Teaching:one way to your academic career
Jaye McIsaac
Educational Developer
University of Salford
22 June 2010
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Introduction - connect to panel outcomes. Pitched primarily for international students. Recognise in academic career, mix of research, teaching and administration - varies over lifetime of a career NB engagement at Salford: relationships with local and regional communities, national and international engagement (conferences), partnerships
Activity: pairs - types of learning: e.g. small, large groups, coaching, supervision, teacher centred Emphasise country where learning took place then compare with your current experience as a postgraduate student
Ideals - but learning in HE isn’t always like this! Active learning (versus passive talking - teaching much more than this) = different roles and responsibilities in teaching practice Student centred - examples of this type of approach - e.g. problem based learning NB: Stereotype of language barrier = student’s can’t keep up - in fact they can (more than home students) because they’re motivated to learn.
NB: Salford’s unique feature - engagement.
Introductory programme: 3 - days with workshops - see SPoRT to register No accredited programme - yet Rethink what ‘teaching’ is - teaching is more than talking in front of groups! It is getting harder to get teaching opportunities - so what do you do? Conferences / presentations Give seminars Volunteer for small group working Ask your supervisor (and team) how you can help Go to workshops - watch how they’re run / facilitated - what do you like? Vitae conferences - early career researchers - you can volunteer to present. Any peer mentoring schemes available? Ask in your School - Associate Head of Teaching a good contact point International students - help new students - what do they need to know? Study Skills - volunteer to help other students who need to learn what you already know
Show HEA subject centre website: Biosciences and Psychology Programmes that offer accreditation or individual routes: NB - you will get this as part of your employment as an academic (teaching programme) Vitae - talk to the graduate studies team to find out about events - volunteer to give a contribution - be prepared to try anything!
Teaching supports research and research supports teaching - research-informed teaching is key in the UK HE sector
Reiterate earlier comments on slide 7
Teaching is both demanding and rewarding - you will learn lots.