Professional Development
The Directorate of Learning, Teaching and Student Engagement supports JCU staff with training and events throughout the year.
Training includes teaching inductions and professional development, and is provided through face-to-face workshops, seminars, and webinars. Events include celebrations coordinated by the Directorate to acknowledge staff contributions to learning and teaching.
Commencing in February LTSE will be hosting a variety of professional development sessions on a Thursday at 12pm for 50 minutes, titled Lunch and Learn Series please read below for more information.
Please see our Professional Learning Series Flyer for information on sessions scheduled for 2022.
Teaching Period 1, 2022
31 January & 2 February: Learning & Teaching @JCU: Induction for new full-time academic staff with teaching responsibilities
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.
1 February: Sessional Staff Online Induction - Opens in LearnJCU
James Cook University sessional staff who are new to teaching or returning after more than three years are required to complete an induction as part of their ongoing appointment. The program is presented online and is designed to be completed in four hours. Visit the Sessional Staff induction page for instructions on how to register.
2 February: Course Coordinator Course Performance Reporting
The Course Performance Report is an annual report completed by the Course Coordinators for undergraduate and postgraduate courses for the purposes of reflection and continuous quality improvement. This session will provide Course Coordinators with information essential to completing the 2022 CPR Template and will be facilitated by Divisional Directors for Academic Quality and Strategy: Associate Professor Rebecca Sealey, Division of Tropical Health and Medicine and Mr Phil Turner, Division of Tropical Environments and Societies.
| When | Where |
|---|---|
| 1pm - 2.30pm | Zoom details will be provided upon registration |
To register for this workshop, please click here and a link will be sent upon registration.
3 February: LTSE Lunch and Learn Series - Designing Effective and Sustainable Assessment - Part A
The Designing Effective and Sustainable Assessment session will look at a set of principles to create authentic assessment methodologies in subjects that promote alignment, motivation and learning.
Part B will be held on 21 April.
To register for the 50 minute workshop, please click here and a link will be sent upon registration.
8 February: Student Support Showcase
JCU offers 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
| When | Where |
|---|---|
| 9.30am - 12noon | Zoom details will be provided upon registration |
11 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 "11 Feb: JCU Citation Info Session" from the drop-down box.
| When | Where |
|---|---|
| 1pm - 2.50pm | Zoom details will be provided upon registration |
17 February: LTSE Lunch and Learn Series - Principles of Student Engagement
This session will explore the literature and strategies aligned with student engagement. Academics will reflect on their pedagogy and apply one of the strategies to enhance their practice. Opportunity for participants to join breakout rooms and share new learnings and actions.
To register for this 50 minute workshop, please click here and a link will be sent upon registration.
24 February: LTSE Lunch and Learn Series - Designing Learning in the Digital Era
This session will present several perspectives on how to design effective and sustainable learning experiences in the digital era.
To register for this 50 minute workshop, please click here and a link will be sent upon registration.
3 March: LTSE Lunch and Learn Series - Utilising the LMS to its full potential
This session will present practical strategies to utilise the LMS to its full potential.
To register for this 50 minute workshops, please click here and a link will be sent upon registration.
10 March: LTSE Lunch and Learn Series - Streamlining the marking process
This session will present practical strategies to streamline the marking process from subject outline to student feedback outcomes.
To register for this 50 minute workshops, please click here and a link will be sent upon registration.
10 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!
10-11 March: Mental Health First Aid - 2 day course
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 9am - 5pm on both days at JCU Townsville, Bebegu Yumba campus, Douglas in the Australian Tropical Science and Innovation Precinct (ATSIP Building) Room 30 and is capped at 25 participants. To register for this event, please click here.
For more information, contact Katy Laing, Manager AccessAbility, Counselling and Wellbeing Service at katherine.laing@jcu.edu.au
15 March: 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 135,000 Fellows across the world!
Find out more about what Fellowships have to offer you - Advance HE
To register your interest in attending, please click here and select "AHE Fellowship Info Session (Academic)" from the drop-down box.
| When | Where |
|---|---|
| 12pm - 12.50pm (AEST) | A zoom link will be provided upon registration |
16 March: Embedding Employability: fundamentals to get started
The who, what, when and why of curriculum embedding for employability, this workshop will provide an overview of everything you need to review or start embedding in your course or subject.
