This is an online unit and you will need regular access to the internet to participate.

There are five modules on the iLearn site to work through and your learning is supported through learning activities and/or on campus classes. Using the iLearn Discussion Forum we aim to foster an online learning community to promote debate, discussion and exploration of ideas between all participants. This will require regular participation each week, and there is an assessment task connected with the forum.

Internal students must attend the on campus sessions, four of which are held on Wednesday evenings from 5.00pm-7.00pm in room E6A 116; dates are listed on the unit schedule. There is also one Saturday on campus session on May 9, from 9.30-3.30. External students who reside in or near Sydney and who would like to attend are most welcome. External students who do not attend the on campus sessions are expected to complete the Learning Activities that are set for each module.

You are expected to submit written assessment tasks by the published due date UNLESS you have received written permission to submit your work at a later date from the Unit convenor.

 Extensions will only be granted in exceptional, unforeseen circumstances (known workload is not a legitimate or sufficient reason for the granting of an extension). However, some consideration may be available for a student who is prevented by serious and unavoidable disruption from completing any Unit requirements in accordance with their ability. All students have the right to submit an application for Disruptions to Study. Details of how the University defines serious and unavoidable disruption to studies, and information about the processes involved, are contained in the Disruptions to Study Policy (see policies and procedures). Please read this policy carefully as you will need considerable documentation to support your application, more than just a medical certificate.

The textbook for this unit is:

Hunt, L. & Chalmers, D. (2012) University Teaching in Focus: A learning-centred approach. ACER Press Camberwell, Victoria. ISBN: 9781742860312(pbk)

If you are already familiar with this text, and/or would like an additional or supplementary text, we suggest: Tennant, M.,McMullen, C. & Kaczynski, D. (2009) Teaching, Learning and Research in Higher Education. A critical approach.  Routledge. ISBN: 0415962633

Please note: a previous version of this unit guide listed Biggs & Tang 2011 as the text (see details below). If you have already purchased this book, then you do not need to buy Hunt & Chalmers as well. Just let the unit convenor know. You certainly do not need all 3 texts.

Biggs, J. & Tang, C. (2011)Teaching for Quality Learning at University (Society for Research Into Higher Education) [Paperback] McGraw Hill Education. Edition 4. ISBN-10: 0335242758; ISBN-13: 978-0335242757 [Note: Earlier editions of the text will be adequate]

Assessment tasks are due by 5pm on the day designated (except if you are giving an on campus presentation). All assignments are to be uploaded into iLearn. If you are having difficulties with uploading please contact the unit convenor.  Before starting each assessment task you should consult the associated rubric to get an idea of how the task will be assessed. All assessment tasks will need to be submitted through Turnitin, and there are instructions and details in the iLearn unit.

For consultation about any aspect of the unit please contact the unit convenor and make an appointment (perhaps even a phone appointment). Appointments can be made by mutual agreement between Monday and Thursday.

This year we have done a major redevelopment of the material in the unit and contextualised pedagogical theory and practice in contemporary challenges that face educators today. We hope that you enjoy the challenge. Also, in response to feedback from students in previous years, some changes have been made. These include: reducing the number of discussions that are scheduled to be led by students, introducing a policy of removing overly long posts from the discussion forum, and one learning activity has also been removed to provide more time for students to prepare their final report.

The unit has been substantially redeveloped since the last offering. The material has been updated and contextualised within some of the significant contemporary challenges facing educators in the 21st century. We hope you enjoy this new approach.

In addition, in response to feedback from students in previous years, additional changes have been made, including: reducing the number of discussions that are scheduled to be led by students, introducing a policy of removing overly long posts from the discussion forum, and one learning activity has also been removed to provide more time for students to prepare their final report. There will also be formative feedback on discussion forum performance sporadically throughout the unit.