Research on Faculty Engagement in WIL
Date: Wednesday, 6 March 2024
Time: 12.30 pm – 1.30 pm
Venue: Room 21.G08 and Virtual
Seminar outline
Denyse is part of the Elon University Centre for Engaged Learning WIL research program. In this session, Denyse will share highlights of her international team’s research initiatives over the past two years. Recognizing the important and unique role that faculty play in WIL, this research program focuses on the perceptions and engagement of faculty in WIL. Insights are derived from the literature, in-depth faculty interviews and a broad scale faculty survey.
Dr Denyse Lafrance Horning is an Associate Professor in the Nipissing University (Canada) School of Business and an Associate faculty member in the Masters in Kinesiology program. Her career began as a sales and marketing professional before redeploying her marketing knowledge and experience to the classroom. She holds an interdisciplinary PhD in the area of sponsorship marketing and is engaged in sport management, entrepreneurship, and experiential learning (EL) research. Denyse was the Teaching Chair of EL at Nipissing University, was awarded the D2L Innovation Award in Teaching and Learning and is currently a participant in the Elon University Center for Engaged Learning WIL research program.
Inclusive Teaching: Creating Community and Serving all Students
Date: Tuesday, 6 February 2024
Time: 11.00 am - 12.00 pm (AEDT)
Presenter: Inara Scott
Host: Associate Professor Xiaoping Gao
Location: Online
This event is being held in collaboration with the Associate Dean (Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) from each Faculty.
- Associate Professor Lisa Slater (ASSH)
- Associate Professor Shamika Almeida (BAL)
- Professor Madeleine du Toit (EIS)
- Associate Professor Yasmine Probst (SMAH)
Description
The workshop will provide a greater understanding of the how and the why of inclusive teaching. It will provide an opportunity for academics to find their unique place in a path toward more inclusive teaching. We believe this work is deeply personal and provides a multitude of ways to further the goal of making classrooms more welcoming and engaging. Therefore, one of the primary intentions of the workshop is for the teaching staff to identify their personal goals as an educator, and what one thing they want to do next semester to grow as an inclusive educator. Before our workshop, we ask participants to please complete the following:
- Watch our orientation video to the teaching perspectives inventory
- Complete the teaching perspectives inventory (TPI)
- Save a copy of your TPI results to discuss during our workshop
Conversation Starters – EN2RN: Supporting diploma entry students
Date: Wednesday, 15 November 2023
Time: 12.30 - 1.30 pm (AEDT)
Conversation Lead: Dr Kelly Lewer
Host: Grant Kinghorn
Location: Wollongong Campus 21.114
This conversation will be led by Dr Kelly Lewer who urges us to “change the way we think about career trajectories and progression via higher education to cater for diversity within student populations”. Kelly will present the context of the Enrolled Nurse entry in the UOW Bachelor of Nursing program and will facilitate a broader discussion about the students from other disciplines who have similar pathway experiences. Conversations among groups in attendance will allow for discussion about the perspective of what these students bring to the university environment, their experiences within a university campus or online space, and trajectories as they complete their studies.
Learning to Live and Adapt with AI Tools
Date: Friday, 17 November 2023
Time: 3.30 pm - 5.00 pm (AEDT)
Presenter: Dr Sasha Nikolic
Host: Dr Sue Downie (WATTLE)
Location: Online (Zoom link will be provided upon registration)
This interactive workshop will guide participants through a range of activities, helping academics consider many important questions about GenAI integration. The workshops will guide participants through an understanding of why it can’t be banned, how it can undertake a lot of what we currently assess, why we need to rethink our assessment practices, and experiences with a first integration attempt.
To benefit for this session, attendees are recommended to read this article or watch this video in advance.
Student Engagement: its Proximal and Distal Consequences – evidence from the CABLE Program
Date: Wednesday, 25 October 2023
Time: 12.30 - 1.30 pm (AEST)
Conversation Leads: Dr Jin Cui (EIS), Dr Xinru (Sarah) Wang & Dr Tairan Kevin Huang (BAL)
Wattle Leads: Alyce Mason, Grant Kinghorn
Location: Wollongong Campus - Building 24, Room G02 – Face to Face
Reflections on the student learning experience from those straddling both worlds
Date: Thursday 20 July 2023
Time: 12.30 pm – 1.30 pm
Presenters: Byron Frencham, Siobhan Heywood, and Lara Warwick
Facilitators: Dr Alyce Mason and Eileen Bodey
Venue: Wollongong Campus - Building 40, Room 131
This session will be led by three mature aged UOW students who are also peer leaders and/or tutors, Byron Frencham, Siobhan Heywood, and Lara Warwick. There will be a short presentation to prompt wider discussion on Reflections on the student learning experience from those straddling both worlds. Encouraging student engagement has been a topic of discussion and will be the focus of the July Conversation Starter. This will be followed by a series of questions related to the topic, which will drive small group conversations among those in attendance.
