Sub sections:
Academic and Educational Development Projects
Members of the Academic Development Unit engage in research and development both on a collaborative basis and working individually with staff in the Faculties to manage and develop teaching and learning initiatives across the University. Projects on any scale are considered, from those aiming to develop a single unit component to those which are university-wide in scope. Current projects include:
ADU Online
A complete redesign of the centre’s professional development program, this project aims to address many of the issues in traditional workshop-based training and create an innovative online model for professional development delivery. The program is multi-stream and explores asynchronous feed-based open courses, virtual classroom use and commercial site models. Anyone interested in participating in the program can find more information at http://adu.une.edu.au/courses/
Preservice Teacher Networking
This is a joint project between UNE, USQ, RMIT, CSU and the DEC, designed to assist preservice teachers to engage in online networking as a support mechanism. It operates on an organic community mentorship model and engages students in existing open professional networks rather than creating a separate, closed environment. The project is open to anyone (both preservice teachers and inservice professional mentors are welcome) – join via the project site at http://universityofawesome.org/pstn/
Game-based Learning Design/ The Moodle Dailies
An ongoing project that explores the use of standard LMS environments for low-cost games-based learning design. UNE staff can currently explore one of the products of this project - The Moodle Dailies – via ADU’s Coffeecourses program, and there are several conference workshops on Moodle-based games design scheduled at this year’s MoodlemootAU conference (registrations open here).
University of Awesome
A user-led innovation modelling space designed to foster and capture innovative behaviour outside the restrictions of traditional education institutions. It explores the idea that innovation within institutional confines will not produce radical results. While focused on the delivery of higher education, project participants are welcomed from any industry or sector of education. The project is scheduled to open for Trimester 2 2012 – further details will be available closer to the release date.
Eduhack community
An early-stages project designed to encourage educators to experiment with new ideas and teaching processes. A series of hackerspace-style events will be run alongside a web-based cross-institutional community.
Self-assessment modules
Over the past two years this project has been working on developing modules to enhance student engagement and assist with social inclusion. The self-assessment modules are designed to package content into “bite-sized chunks”. The modules are media-rich and the students complete multiple choice / matching activities to determine their level of understanding. Modules are currently being offered to students in PAIS101 Beyond Lies and Spin. Three additional units will be using self-assessment modules by 2013. If you would like to know more contact Brian Landrigan.
Teaching in practice
This is an ongoing project of the media team within the academic development unit. Academics are being encouraged to share their teaching practice with their colleagues in a video format. Interviews are recorded and shared on the Teaching Online @ UNE website. If you would like to share your experience with your colleagues please contact Brian Landrigan.
Open educational resources
This project is in its infancy at UNE. The Strategic Plan for UNE states, “ Participate in the global movement towards open courseware “. One possible means by which this can be achieved would be the sharing of video content through UNE TV. This space could be used as the public face of our media server. It is the intention of this project to pursue an open educational resource agenda at UNE through policy and individual participation.
Simulations
This is an ongoing initiative of the media team within the academic development unit. A number of simulations have been developed at UNE to assist students with particular aspects of unit material. Simulations are a way of representing a difficult concept in a visual form and/or can offer an online version of a real world scenario. If you believe your unit could benefit from the inclusion of a simulation please contact Brian Landrigan.
Spoken communication on the multicultural campus
With well over 100 staff and 600 internal students identifying themselves as being of non-English speaking background, UNE is a genuinely multicultural environment. This research project focuses on spoken intercultural communication where issues can arise that are a significant barrier to education, as noted in AUQA's Good Practice Principles.
Have a project in mind?
If you have a project idea you would like to explore or would like further information about possible projects, contact the Academic Development Coordinator, Melanie Fleming. Projects can be subject to charges and available resources. As one of the chief resources is time, an early conversation about your ideas is definitely recommended!