- Overview of employability embedding principles
- Resources and support
- Case studies of embedded JCU programs
- Leading career conversations in the classroom
| When | Where |
|---|---|
| 12pm - 12.50pm (AEST) | Zoom details will be provided upon registration |
To register, please click here
17 March: LTSE Lunch and Learn Series - Designing Learning in the Digital Era
This session will present several perspectives on how to design effective and sustainable learning experiences in the digital era.
To register for this 50 minute workshops, please click here and a link will be sent upon registration.
19 April: Mental Health First Aid (Standard) Refresher - JCU Townsville, Bebegu Yumba campus, Douglas
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.
| When | Where |
|---|---|
| 9am - 1pm | Australian Tropical Science and Innovation Precinct (ATSIP Building) Room 30 |
To register for this event, please click here.
For further information contact Sarah Robinson, Student Wellbeing Counsellor, Counselling and Wellbeing Services, at sarah.robinson2@jcu.edu.au
28 April: Lunch and Learn Series - Designing Effective and Sustainable Assessment - Part B
The Designing Effective and Sustainable Assessment session will look at a set of principles to create authentic assessment methodologies in subjects that promote alignment, motivation and learning.
Part A was held on 3 February please email ltse@jcu.edu.au if you would like a copy of the recording of this session.
To register for the 50 minute workshop, please click here and a link will be sent upon registration.
TBC: AHE Fellowship Writing Workshop
Note: Participants must have attended the AHE Information session and expressed their interest in participating in the JCU fellowship program.
The aim of this writing workshop is to prepare you to begin to write your AHE application for the level that you have nominated. The writing workshop will focus on:
- Elements of a successful application;
- Identifying evidence necessary to substantiate an application;
- Approaches to reflective writing.
A learning community approach is taken in this workshop which is facilitated by a number of collaborative activities and opportunities for peer review. In order to make the most of this workshop you should bring your completed evidence map and an outline of one area of activity.
Attendance at this workshop is necessary for you to progress your application. To register, please click here
| When | Where |
|---|---|
| 9am - 1pm | TBC |
TBC: SoTL Series: Planning your SoTL Project
Do you want to investigate your teaching and your students’ experience of learning but have never been entirely sure how to approach it? This workshop is focussed on supporting you to develop a plan for a scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) project. During this workshop it is intended that you should be able to:
- Identify steps for completing a SoTL project;
- Create a plan for a SoTL project.
A learning community approach is taken in this workshop which is facilitated by a number of collaborative activities and opportunities for discussion. To make the most of this workshop you should come with an idea for a SoTL project.
To register, please click here and select "SoTL Series" from the drop-down box.
5 May: Lunch and Learn Series - H5P for Learning Cycles
To register for the 50 minute workshop, please click here and a link will be sent upon registration.
12 May: Lunch and Learn Series - Rethinking Assessment Showcase
JCU academics will showcase examples of their assessment transformation approaches.
To register for the 50 minute workshop, please click here and a link will be sent upon registration.
Lunch and Learn Series - Developing Learning Outcomes
TO BE RESCHEDULED, NEW DATE ANNOUNCED SOON
This session will explore the basic principals of developing learning outcomes through constructive alignment and backward mapping.
To register for the 50 minute workshop, please click here and a link will be sent upon registration.
26 May: Lunch and Learn Series - Pedagogies that make a difference for culturally and linguistically diverse students
The aim of this session is to share current pedagogies and strategies to support culturally and linguistically diverse students in mainstream classes.
English as an additional language or dialect students (EAL/D) require understanding, acknowledgment, and structured design in, pre, during, and post-class teaching planning preparation.
Being able to recognise EAL/D students’ social and intellectual development, and being responsive and empathetic towards culturally and linguistically diverse students assists in enhancing their overall student experience.
To register for the 50 minute workshop, please click here and a link will be sent upon registration.
2 June: Lunch and Learn Series: Showcase - H5P in practice
This session follows on from the H5P for Learning Cycles Lunch and Learn held on 5 May 2022
Please note it is not a pre-requisite for you to have attended the first session, you are welcome either way.
