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Gaining Foundation Skills for Learning and Teaching
From WikiEducator
This page contains information, content and resources for the course Gaining Foundation Skills for Learning and Teaching, which is a level 5 elective course within the Graduate Certificate in Tertiary Learning and Teaching - level 7 (GCTLT), delivered by the Educational Development Centre (EDC) at Otago Polytechnic, Aotearoa New Zealand.
Gaining Foundation Skills for Learning and Teaching (GFS) provides an introduction and overview of useful skills and knowledge for those new to tertiary teaching. It can also be used as a great refresher of sometimes forgotten basics for those who have been teaching adults for a while.
Material introduced in the GFS course is developed further in the four core courses of the GCTLT. To find out more about the programme read the GCTLT information sheet 2009
The formal Gaining Foundation Skills for Learning and Teaching course consists of a consecutive 3-day face-to-face workshop (10th to 12th February 2009) followed by 5 weeks of online interaction, there is also an expectation of independent study.
Participants can formally enrol by emailing EDCEnquiries@tekotago.ac.nz.
Course Aims
To provide participants with information, skills and support enabling lecturers new to teaching to offer quality learner centred education to tertiary students.
Course Learning Outcomes
At the successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:
- use a tool kit of basic learning strategies;
- recognise and support a variety of learning styles;
- reflect upon and evaluate own teaching to identify ways of improving practice;
- develop familiarity with, and the ability to use, basic teaching resources and equipment;
- explore the principles and practices of online pedagogy;
- create and critique a session/learning sequence;
- deliver a learner centred teaching/education session in an appropriate context;
- demonstrate culture sensitive learning and teaching practices;
- discuss assessment and evaluation terminology and practices and consider the usage of a range of evaluation tools.
Course Schedule
Welcome and Introductions
Welcome to Gaining Foundation Skills for Teaching and Learning or GFS for short. I'm Heather Day the course facilitator and I hope this course provides you with an introduction to teaching and learning that leaves you feeling better prepared as you facilitate the learning of other adults in tertiary environments.
The schedule below is for formal learners in the course. Informal learners are welcome to dip into the resources and play with the information shared in the hope that it adds to your own learning.
Attached is the course outline for formal participants.
Course Workshop (10-12 Feb 09)
The course begins with a 3-day workshop covering the following areas:
- Introductions
- Teaching in tertiary settings
- Approaches to learning
- Learning styles
- Session planning
- Teaching methods
- Introduction to WikiEducator & the Blackboard (Learning Management System)
- Introduction to assessment practices
- Practical teaching sessions
- Peer feedback
- Self evaluation for professional development
NB Material in the sections below will increase steadily as the course progresses over the next few weeks and material is transferred from a closed source learning system.
Week 1 - Learning & Session Planning (Feb 16-20)
To Do
Explore the learning and lesson planning modules linked above remember to right click (or control click for Mac users) on the coloured module names above and open the links in a new tab which makes it easier to move between the pages.
Formally enrolled users then need to log into the 'Blackboard' discussion board and go to the Teaching and Learning Discussions thread. Don't forget to introduce yourself if you haven't already done so on the discussion board.
Links and Resources (at a glance)
Approaches to Study “Deep” and “Surface”
Deep and Surface Approaches to Learning
Teaching Tips for Session Planning
session plan in a structured table format
Week 2 - Teaching Methods & Teaching Resources (Feb 23-27)
GFS Teaching/Facilitation Approaches Module
To Do
Review some of the teaching material and resources in the learning module. Click on the module title above the picture.
Formally enrolled users can then log into the 'Blackboard' discussion board and go to the Teaching and Learning Discussions thread. Add your thoughts to the thread entitled Teaching methods and teaching resources.
Links and Resources (at a glance)
Ten Tips for New Trainers/Teachers
Week 3 - Assessment Principles (Mar 2-6)
GFS Assessment Introduction Module
To Do
Explore the assessment introduction module linked above remember to right click (or control click for Mac users) on the coloured module name above and open the link in a new tab which makes it easier to move between the pages.
Formally enrolled users then need to log into the 'Blackboard' discussion board and go to the Teaching and Learning Discussions thread. Engage with others and also add your thoughts to the thread entitled assessment principles exploring whether or not assessment enhances student learning.
