Learning, Teaching and Assessment Policy 01 Jan 2021

(effective from 01 January 2021)

Intent

Students are at the heart of our University. JCU is committed to offering a distinctive and relevant course portfolio, developing career-ready graduates, and widening participation through engaging, interactive and flexible approaches to learning, teaching and assessment.

The Learning, Teaching and Assessment Policy underpins JCU’s approach to excellence by assuring the quality of learning, teaching and assessment so that students can have every opportunity to achieve academic success.

Scope

This policy applies to all JCU staff, all stakeholders who supervise students in partnership with JCU, and students enrolled in subjects within JCU’s diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate coursework courses.

It does not include students admitted into higher degrees by research, or JCU students enrolled in subjects at other institutions.

Definitions

Definition of terms used in this policy reflect those in the Policy Glossary in the ‘Student’ and ‘Teaching and Course Management’ chapters of the policy library.

Principles

The Learning, Teaching and Assessment Policy at JCU is driven by the following principles:

Core Principle 1 - Students’ success is built on their whole-of-University experience. JCU is committed to student engagement and success by working in partnership with students and responding to their voice.

Core Principle 2 - Students participate in engaging and futures-orientated courses and subjects. Students are supported through an aligned curriculum with clear statements of intent and demonstrable learning outcomes that respond to professional and discipline requirements.

Core Principle 3 - Assessment is valid, fair, authentic, developmental, transparent, and varied across subjects and disciplines. Aligned and authentic assessment enables students to demonstrate appropriate knowledge, skills and application.

Core Principle 4 - Student learning is facilitated by teaching that is inspiring, motivating and research-informed. Teaching develops and draws on a repertoire of skills and strategies in order to respond to students’ needs, changing contexts and settings.

Learning, Teaching and Assessment at JCU

Source: Inspired by Bernstein (1996), and the Academic Integrity Standards Project (2010-2012).

Policy

1. Students

1.1  Learning and teaching at JCU builds and develops students’ academic, transferable, and career management skills.

1.2  Students’ success is prioritised in the provision of targeted and timely educational support, communication, feedback, and quality learning resources.

1.3  Learning, teaching and assessment practices accommodate student diversity including the under- representation and/or disadvantage experienced by identified groups.

1.4  Learning, teaching and assessment at JCU allows for flexibility in delivery of courses and subjects.

2. Curriculum

2.1  Curriculum design must be:

• Aligned, distinct and coherent;
• Evidence-based, and research-informed;
• Inclusive;
• Responsive to the rich diversity of student backgrounds and future pathways;
• Offered in ways that provide students with some flexibility, while meeting learning outcomes, accreditation demands, and discipline standards.

2.2  Curriculum design includes the development of transferable skills, digital literacy, and authentic learning.

2.3  Course and subject learning outcomes must be specified, consistent with the level and field of education of the qualification awarded, and informed by national and international comparators.

2.4  Course and subject review must be informed by, and responsive to, feedback.

2.5  Course and subject enhancement is led by a cyclical process of design and review.