28 January: Mental Health First Aid (Standard) Refresher - Townsville

This face-to-face course allows people who have previously completed the 12 Mental Health First Aid course to refresh their knowledge and skills including:

• Gaining an understanding of the latest research in the mental health field
• Learning the 3 key actions for helping someone feeling suicidal
• Working through complex mental health first aid interactions
• Practicing mental health first aid skills.

For people who are Accredited MHFAiders, the refresher courses offer an opportunity to extend their accreditation for a further 3 years.

For further information and bookings, contact Larissa Siliézar, Manager Student Equity and Wellbeing, at Larissa.Siliezar@jcu.edu.au

1 February:  Inclusive learning design:  quality and accessible learning

Details to come soon!

3 February: Mental Health First Aid for Suicidal Persons - Townsville

The Mental   Health   First   Aid for  the Suicidal  Person  course  will  teach  you how  to  identify, approach and support someone who is experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviours using a practical, evidence based Action Plan. You will also have the  opportunity to practise your new  skills in a safe environment.

Course Content

• How to identify warning signs for suicide
• How to confidently support a person in crisis
• How to help the person stay safe
• How to connect someone to appropriate professional help

Cost: the Mental Health First Aid for the Suicidal Person cost is $20, includes materials and delivery (self-catered).

For further information and bookings, contact  Larissa Siliézar, Manager Student Equity and Wellbeing, at Larissa.Siliezar@jcu.edu.au

4 - 5 February: Learning & Teaching @JCU: Induction for new full-time academic staff with teaching responsibilities - Cairns and Townsville

Foundations of Learning and Teaching @JCU is a two-day program for all newly appointed full-time academic staff with teaching responsibilities, which is to be completed as part of employment probation. Visit the Induction for New Academic Staff page for further information and instructions on how to register.

5 February: Mental Health First Aid (Standard) Refresher - Cairns

This face-to-face course allows people who have previously completed the 12 Mental Health First Aid course to refresh their knowledge and skills including:

• Gaining an understanding of the latest research in the mental health field
• Learning the 3 key actions for helping someone feeling suicidal
• Working through complex mental health first aid interactions
• Practicing mental health first aid skills.

For people who are Accredited MHFAiders, the refresher courses offer an opportunity to extend their accreditation for a further 3 years.

For further information and bookings, contact  Larissa Siliézar, Manager Student Equity and Wellbeing, at Larissa.Siliezar@jcu.edu.au

11 February: First Year Experience Stakeholder Seminar - Transition Challenges and Advice

Are you teaching or supporting first year students?
Come along to our annual professional development session, which will focus on common challenges that commencing students face at JCU.   As professional and academic staff, it is important to understand barriers for success, so we can improve the student experience and support their long-term aspirations.
Looking forward to seeing everyone at the seminar.

To register, please click here and select "11 Feb: First Year Experience Stakeholder Seminar" from the drop-down box.

12 February: Student Support Showcase

JCU offer a wide range of free support services and activities to help students with their academic success as well as their physical, emotional, financial and social wellbeing.
This fast-paced showcase will deliver snapshots of all the support services at JCU to help academic and professional staff provide quality referrals and advice to commencing and continuing students.
Presentations from: The Learning Centre, Student Mentor Program, Careers and Employment, JCU Student Association, Student Equity and Wellbeing, Student Centre, International Student Support

To register for the Cairns Showcase, please click here
To register for the Townsville Showcase, please click here

12 February: JCU Citation Information Session

JCU Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning are awarded to individual academics or teams of academics who have demonstrated an outstanding and effective contribution to student learning and success.

This workshop will  explain the criteria, outline the procedure and timelines, help you determine your innovative and creative learning practice(s), and provide examples of narrative text and evidence bases for you to refer to in your compilation.

To register, please click here and select "12 Feb: JCU Citation Info Session" from the drop-down box.

15 February: AHE Fellowship Information Session

Professional Development Opportunity
Supported Associate Fellowship, Fellowship or Senior Fellowship
Application for recognition with advance HE (UK)

Acknowledge your commitment to professionalism in learning and teaching in higher education - over 124,000 Fellows across the world!

Find out more about what Fellowships have to offer you - Advance HE

To register, please click here and select "15 Feb: AHE Fellowship Info Session (Academic)" from the drop-down box.

16 February: Sessional Staff Induction - Part 1

James Cook University sessional staff who are new to teaching or returning after more than three years are required to attend induction as part of their ongoing appointment. The program is presented as a 2 x 2 hour workshop and is available for new teaching staff at the beginning of each semester. Visit the Sessional Staff induction page for session information and instructions on how to register.

