[Staff-bulletins] INTERESTED IN IMPROVING TEACHING AND LEARNING IN YOUR , SUBJECTS - PLACES ARE AVAILABLE FOR GRADUATE CERTIFICATE OF , EDUCATION (TERTIARY TEACHING) IN 2006

[Viv Sonntag <viv.sonntag@jcu.edu.au>]

Title: Viv Sonntag

James Cook University (JCU) provides its staff with access to a Graduate Certificate of Education (Tertiary Teaching) [GCETT]. The GCETT has been developed to provide an intellectual basis for curriculum planning and development, and to equip tertiary teachers with specific knowledge and skills. It involves reflection on practice, improved facilitation of student learning, and exploration of innovative teaching activities. JCU also satisfies DEST recommendations of providing access to further qualifications in higher education. As part of the overall strategy of ongoing staff development and quality enhancement, it is possible to be granted credit from the 2 day Induction
program or build on the GCETT and extend the study into the Master of Education degree.

The GCETT will play a vital role in attaining excellence in learning and teaching and JCU gaining funding from the Teaching and Learning Performance Fund operated by the Carrick Institute.

GRADUATE CERTIFICATE
OF EDUCATION
(TERTIARY TEACHING)
2006
Graduate Certificate of Education (Tertiary Teaching)
Length: 18 months part time minimum
Mode: Limited attendance (includes intensives)
Campus: Townsville, Cairns
School: Education.

Course Structure - 2006
The Graduate Certificate of Education (Tertiary Teaching) consists of four x 3-unit subjects (12 units) as below.
Subjects will now be offered in a limited attendance mode â some face-to-face attendance + on-line discussions. ED5304
is not mandatory. The fourth subject could be any other Level 5 subject equal to 3 units.

Subjects are taught by School of Education staff , Teaching and Learning Development staff and invited Internationally-
recognised experts in the field of tertiary teaching. Subjects are available to Graduate Certificate of Education
(Tertiary Teaching), Postgraduate Certificate of Education and other Masters students.

ED5300: 03 Learning and teaching in tertiary education
Dr Maree DinanThompson (Coordinator)
Study Period 1
Block requirement for 2006:
Cairns: 1, 2, 3 February
Townsville: 8, 9, 10February
+ .5 day in lecture recess (April 18-21)
1 day in study vacation (May 29-June 2)
This subject aims to provide a broad introduction to learning and teaching in tertiary education in contemporary society. It explores national and international contexts; critically analyses theories, concepts and practices (including flexible learning) of tertiary teaching; and, the application of these to the participants' own teaching. Material covered includes models of teaching and learning, assessment of student learning, subject design and evaluation, effective teaching of small and large groups in face-to-face and flexible learning environments, and critically reflective practices.

Learning Outcomes:

• build introductory knowledge of theories, models, concepts and practices in tertiary teaching in contemporary face-to-face and/or flexible learning environments;
• critically analyse theories, models, concepts and practices appropriate to the diversity of students in contemporary tertiary institutions;
• explore and analyse implications of models of teaching and learning, assessment of student learning, subject and design and evaluation, within their own teaching contexts via skills of critical reflection;
• embed, use and critically reflect on educational technologies such as learning management systems in effective teaching of small and/or large groups.

Assessment by: Literature review(30%); On-line participation (10%); Negotiated learning portfolio(60%).
Please note that for this subject, partial credit can be awarded to participants who have undertaken JCU Induction program.

ED5301:03 Maximising learning for students
Dr Maree DinanThompson (Coordinator)
Study Period 2
Block requirement for 2006:
Cairns: 26, 27, 28 July
Townsville: 19, 20, 21 July
+ .5 day in lecture recess (September 25-29)
1 day in study vacation (November 13-17)
Prerequisite: ED5300
The context of tertiary education has changed dramatically to accommodate widening participation and the increase of diversity of learners, institutional and workplace demands, changes in technology, and the call for increased accountability. This subject explores a range of teaching and learning approaches for improving student learning outcomes such as adult learning, problem-based learning and
experiential learning in contemporary face-to-face and flexible learning environments. A focus is on student-centred learning in response to changing institutional contexts.

Learning Outcomes:

• trial and analyse a range of teaching and learning approaches (including use of educational technologies) within a context of commitment to quality learning experiences and outcomes for learners in tertiary education settings;
• identify and examine processes and learning frameworks used in the design and development of course content for face-to-face and flexible learning;
• identify and analyse insitutional policies and their impact on learning and teaching in tertiary education.
• Assessment by: Situational analysis â evidence of awareness of student and institutional contexts and influence on learning and teaching in tertiary education (30%), Quality teaching and learning project proposal (10%), Quality teaching and learning project report (60%)

ED5303:03 Research and reflection in tertiary learning and
teaching
Dr Maree DinanThompson (Coordinator)
Study Period 1, 2007
Limited attendance.
Prerequisite: ED5300, ED5301
This subject will extend ED5300 and ED5301 by deepening an understanding of cycles of critical reflection through peer observation, action research, action learning and exploratory practice. It positions tertiary teachers as learners and researchers with the intention of improving student learning, including the context of research supervision. The relationship between discipline-specific and generic research on tertiary teaching will be explored. Participants will be encouraged to build âcommunities of learnersâ grounded in the
scholarship of tertiary teaching.

