Arts & Education NeXus
Targeted Professional Learning (Issue 4 - June 2018)
Thanks for participating!
WIKI'd mug recipients, Yazdan, Suleyman and Hakan, enjoying a hot beverage in their stylish new mug! Thank you to all who responded to the call of the WIKI'd survey. Your suggestions and feedback will inform the direction of the L&T WIKI's evolution.
You can still provide your valuable feedback and thoughts by clicking here. The survey will be open for another week.
Word from the editor
This month's Guest Editor is Dr Kim Thompson| Senior Lecturer and L&T Committee Chair | SIS
In this month’s NeXus, let's talk about how we represent our commitment to CSU's 'Impactful' value using communication, learning and teaching tools of the trade.
I recently read that Thomas Edison, when improving the light bulb for mass consumption, was asked about his 1000 failed attempts. He purportedly replied, “I didn’t fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps.”
Learning from our failures/mistakes/glitches/gaffes is a vital part of progressing as a university Lecturer.
At the FOAE Symposium last December, I was able to work with SIS Lecturer (Learning and Teaching) Harriet Ridolfo to present a session we called “Difficult Dialogues: Tips for Managing Student-centred Disruptions and Discipline Issues in the Online Learning Environment.” This session focused on some of the issues we have personally come across throughout our careers in terms of tricky dialogues to have with students (disciplinary, directive, what to do when the discussion “blows up” either in a synchronous online session or in an asynchronous forum situation). We presented some of the “what I did and why that wasn’t very effective” examples as well as some “here’s something that worked pretty well” ideas and the audience provided many, many examples and additional suggestions that were useful talking points. The Powerpoint and worksheet from the Difficult Dialogues presentation can be found on the L&T Wiki.
We, as a community of educators, are in a key position to influence dialogue and conversations that will translate to knowledge transfer and a better understanding of the world. As the new session starts, remember your successes and failures are part of our tools of the trade, so draw from them.
Have a good 201860 session.
Kim
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A word from the Sub Dean | Workplace Learning
It is an exciting time for Workplace Learning (WPL) in the tertiary sector. CSU is investing a lot of time and effort both at a university level and across the faculties to initiate and support a wide array of programs. Through the NeXus, I am looking forward to sharing a range of activities and initiatives currently happening in WPL in our faculty in upcoming issues.
~ Dr Matthew Winslade
This month in WPL
We hear from Serena Mathews
WPL Coordinator | Academic Lead | School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Let's talk about supervised placements, an example of CSU Value: Impactful
A supervised placement is an opportunity for students to apply their CSU learning in the real world. The working relationships between CSU and industry partners create unique learning experiences for our students to develop their professional identity and experience workplace situations in a supported learning environment.
Student placements also strengthen the relationships between industry partners and stakeholders with CSU. As industry hosts these collaborative relationships and partnerships they create effective learning environments for students to apply their skills and they provide feedback about CSU programs that help keep our learning and teaching relevant to current practice. Additionally, the reciprocal relationship of hosting student placements can provide future employment for CSU graduates.
Recently the School of Humanities and Social Sciences met with National and Victorian organisations to formalise ongoing partnerships and planning for student placements during this calendar year and next. Both Centrelink and Mackillop are national human service organisations located throughout rural, regional and metropolitan areas. The Victorian Department of Health and Human Services provide various government services from child protection to public housing. Each of these organisations has been working in partnership with CSU for a number of years and we are now planning for student placements into the future.
Student placements are highly competitive so these connections into the wider community are essential for the success of our programs.
The recent feedback provided during our meetings has established unique opportunities for our students to be located in rural and remote locations throughout Australia. Often these locations are under-serviced in terms of professional services so the placement of CSU students is a very successful means of giving-back to the community.
The meetings have also facilitated discussions for future professional development of each organisations workforce whereby staff can enrol in CSU programs and specialisations.
While it is often thought that Field Education is only about student placements, our experience at CSU is that Field Education also provides professional development for those already employed (including alumni) in a wide range of human services. It is the continuous relationships upheld by CSU that enables multifaceted partnerships with industry partners and stakeholders.
The recent visit to Victoria to meet with Centrelink, Mackillop and Department of Health and Human Services staff cements the opportunities for future placements for CSU students and creates meaningful learning experiences within the human service sector.
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WIKI Pages: June Spotlight
Adobe Connect
NORFOLK
Screencast-o-matic
Screencast-o-matic.com allows you to create free screencast and webcam videos, which you can save on your computer and upload to DOMS or Interact2, or publish to YouTube or other sites. For more information click here.
Sensational Sessional Showcase
Brought to you by the: Academic Leads |Sessional Staff Support (SSS)
This month on SSS, let's talk about...