Embedding Aboriginal Knowledges - tackling the awkward with acceptance
Date: Wednesday, 24 May 2023
Time: 12.30 pm – 1.30 pm
Presenters: Dr Tracey Woolrych, Dr Peter Leeson and Dr Anna Sidis
Facilitators: Dr Alyce Mason and Eileen Bodey
Venue: Wollongong Campus - Building 20, Room 5
This Conversation Starter will be guided by Dr Tracey Woolrych, Dr Peter Leeson and Dr Anna Sidis. There will be a short presentation to prompt wider discussion on the topic of embedding Aboriginal knowledges. This will be followed by a series of questions related to the topic, which will drive small group conversations among those in attendance.
Equity and inclusion in higher education: Developing our multicultural perspectives together
Date: Wednesday, 17 May 2023
Time: 2.00 pm – 3.00 pm
Venue: Online
Justice, Equity, Decolonization, and Inclusion (JEDI) is a beautiful and important goal in education. Broadly speaking, JEDI is about creating welcoming environments that support students and teachers of all identities, acknowledging and working to mitigate structural barriers to participation. But what JEDI looks like in detail can vary greatly across communities and different areas of the world -- connected to culture, history (e.g., colonization and migration), etc. For example, which identities are minoritized or disadvantaged, what are the experiences of people who hold those identities, and what kinds of structural barriers and supports to participation exist? Minoritized identities may include different racial / ethnic groups, LGBTQIA2S+ people, women, people of different religious beliefs, people who are abled differently, and others. Even which words are considered appropriate for describing JEDI and minoritized groups varies by culture and place.
Through Linda's JEDI work and collaborations across five continents, she has seen directly, a beautiful diversity of interpretations and embodiments of JEDI in higher education. The goals of this workshop are to help participants deepen and broaden each of our personal understandings of what JEDI can mean, and take steps to support each other in our unique JEDI efforts. In this workshop, participants will have the opportunity to collaboratively: (1) reflect on what JEDI means in each of our particular contexts, and why; (2) share our JEDI goals, efforts, strengths and barriers; and (3) offer mutual support to others in our JEDI work.
This workshop will be a one-hour live event on zoom, including breakout room discussions, presentation, and whole-group sharing.
ABOUT LINDA: Linda Strubbe, Ph.D., is an astrophysicist, education researcher, instructor, curriculum designer and instructor professional developer, independently through Strubbe Educational Consulting. Linda's Ph.D. (University of California, Berkeley) and first postdoctoral fellowship (Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics) were in theoretical astrophysics. In 2015, she transitioned her career to science education, working as an educational developer and education researcher at the University of British Columbia - Carl Wieman Science Education Initiative, and the American Association of Physics Teachers. Linda's current work focuses on professional development and evaluation for university lecturers in international contexts. She emphasizes equity and inclusion, and collaborative approaches to supporting teaching.
Reflection and Assessment Workshop Series
These workshops aim to promote cross-disciplinary conversation and sharing of reflection practices across a variety of contexts. Reflection is well known to promote critical thinking and delve into deep learning, playing a vital role translating experiences into meaningful knowledge. You are welcome to attend one, two or all three workshops to engage with teachers and collaboratively advance our practices for planning, facilitating and assessing reflection.
Purposes and Models of Structured Reflection
Workshop 1 is designed for staff across all disciplines who wish to enhance their knowledge and add to their toolkit for implementing reflection in the classroom.
Date: Tuesday, 21 March 2023
Time: 12.30 pm – 1.30 pm
Venue: Online
Reflection as Assessment
Workshop 2 will showcase examples of scaffolding reflection as an activity and assessment. We invite debate and conversation around reflection rubrics and will share examples from practice.
Date: Tuesday, 28 March 2023
Time: 12.30 pm – 1.30 pm
Venue: Online
Reflecting, Sharing, Planning
Workshop 3 will be facilitated through a Yarning Circle, inviting participates to consider making small, but significant changes to their teaching.