JCU Academics will showcase examples of how and why they have implemented innovative approaches to enhancing learner-content interaction using H5P.
To register for the 50 minute workshop, please click here and a link will be sent upon registration.
8 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.
| When | 1.30pm - 3.30pm |
|---|---|
| Where | Zoom meeting details will be provided once you have registered. |
To register for the forum, please click here and a link will be sent upon registration.
20 - 21 June: Mental Health First Aid (Standard)Training
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 9am - 5pm on both days at JCU Townsville, Bebegu Yumba campus, Douglas, in the Australian Tropical Science and Innovation Precinct (ATSIP Building) Room 30 and is capped at 22 participants. To register for this event, please click here.
Please Note: A minimum of 6 registrations must be received for facilitation of this course to go ahead. Maximum number of attendees is 22. Registrations above this number will be placed on a waiting list and will be notified if a place becomes available.
For more information, contact Sarah Robinson, Student Wellbeing Counsellor, Counselling and Wellbeing Services, at sarah.robinson2@jcu.edu.au
These online modules address the core responsibilities of the Subject Coordinator, as outlined in the Charter of Responsibilities for Academic Quality and Governance and can be completed at your own pace.
Registration for the modules opens on 1 February 2022 and closes on 30 June 2022.
To register for the TP1 intake, please click here and select "TP1 Subject Coordinator: Essentials Online Modules" from the drop-down box.
Teaching Period 2, 2022 - Coming Soon
TBC: Learning and Teaching Evidence for Promotion
Details to come soon!
20 & 27 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 two x two-hour workshops 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.
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
| When | Where |
|---|---|
| 9am - 11am | Zoom meeting details will be provided once you have registered. |
To register, please click here and select "13 August: Supporting Students with a Disability".
27 September: Inclusive Education - access and support for students with disabilities
This session will cover the following topics:
- JCU Students with a Disability Policy - legal obligations and rights for students, staff and the University.
- AccessAbility services - what do we do and how do we support students and staff.
- Education that is accessible to all.
| When | Where |
|---|---|
| 2pm - 3.30pm | A link will be provided upon registration. |
To register, 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.
29 September: Capstone Experience Forum
The annual Capstone Experience Forum is on this month, which focuses on final year experiences at JCU, so we can optimise graduate outcomes as students transition into their early careers. The focus for the 2022 forum will be the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) and graduate capabilities at JCU. In 2019, the AQF underwent a review, which has implications for how general capabilities might be developed and assured within universities. We hope you can come join the professional conversation, best practice showcase, resources and strategy sharing hour about this emerging space, and reflect on the part you can play to optimise capabilities.
| When | Where |
|---|---|
| 9am - 10:30am | Zoom details will be provided upon registration |
To register, please click here
6 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, Inclusive and Accessible LearnJCU Site Award, 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 6 October 2022
Where: A link to a zoom room will be provided upon registration
To register for this event please click here
2 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.
More details to come soon.
To register for the workshops, please click here.
December: LearnJCU Information Sessions
The Learning Environments team will run two quick-fire information sessions. These sessions will cover information on common tasks for setting up content in new subject sites.
Sessions will be run online on 8/12/21 and 10/12/21 at 1 PM.
Recordings will be made available to those who register.
8 December Session 1: Subject roll-over and content management
- Merging Subjects
- Copying, auditing, and utilising the templates
- Managing Padlets in LearnJCU
- Re-using H5P content in LearnJCU
- Mediasite to Panopto conversion
10 December Session 2: Assessment set-up and Grade Centre
- Grade Centre Set-up (for Learning Analytics)
- Test feedback settings
- Using groups
- Creating Video Assessment
To register for the workshops, please click here and select the workshop you wish to attend.
These online modules address the core responsibilities of the Subject Coordinator, as outlined in the Charter of Responsibilities for Academic Quality and Governance and can be completed at your own pace.
Registration for the modules opens on 19 July 2022 and closes on 30 November 2022.
To register, please click here, and select "TP2 Subject Coordinator: Essential Online Modules (closes 30 November)" from the drop-down box.
For further information about any of the workshops or events listed above, please email ltse@jcu.edu.au