23 February: Sessional Staff Induction - Part 2

James Cook University sessional staff who are new to teaching or returning after more than three years are required to attend induction as part of their ongoing appointment. The program is presented as 2 x 2 hour workshop and is available for new teaching staff at the beginning of each semester. Visit the Sessional Staff induction page for session information and instructions on how to register.

17 March: Record with Mediasite

Mediasite Desktop Recorder (MDR) is an easy to use, desktop capture solution that integrates with LearnJCU.

Our upcoming webinar will demonstrate how to use MDR to record topical videos and Powerpoint presentations plus go through the tips for success and the easiest ways to share your videos with students.

Prior to joining on Tuesday, please go to our MDR help guide to find out more about it and also visit our registering MDR guide to install it.

Collaborate Room - record with Mediasite (join us at 1pm), please register here.

18 March: Communicate with Collaborate

Blackboard Collaborate is an easy to use, reliable web conferencing solution for education and training, and is conveniently located in every LearnJCU subject site.

Our upcoming webinar will demonstrate how to use BB Collaborate to deliver and record information sessions, tutorials, lectures, meetings plus all the easy to use functions such as chat, whiteboard, file and application sharing, polling, breakout rooms and more.

Prior to joining on Wednesday, please go to our Collaborate help guide to see what you need to join a BB Collaborate session and take a test run as a moderator or a student.

Collaborate Room - Communicate with Collaborate (join us at 11am), please register here.

18 - 20 March: Open Sessions - Learn the basics in Mediasite and Collaborate

Student Digital Assistants will be running open sessions on the basics of using Mediasite and Collaborate.  If you are interested in attending please ensure you join at the beginning of the session, if you are running late please attend the next available session.

Mediasite Basics:

• Installing Mediasite Desktop Recorder (MDR)
• Registering MDR
• Recording with MDR
• Publishing Mediasite recordings to your subject site

Collaborate Basics:

• How to access a subject's Collaborate room
• Camera and audio set up
• Recording how to start and stop
• View users and chat functions

Prior to joining any of our Collaborate Basics' sessions, please go to our Collaborate help guide to see what you need to join.

12 March: Foundations of Learning and Teaching @JCU: New Staff Networking Breakfast

Staff who undertake the Foundations of Learning & Teaching @JCU in February will be invited to attend a networking breakfast. Email invitations will be sent following the induction, but please note the date in your diary!

23 - 27 March: Online Open Office Hours for Mediasite and Collaborate

Online open office hours are available for all staff from the 23 March.  These open hours will give you the chance to ask specific questions regarding Collaborate and Mediasite.

Before you attend please review the following screencasts and resources:

• Collaborate for moderators’ screencast and resources
• Record with Mediasite screencast and resources

Practice

By having a go at using the tools and following the demonstrations.

Ask

By coming along to our open hours and asking any questions you may have regarding the tools.

Schedule for online open office hours

Advice for attending our virtual rooms

Prior to joining any of our Collaborate Basics' sessions, please go to our Collaborate help guide

Reminder about copyright

Copyright is an important consideration; the Library will offer sessions and support in the upcoming weeks.  An Info_BYTE with further details will come out shortly.

2 April:  Mental Health First Aid for Suicidal Persons - Cairns

The Mental   Health   First   Aid for  the Suicidal  Person  course  will  teach  you how  to  identify, approach and support someone who is experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviours using a practical, evidence based Action Plan. You will also have the  opportunity to practise your new  skills in a safe environment.

Course Content

• How to identify warning signs for suicide
• How to confidently support a person in crisis
• How to help the person stay safe
• How to connect someone to appropriate professional help

Cost: the Mental Health First Aid for the Suicidal Person cost is $20, includes materials and delivery (self-catered).

For further information and bookings, contact  Larissa Siliézar, Manager Student Equity and Wellbeing, at Larissa.Siliezar@jcu.edu.au

7 April:  Capstone Experience Stakeholder Seminar

Details to come soon!

7 April:  Embedding Employability in Your Curriculum

Details to come soon!

20 April:  AHE Fellowship Writing Workshop

Details to come soon!

21 April:  Course Coordinator Essentials Forum

The Course Coordinator Essentials Forum aims to enable Course Coordinators to fulfil their responsibilities as per the Charter of Academic Responsibilities for Academic Quality and Governance. The forum comprises  essential topic areas led by various JCU presenters.

Further details to come soon!

22 April:  SoTL Series: Planning your SoTL Project

Details to come soon!