Date: Tuesday, 4 April 2023
Time: 12.30 pm – 1.30 pm
Venue: Wollongong Campus - venue will be provided prior to event.
Students as Partners: The Game!
So, you’ve heard about students-as-partners, the pedagogical approach that repositions students as co-designers of their educational experiences. In this interactive workshop, you’ll now apply what you know, or what you think you know, in a gamified version of the concept. Participants will work in small groups to work through several case studies or scenarios of SaP.
Guest Presenter: Dr Mollie Dollinger, Senior Lecturer, Learning Futures Team, Deakin University
Date: Wednesday, 15 February 2023
Time: 2.00 pm – 3.00 pm
Venue: Building 21, Room 115
WATTLE Conference Grants 2022
As part of WATTLE’s ongoing commitment to UOW staff professional development in educational research and scholarship of teaching and learning, WATTLE is offering funding to assist members to present their research or attend teaching and learning conferences.
Funding can only be used for the direct costs of conference participation and/or attendance (for example registration).
This is competitive funding and selection will be based on how the applicant addresses the criteria in the application form. All submissions will be peer reviewed by a panel of WATTLE committee members.
Successful applicants must acknowledge WATTLE as a source of funding and all recipients will be expected to present their work or knowledge’s gained by presenting to the WATTLE community.
WATTLE Christmas Celebration
We’ve almost made it to the end of another busy year and WATTLE would like to celebrate your hard work and commitment to excellence in teaching and learning at UOW. Please join us for the WATTLE Christmas Celebration.
Date: Thursday 24 November, 2022
Time: 3.30pm – 5.30pm
Venue: Building 43 Foyer (Science Teaching Facility)
Integrated CDL/WIL @UOW
Panel discussion and QA Session: Hear from members of the UOW community as they share their experiences of WIL and CDL. This is an opportunity to get your questions answered and join the vibrant WIL and CDL community at our University.
Date: 19 October 2022
Time: 9.30am-10.30am
Venue: 21.G08 and online
Using Desmos to facilitate collaborative, online tutorials
Date: 5 August 2022
Time: 3:30-4:30pm AEST
Venue: Online via Zoom
Valuing Diversity: Supporting Neurodivergent Students at University
The first event on the 2022 WATTLE Event calendar will explore how we can best support our neurodivergent students.
Date: 16 February 2022
Time: 2.30 pm - 4.30 pm
Venue: Online via Zoom
Resources
Introduction to Work Integrated & Career Development learning at UOW
Date: 10 June 2022
Time: 11 am - 12 pm
Venue: 21.G08 and online
Exploring the magic of SoTL
UOW is a leader in teaching and learning but are we writing about it? The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) aims to take our teaching practice from a well rehearsed and successful action to a scholarly activity. Come along to discover the power and build the strength in SoTL at UOW.
Date: 19 July 2022
Time: 10 am - 11 pm
Venue: Online only
To help us understand your SoTL needs, please complete the SoTL needs and support survey.
WATTLE Forum: Access and Inclusion — UOW for All
20, 21 and 22 July 2021, Online
This year’s WATTLE mid-year forum, Access and Inclusion—UOW for All, features three exciting online events over three days, exploring how to make learning more inclusive and accessible to all learners. The three days will serve as a jumping off point for further discussion about how we can make learning and teaching at UOW more inclusive and accessible to all students, including understanding the context and why access and inclusion are of importance, technological tools that can help make your online materials more accessible and adaptable to student needs, and strategies that you can use to make your teaching more inclusive.
Designing Online Learning Environments That Work for All Students
Dr Erin Leif, Dr Laura Alfrey, Dr Christine Grove, & Professor Umesh Sharma, Monash University
The number of students in with disabilities in higher education has continued to increase proportionately across the Western world, including Australia. However, these students are less likely to complete their studies than their non-disabled peers and, if they graduate, are less likely to engage in meaningful and competitive employment. Once way to support inclusion and participation of students with disabilities is by incorporating the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) into online learning design. In principle, UDL is designed to make coursework easier for everyone to access. Our presenters will provide recommendations for proactively designing online learning environments that meet the needs of diverse learners, including students with disabilities, using the principles of UDL in practice.
Student Panel: What Works and What Doesn’t for Students
UOW students provide their perspectives on what access and inclusion means to them and the practices that they have found effective in supporting their learning.