Links and Resources (at a glance)
Wordle image of Assorted Assessments
The fundamentals of effective assessment
Glossary of useful assessment terms
Week 4 - Online Pedagogy (Mar 9-13)
GFS Introducing Online Pedagogy Module
To Do
Explore the module linked above remember to right click (or control click for Mac users) on the coloured module names above and open the links in a new tab which makes it easier to move between the pages.
Formally enrolled users then need to log into the 'Blackboard' discussion board and go to the online learning debate thread within the Teaching and Learning Discussions forum.
Links and Resources (at a glance)
What Online Students Want to Tell Faculty
Tips and tricks for teaching online
The Seven Principles for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education
NB: Online pedagogy is explored further and developed in depth in the GCTLT courses Flexible Learning and Constructing Courses to Enhance Learning.
Week 5 - Self and Peer Review (Mar 16-20)
GFS Introducing Self and Peer Review Module
To Do
Explore the module linked above. Formally enrolled users then need to log into the 'Blackboard' discussion board and share your thoughts regarding self and peer review on this thread within the Teaching and Learning Discussions forum.
Links and Resources (at a glance)
Lecturer self evaluation checklist
Assessment
To pass the formal course: Participants must - undertake and successfully complete all assessment activities.
There are two assessment activities. An on line activity that involves ongoing participation in a discussion board on learning and teaching and one written assessment exploring teaching practice. These collectively cover all learning outcomes.
Learning and Teaching Discussions – complete by Friday 20 March 2009
Teaching Practice Self Evaluation – due by Thursday 9th April 2009
Assessment Activities and Criteria
1. Learning and Teaching Discussions
Activity
Participate in the discussions on the Gaining Foundation Skills online discussion board sharing your thoughts and experiences related to the topics that are discussed.
Assessment
Whilst participating in the online discussions 3 of your postings must meet the following assessment criteria:
Marking criteria
Achievement of the following criteria will result in a successful pass for this assessment:
- One posting must relate to the topic of assessment
- One posting must relate to the topic of online learning
- The two postings mentioned above and one other all must:
- -- Acknowledge relevance to your own teaching context
- -- Be supported with rationale &/or literature &/or examples
Due Date:
all 3 postings to be assessed must be posted on the chosen online discussion board by Friday 20 March 2009
2. Teaching Practice Self Evaluation
Submit a written evaluation of a teaching session you have facilitated. Include a copy of your lesson plan and the written feedback from the observer
– see the process outlined below. (Word count guide = 800 to 1200 words)
Activity
1. Plan and facilitate a learner centred learning session
2. Have an observer present during this session. The observer will be required to give you written feedback on this session. (Full guidelines for the observer will be available)
Assessment
3. Write an evaluation of your facilitation of this session and include comment on the feedback from your observer.
The evaluation must include comment on the:
- Context (who, where, when)
- Planning
- Teaching approaches used and rationale for their choice
- Use of resources
- Evaluation of your own practice
- Observer’s feedback and your thoughts on this
- What you would continue to do and ways of improving your practice
Marking criteria
Achievement of the following criteria will result in a successful pass for this assessment:
- Description of the learning session including context
- Discussion of how diversity was acknowledged
- Evaluation of the teaching approaches used including the resources used
- Evaluation of own teaching style
- Comment on the observer’s feedback
- Identification of what you would continue to do and what you would change
- Your discussion is supported with some literature sources
- --- Word processed with specific and consistent referencing (preferably APA style)
- --- Material well structured and presented
- --- A clear session plan included
- --- Written feedback from observer included
Due Date:
must be submitted by Thursday 9th April 2009 (but can be completed earlier)
Submit by email or in hard copy to the Course Facilitator
Grading: There are 2 grades only in this course: passed or not passed
Referencing
The final assessment requires you to include references to some of the extra material you have been reading.
The following links take you to some useful resources to help with referencing.
Citation Machine is a great website that takes you through all the steps of adding the information required for a reference then produces the formatted reference for you. You can then cut and paste it into your document. Very handy.
APA Referencing Guide is a great website that clearly describes all the information you would need to produce APA references. I'd particularly recommend the sections on in-text citations and the reference list sections. Quick access buttons for these can be found at the bottom of the first web page.