To register, please click here and select "22 April: SoTL Series" from the drop-down box.

2 June: Subject Coordinator: Advanced Forum

Engaging students in online learning and maintaining staff and student wellbeing are current hot topics in the higher education sector. This workshop will support Subject Coordinators with actionable strategies for continuing to refine your online teaching practice in order to support student learning. In addition, it will also provide you with some strategies to support your own wellbeing as well that of your students.

Registrations will be taken through My HR Online. 

3 June: Teaching Diverse Students: Pedagogies that make a Difference for Linguistically Diverse Students

This workshop will guide attendees from understanding EAL/D students to rendering teaching to be EAL/D students aware. Drawing on theories from educational psychology and curriculum design, the presenter will demonstrate some key components to transform subjects online and accommodate EAL/D students. The topics cover tips to engage EAL/D students in online discussion, ease EAL/D students into processing teaching materials etc.

To register, please click here and select "3 Jun: Teaching Linguistically Diverse Students" from the drop-down box.

4 June: Course Coordinator Essentials

The Course Coordinator Essentials Forum aims to enable Course Coordinators to fulfill their responsibilities as per the Charter of Academic Responsibilities for Academic Quality and Governance. The forum comprises three essential topic areas led by expert JCU presenters including:

1. Expectations of the role.
2. Leading from the middle: Strategies for effective leadership and management of a course.
3. Course performance reports (CPR) and QILT data.

Registrations will be taken through My HR Online. Please follow the procedure outlined below, and select the Learning, Teaching & Student Engagement option for your campus. Please email ltse@jcu.edu.au for details.

Please advise your line manager that you have registered as they will need to approve your attendance.

22 - 23 June: Mental Health First Aid (Standard)Training - To be Confirmed

The Standard Mental Health First Aid (SMHFA) course is based on the international MHFA Guidelines. Curriculum content is evidence-based, and has been created with the input of mental health professionals, researchers, and consumer advocates. This 12-hour course teaches adults how to provide mental health first aid.  Mental health first aid is the help provided to a person who is developing a mental health problem, experiencing a worsening of an existing mental health problem, or who is in a mental health crisis. The first aid is given until the appropriate professional help is received or the crisis resolves.

Course Content

The SMHFA course teaches adults how to provide initial support to adults who are developing any of the following mental health problems, experiencing a worsening of an existing mental health problem, or mental health crises:

• Developing mental health problems
• Depression
• Anxiety problems
• Psychosis
• Substance use problems.
• Mental health crises
• Suicidal thoughts and behaviours
• Non-suicidal self-injury
• Panic attacks
• Traumatic events
• Severe psychotic states
• Severe effects from alcohol or other drug use
• Aggressive behaviours

Cost: Standard Mental Health First Aid costs $80 for the 2 days, including materials and delivery (self-catered).

The course will run from 9:00 am - 5.00 pm on both days, and is capped at 25 participants. To register for this event, please click here.

For more information, contact Larissa Siliezar, Manager Student Equity and Wellbeing at Larissa.Siliezar@jcu.edu.au

Technology-enhanced Learning and Teaching Webinar series

We are offering five webinars focused on aspects of ‘Learner Engagement’.  These topics have been identified by JCU staff as being of particular interest.

To register for the Webinar sessions listed below, please click here, and select the relevant topic and date from the drop down box.
After completing your registration, you will be sent a calendar invite that will include the link required to join the session.

Topic 1:  Encouraging Interactions Online

This webinar will explore approaches to structuring, planning and modelling engagement opportunities, and how you can use analytics to monitor student engagement.  Prior to joining the webinar, please review the JCU LTSE Activity Data page.

Session Dates and Times

Topic 2:  Discussion Boards and Class Conversations

This webinar will explore the functionalities of Blackboard Discussion Boards and Class Conversations including integration of these tools into your teaching and assessment practices.  Prior to joining the webinar, please review the Discussion Board and Class Conversations pages.

Session Dates and Times

Topic 3:  Teaching with Collaborate

This webinar will explore approaches to plan and structure Collaborate sessions including the various Collaborate tools and the new whiteboard features.  Prior to joining the webinar, please watch the video about ‘Collaborate for Teaching’.

Session Dates and Times

Topic 4:  Digital Engagement Tools outside Blackboard: Padlet

There are many digital engagement tools that offer real-time interactions with your students, whether they be learning in face-to-face or in an online space.  Today we will get hands on with Padlet.