Blackboard Ally: Supporting Diverse 21st Century Learners and Universal Design for Learning
Mark Bailye, OpenLMS
To support diverse learners and the aspirations of Universal Design for Learning, Blackboard Ally is tool to help achieve these ends. This presentation will highlight the ways in which Blackboard Ally as a tool can be used to support teaching staff providing accessibility, usability and flexibility for learners.
WATTLE Connect & Create: Teach and Tell—Strategies for UDL
This interactive session invites participants to collaborate and share their teaching strategies for working with diverse learners and creating a more inclusive learning environment.
About the presenters
- Dr Laura Alfrey, Monash University
Laura is currently Course Leader for the Bachelor of Education (Health and Physical Education) within the Faculty of Education at Monash University. Laura's research focuses on Health and Physical education (HPE), sport and physical activity contexts, and the ways which policy, professional learning and practice contribute to inclusive and educative experiences for young people. - Mark Bailye, OpenLMS
Mark has almost 20 years’ experience, spearheading and championing the use of technology enhanced learning to improve the learning and teaching experience in the Higher Education, VET, K-12, and corporate sectors, both nationally and internationally. He is thought leader, trusted adviser and learning designer who is passionate about transforming lives through the effective use of technology-enhanced learning. - Dr Christine Grove, Monash University
Christine is an Educational & Developmental Psychologist, Fulbright Scholar & Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Education, Monash University. At the cornerstone of her research and teaching is the inclusion of students in their education using co-designed participatory approaches. She was recently awarded the Dean's Learning and Teaching Innovation Award (2020) for transforming pre-service teacher capability to teach in inclusive classrooms. - Dr Erin Leif, Monash University
Erin is a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst and Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Education, Monash University. Erin’s research involves the exploration of strategies for building the capability of educators to deliver inclusive instructional practices. She has a special interest in evaluating strategies for designing inclusive and engaging online learning spaces. Erin has incorporated the principles of Universal Design for Learning into her own teaching for the past several years. Recently, she was awarded the Vice Chancellor’s Citation for outstanding contribution to student learning, and the Monash Graduate Association Lecturer of the Year award. - Professor Umesh Sharma, Monash University
Umesh is Associate Dean (Equity, and Inclusion) in the Faculty of Education, Monash University. Umesh’s research programs in the area of disability and inclusive education span India, Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Samoa as well as Australia, Canada, USA and New Zealand. He has conducted several award-winning national and international projects on topics like Funding of education for students with disability for the Commonwealth of Australia, the Development of Personalised and Support Guidelines for the Victorian Government, and the development of the National Policy on Inclusive Education for the Solomon Islands.
Connect and Create: Managing Large Student Cohorts
The event will include mini-presentations and discussions on how to best personalise the learning experience, give effective feedback, and streamline administrative tasks/subject management in subjects with large student cohorts.
This session will be delivered in dual mode, F2F on the Wollongong campus in 67-302, or online via Webex.
Date: Wednesday 30 June 2021
Time: 12:30-1:30 pm AEST
Venue: Online and Face to Face on the Wollongong campus
Connect & Create: Strategies for Connection in a Physically Distanced Age
Higher education has not been the only industry disrupted in the pandemic. The cancellation of major televised events posed particular challenges for SBS. In response, the network leveraged social media and other strategies to engage with its audiences. Jenna Bradwell, Social Platforms Manager at SBS, will share how the network kept its audiences engaged during the pandemic. Following Jenna’s presentation, we will brainstorm and discuss how similar approaches may be used in higher education to engage with students.
This event is hosted jointly by WATTLE and the Educational Developer Network.
Presenter: Jenna Bradwell, Social Platforms Manager, SBS
Guest Facilitator: Christopher Moore, UOW
Further details on the Presenter, Guest Facilitator and the Educational Developer Network are available at the Registration site.
Date: Wednesday, 16 June, 2021
Time: 12.30 - 1.30 pm AEST
Venue: Online
WATTLE ‘Connect & Create’ Session - UNSDGs: A Teaching and Learning Focus.
Monday 17 May at 12.30 – 1.30 pm AEST.
This session was delivered in dual mode so F2F on the Wollongong campus and online via Webex.
Participants heard about 'The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: A Teaching and Learning Focus‘
What are the SDGs and why focus on them in teaching? The UOW SDG Subject Portfolio from Future Education and spend some time aligning your subject with some SDGs.