Learning Outcomes:

• develop, analyse and evaluate practices to gather information, reflect on and reconstruct teaching within teaching and/or supervisor contexts;
• examine teaching and student learning by evaluating ways in which both disciplinary research and research on teaching can align to enhance teaching and student learning.
• Assessment by: Critical reflection tasks (40%), Negotiated action research/exploratory practice project/portfolio (including proposal) (60%)

ED5304:03 Negotiated Project
Dr Maree DinanThompson (Coordinator)
Study Period 2, 2007
Limited attendance.
Available to Graduate Certificate of Education (Tertiary
Teaching), Postgraduate Certificate of Education and other
Masters students.
Prerequisite: ED5303
The purpose of this subject is for participants to design, conduct and evaluate a substantial research project on enhancing professional practice. The subject builds on ED5303, providing opportunities to apply the action research or exploratory practice methods to research on teaching and student learning. The focus on responding to contemporary contexts in tertiary education is emphasised. The research
topic and plan will be negotiated with the course convenor.

Learning Outcomes:

• design, conduct and evaluate a substantial research project on enhancing professional practice in relation to teaching and student learning.
• Assessment by: Negotiated proposal (20%), Negotiated project (80%)

Entry Requirements
The Graduate Certificate of Education (Tertiary Teaching) is a teaching qualification designed for postgraduate students who plan to teach in a tertiary institution, and for anyone who plans to teach or is already teaching in a tertiary institution. Candidates should have an undergraduate degree to enter the course. However, other qualifications may be deemed appropriate.

Please note that this award does not lead to registration as a classroom teacher in schools.

Further Studies
Following successful completion of the Graduate Certificate of Education (Tertiary Teaching), participants with two or more years of teaching experience can choose to complete an additional three-four subjects (many offered by distance mode) to take out a Master of Education by coursework or by coursework and dissertation. Graduates would need to surrender their GCE(TT) to be awarded an Med (TT).
(See http://www.jcu.edu.au/courses/pginfo/PGeducationWEB.pdf for information relating to postgraduate courses in the School of Education.)

Subject fees are $900 per subject in 2006 ($300 per unit).

Fees
Australian students can choose either to pay their tuition fees in advance or apply for a loan through the new Federal Government Postgraduate Education Loans Scheme (PELS). This scheme allows students to borrow up to the limit of their course for each semester. Repayment of a PELS loan is similar to HECS with a minimum repayment threshold and repayment rate dependent upon income. Further information on PELS is available at the following web site: http://www.goingtouni.gov.au

The Student Association fee applies to the program (with the exception of JCU staff who are recipients of fully sponsored professional development places).

Fee waiver for JCU staff
JCU academic staff can apply for a fully sponsored professional development place for which tuition fees and Association Services Fee will be waived, however as the number of these places is subject to limitations, this cannot be guaranteed in advance.

Category 1
Staff who are members of the academic teaching staff employed on at least a 50% fractional appointment and employed on a contract of no less than 2 years.

Category 2
At the discretion of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Staff Development and Student Affairs), staff who are currently teaching and have been employed in casual or short term teaching contracts averaging at least 30 hours per year for three years or equivalent.

Category 3
At the discretion of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Staff Development and Student Affairs), staff who do not meet the criterion for categories 1 or 2 but who are currently teaching 30 hours per year or equivalent.

Application Process
Entry to the program is by direct application to James Cook University. Applicants must complete an Application for Postgraduate Coursework form, available from either JCUâs Student Administration or from Natasha Soundy. Certified copies of qualifications should be supplied with the application form.

Contacts
For more information on admission or for an application form please contact:
Ms. Natasha Soundy
Faculty of Arts, Education & Social Sciences
James Cook University
Townsville Qld 4810
Phone: 07 4781 5189
Fax: 07 4781 4031
Email: natasha.soundy@jcu.edu.au

For further information on the content of the course please contact:
Dr Maree Dinan-Thompson
Coordinator
School of Education
James Cook University
Cairns Qld 4870
Ph/fax: 40552802
Email: maree.dinanthompson@jcu.edu.au


Dr Maree DinanThompson
Senior Lecturer in HPE Curriculum
Coordinator of Grad.Cert of Education (Tertiary Teaching)
School of Education
James Cook University, Cairns
ph. 40421321

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Viv Sonntag
Personal Assistant to Professor Scott Bowman
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Cairns, International & Development)
James Cook University
P.O. Box 6811
Cairns, QLD 4870
Phone:Â [07] 40421131
Fax:ÂÂÂÂÂ [07] 40421130
Email: Viv.Sonntag@jcu.edu.au
URL: www.jcu.edu.au
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