Session Dates and Times

Topic 5:  Supporting Group Work

Being able to work effectively in a group is a key skill and attribute for students’ career success.  In this webinar, we will explore how you can help support students’ group work skills by developing a supportive presence, fostering positive interdependence and accountability.  Prior to joining the webinar, please read the information on the JCU LTSE ‘Online Group Work’ webpage.

Session Dates and Times

To register for the Webinar sessions listed above, please click here, and select the relevant topic and date from the drop down box.
After completing your registration, you will be sent a calendar invite that will include the link required to join the session.

TBC: Learning and Teaching Evidence for Promotion

Details to come soon!

21 & 28 July: Sessional Staff Induction

James Cook University sessional staff who are new to teaching or returning after more than three years are required to attend induction as part of their ongoing appointment. The program will be presented as 2 x 2-hour workshop and is available for new teaching staff at the beginning of each semester. Visit the Sessional Staff induction page for session information and instructions on how to register.

4 August: Mental Health First Aid for Suicidal Persons

The Mental   Health   First   Aid for  the Suicidal  Person  course  will  teach  you how  to  identify, approach and support someone who is experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviours using a practical, evidence based Action Plan. You will also have the  opportunity to practise your new  skills in a safe environment.

Course Content

• How to identify warning signs for suicide
• How to confidently support a person in crisis
• How to help the person stay safe
• How to connect someone to appropriate professional help

Cost: the Mental Health First Aid for the Suicidal Person cost is $20, includes materials and delivery (self-catered).

For further information and bookings, contact  Larissa Siliézar, Manager Student Equity and Wellbeing, at Larissa.Siliezar@jcu.edu.au

13 August: Supporting Students with a Disability or Health Condition

This session is designed for course coordinators and First Year coordinators, however all staff are welcome to attend.

Topics covered include:

• Understand the issues for students with a disability in a Tertiary Environment
• Understand the JCU supports available for students with a disability
• Understand and know how to implement the roles & responsibilities for both students and staff at JCU
• Increased awareness, understanding and skills for inclusive teaching, working with AccessAbility Services and implementation of reasonable adjustments
• Apply the guiding principles and relevant legislation
• Develop an understanding of how to approach obstacles for students with a disability now and into the future

To register, please click here and select "13 Aug:  Supporting Students with a Disability".

Multiple Choice Questions workshops

Learning, Teaching and Student Engagement is offering workshops focused on writing Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs).  We will explore MCQ good practice guidelines and you will have the opportunity to deconstruct your MCQs with colleagues.

The one hour workshops will be offered twice a day with a maximum of 20 participants per workshop.  To register for the workshops below please click here.

29 September: Teaching Diverse Students: Pedagogies that make a difference for neurodiverse students

This event is being postponed until early November, please contact Larissa Siliezar, Manager Student Equity and Wellbeing, larissa.siliezar@jcu.edu.au for further details.

1 October: Celebrating Excellence in Learning & Teaching @JCU

Every year, JCU celebrates the enormous contributions our teaching and support staff make to the JCU student experience. This event will encompass the Inclusive Practice Awards, the Sessional Teaching Awards, and the JCU Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning.

Please join us as we recognise the significant contributions our staff make to the JCU learning and teaching community.

When:  3.30pm - 4.30pm Thursday 1 October 2020

Where:  A link to a zoom room will be provided upon registration

To register for this event please click here

3 November: Course Coordinator: Advanced Workshop

The Course Coordinators: Advanced workshop is an interactive forum that builds on the foundations established by the Course Coordinator Essentials. It enables Course Coordinators to remain up-to-date with current institutional practices and new directions across the higher education sector.

This year, participants will:

• Consider the new policy horizons which are currently shaping learning and teaching at JCU;
• Focus on the development of accessible and inclusive approaches to learning design in LearnJCU, using the new Blackboard (BB) Ally tool; and
• Explore a potential subject self-evaluation tool and its application for subject review and/or development.

Registrations for the workshop will be taken through My HR Online up until midnight on 1 November.

3 December: Mental Health First Aid (Standard) Refresher

This face-to-face course allows people who have previously completed the 12 Mental Health First Aid course to refresh their knowledge and skills including:

• Gaining an understanding of the latest research in the mental health field
• Learning the 3 key actions for helping someone feeling suicidal
• Working through complex mental health first aid interactions
• Practicing mental health first aid skills.

For people who are Accredited MHFAiders, the refresher courses offer an opportunity to extend their accreditation for a further 3 years.

For further information and bookings, contact  Larissa Siliézar, Manager Student Equity and Wellbeing, at Larissa.Siliezar@jcu.edu.au