Learning and Teaching in Practice/Course guide/Teaching approach
Learning and Teaching in Practice
An exploration of your role and the context where you practice as a tertiary educator.
This is a course from the Graduate Diploma in Tertiary Education programme offered by Otago Polytechnic.
| Learning and Teaching in Practice | |
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| Course Guide | Introduction & overview | Coordinators | Teaching approach | Assessment portfolio |
The learning and teaching philosophy of the programme incorporates adult learning principles, experiential learning approaches and evidence-based reflective practice within a work-based context.
It is based on the tenets of:
- collaboration – learning with and from others;
- conversation – using reflective dialogue based learning activities that respect cultural and personal diversity;
- context – emphasising workplace and lifelong learning, together with the wider institutional culture and requirements; and
- construction of knowledge – based on active, reflective, deep learning approaches.
Principles of learning
The approaches used in this course are based on the following principles:
- Applied theory - exploring educational theories in an applied manner, so that you can integrate them into your practice.
- Experiential - learning is actively experienced both in the classroom and in the workplace using critical thinking, reflection, problem solving and decision making in contexts that are relevant and authentic.
- Expert learner - guiding you to actively engage, take responsibility and practice self-regulated learning - plan, monitor and evaluate your learning.
- Using a mix of directed and self-directed learning activities.
- Flexibility - enabling you to study in a blended (online and on-campus) or distance (online and off-campus) mode at a pace that suits you and in ways which suit your learning preferences.
- Open Educational Resources (OER) and Open Educational Practices (OEP) - enabling readily accessible and shareable resources and co-operative ways of interacting and learning where possible.
- Work-based learning - the work context is the springboard for developing knowledge through exploration (inquiry), practice, collaboration and conversation.
Tools for interaction and communication
A range of tools and approaches is used for interaction with the facilitators and other participants in the course. Use of other tools will be negotiated with you as the course progresses.
- Online discussion forums (e.g., on Moodle) are used for asynchronous interactions;
- Real-time sessions will be held synchronously using web-conferencing via Adobe Connect.
- You will need a personal computer or device (e.g., tablet, ipad, eepad or smartphone) with audio features to take part. (Visual is optional.)
- Detail specifications are available at the Adobe help page.
- You will be provided with full details on how to access the sessions.
- A Moodle news forum will be used for announcements and items of interest.
- You will compile an eportfolio to share your knowledge digitally as it develops, and to prepare formative and summative assessments.
Learning strategies
If you appear to be falling behind the progress expected, the course coordinator will contact you to see how we can help you to progress. We want to see you succeed!
- Plan your learning: set goals for your learning, and decide on the resources and support that you need.
- Allocate deadlines for completing each module, and the topics and activities therein.
- A Study Plan template is available to help with this.
- Remember to include when you expect to complete your assessments.
- email your Study Plan to your course facilitator at the start of the course to enable ongoing and timely support for your learning.
- Monitor your progress: reflect on your learning and whether you are achieving your goals. Decide on the actions you need to take to achieve your goals.
- Set up an eportfolio - use this to share information and ideas, and to collaborate with others.
- Promote your eportfolio to the other course participants and ensure they all have access.
- Find a study partner or join a study group: to share ideas with and to swap detailed feedback on your work (e.g., as comments to blog posts).
- Ask questions: use the Moodle Questions forum if you are unsure of anything at any stage.
- If you have a confidential question, contact Bronwyn.
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