Dr Christopher Tome | School of Teacher Education
Impressive credentials
- 10 years as a sensational sessional staff member at CSU
- 38 years as a dedicated educator with the NSW Department of Education
- 2 years teaching Spanish to interested CSU folks - for fun and for free, and because Chris loves to share his knowledge with others
- Talented cook
- Voracious reader
- Passion for languages and travel
Chris Tome’s career story reads like an exciting adventure and reflects his own passion for learning, his commitment to the central-west and regional education, and his enthusiasm for sharing his own remarkable talent for teaching with others.
“I realised very early on how much I loved teaching, even though it wasn’t my first choice of career when I began.”
- Chris Tome
Demonstrating his versatility as a teacher and a passion for languages borne of his own travels, Chris undertook Spanish Language Studies through Adult Education and earned a Diploma in Spanish as a Foreign Language from the Spanish government, which allowed him to teach Spanish in high schools.
With barely a pause in his own study, Chris began his Doctorate at the University of New England, eventually transferring to CSU where he was supervised by Joanne Reid and Bill Green.
With the intriguing title of "Old dogs … new tricks? A study of experienced teachers technological Innovation and pedagogical change", Chris’ thesis was a case study investigation of the daily life and work of five highly experienced teachers in central-west schools, whom he observed, interviewed and worked with over a full year.
“What my research uncovered was that these five people, two of whom were heads of departments within schools, were very open to new ideas, were innovators, and were constantly looking for new ways to deliver great teaching to students. These people were not ‘satisfiers’, they were perfectionists - and they believed that all students, especially the strugglers, deserved teachers who would look for new and better ways to help them to learn. They were inspiring people.”
- Chris Tome
Between his commitment and dedication to teaching a range of subjects at CSU (at both Masters and Undergrad levels), and his annual trips with his wife Jennifer to Chile to satisfy his love of travel and South America, Chris shows no signs of slowing down.
Chris is currently studying Italian and reading a History of Venice, to build his knowledge of Italy, its history and culture. Chris’ story epitomises the approach of a “lifelong learner” (as he describes himself), and a philosophy he shares with his students - that when they leave with a degree from CSU, it is not an end, it is a beginning.
Ros Cox
SOTE & SOE
I can be contacted by phone on 02 6338 6115 and email on: rocox@csu.edu.au
Sam Malloy
I can be contacted by phone on 02 6338 4934 and by email on: smalloy@csu.edu.au
Anne Sparks
I can be contacted by phone on 02 6051 9362 and by email on: ansparks@csu.edu.au
WIKI Wave!
The WIKI wave is not the only way to recognise your fellow staff members, rather we see it as a jumping off point for staff to be recognised for excellence in learning and teaching. Other ways are: RED (Recognising Excellence Daily), the framework for formally recognising and rewarding performance excellence at CSU and our very own Faculty of Arts and Education Awards. The FoAE awards compliment RED and can be seen as a progressive step to demonstrating ongoing excellence in advance of a nomination for a CSU Excellence Award but they have a separate faculty awards structure and exist as a standalone recognition mechanism for all staff in the FoAE.
The deadline for nominations for the inaugural round of FoAE awards is the 1st August 2018.
Do please consider applying.
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In line with the CSU Recognising Excellence Daily (aka RED) program, the WIKI Wave is proud to be one of many jumping points for staff to be recognised for excellence in Learning & Teaching, and we see the Wave as just one pathway to RED. Take the first steps with us!
See you at the IUT Conference!
I will be attending the Improving University Teaching conference from 27-29 June, at our Port Macquarie campus. Please do share your stories with me. If I don’t make it to your presentation you will find me presenting a poster on the WIKI on Wednesday afternoon from 16.00-17.30. Please come and say hi.
The WIKI Wave is an initiative sponsored by the Faculty Leadership and led by Wave Advocate (and our very own super sleuth), Harriet Ridolfo. Please contact Harriet if you would like to hear more.
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Around the CSU L&T landscape
This month
- 43d International Conference on Improving University Teaching Conference, with this year's theme: “New Spaces for Learning”, is being held at our very own Port Macquarie campus, June 27-29, 2018. Our faculty colleagues will be presenting at this international conference, so please don't forget to check out the program and show your support.
- Lunch & Learn: Building Your Analytics Toolbox Series, 25-29 June, 12.30-1.00pm - click here for more info
u!magine and ALTS are re-running their ‘Lunch & Learn' session on learning analytics. These sessions are designed to help academics build their analytics toolbox by exploring the ways specific CSU systems can be used to inform teaching and learning, and showcase the practical ways these are already being used by some academics.
- The Learning Academy is running a few online meetings around start of session teaching strategies, hints and tips. Look for key professional learning opportunities on the CSU PL calendar - for further information, you can contact Kellie Smyth | Lecturer, Professional Learning.
Bookmark these websites....
Learning and Teaching WIKI - click here
Professional learning for new academics and sessional staff - click here
Learning Academy’s Teaching Tuesdays @CSU