a whole.