Resources
WATTLE ‘Connect & Create’ Session - Dual Delivery Pedagogy.
Tuesday 27 April at 3.30 - 4.30 pm AEST.
This session was delivered in dual mode so F2F on the Wollongong campus and online via Webex.
The host was Belinda Gibbons who led the conversation on Dual Delivery Pedagogy: T1 & Autumn experiences so far.
Resources
WATTLE ‘Connect and Create’ Session – Q&A with the DVCE
Tuesday 9 March at 4.00 - 5.00 pm AEDT via Zoom
Deputy Vice Chancellor (Education) Professor Theo Farrell was our guest for this first session of 2021 and answered questions from members.
WATTLE Christmas Connect
DATE: Wednesday 16th December 2020
TIME: 10:30-11:30 am (Sydney time)
The Executive Committee warmly invites you to our final Zoom Connect session of the Year. Come along in your best festive attire and with your favourite Christmas treats and catch up with colleagues before we break for the busy festive season. We hope to see you there!
Sharing messages of thanks and inspiration :
2020 has been a year unlike any other with many challenges for us all. As we end 2020, please take a moment to add a message in a ‘star’ by following the link below.
Click ‘Add Message’ on the WATTLE Stars Message Board to add your message and/or an image. You can view others’ messages by clicking on the coloured stars.
Even if you cannot attend this Connect session it would be lovely for us all to read messages of inspiration and thanks.
Please see emailed invitation for zoom details or contact: academy-wattle@uow.edu.au
Friday 23 October, 12.30 – 1.30pm
Since it will be Global Climate Change Week, join us to showcase and chat about how to talk 'climate' in our classrooms.
Please come and connect, bring any examples you have, content, assessments, readings etc.
WATTLE Seminar – ‘Tips for avoiding burnout’
Friday, 16 October from 12.30 pm - 1.30 pm via zoom.
To be held in conjunction with UOW well@work for Mental Health Month.
Areas that were covered include:
- resources which are available for staff regarding stress and mental well-being
- how to easily access the Lifeworks information and counselling service
- recognising stress within one’s self and how to manage it
The seminar was presented by Tori Parker UOW WHS adviser and Deborah Tetley from PODS.
WATTLE Executive members Montse Ros and Jacinta McNamara chaired the session.
Resources
- Seminar recording
- Staff Mental Health and Wellbeing [PDF from PP document]
- Further useful information can be found at Linkedin Learning. After logging on, click on the UOW logo at top right and choose the UOW courses - “Maintaining your mental health and wellbeing during challenging times created by Tori Parker” and “Wellbeing”.
WATTLE Connect – Wednesday 7 October 2020
Teaching and Learning 2021 and Beyond
UOW Academics have made a swift transition to the online delivery of their subjects, but what does this mean for subjects that involve work integrated learning?
WATTLE webinar – Wednesday, 22 July 2020, 11 am - 12 pm AEST
The future is here: Remote WIL at UOW in 2020 & beyond
Our experienced WIL practitioners reflected on their transition to remote WIL in response to COVID-19:
- The challenges they faced and how they dealt with them;
- The strategies and resources they implemented to support students and industry partners;
- Outcomes of their transition to remote WIL for key stakeholders; and
- Their plans for remote WIL moving forward.
WATTLE Forum 9 July 2020
‘Click’—Transitioning to Remote Teaching and Learning: Showcasing Best Practice
The COVID-19 crisis has challenged UOW to continue to support teaching and learning. It has been a time of significant learning and innovation. ‘Click’—Transitioning to Remote Teaching and Learning: Showcasing Best Practice provides a platform for teachers and students to share their insights and experiences to recognise good practice and to transform the student learning experience as we move forward.
Participants heard from students and staff through expert presentations, panel discussion and interactive sessions designed to allow staff to reflect on their teaching and learning practice.
- Welcome-Theo Farrell, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Education) [Recording]
- Student panel: Students’ experiences of remote learning-Paul Isaac, Katie Mordue, Stephanie Ranking & Sue Downie (Moderator) [Recording]
- LTC-Preparing to Teach Online: Impact and future initiatives-Alyce Mason, Learning, Teaching & Curriculum [Recording]
- The importance of social connectivity in the online learning environment: using your Moodle site to engage with students and enhance student learning-Jody Moller, Science, Medicine & Health [Recording] [Presentation]
- Delivery and assessment of hands-on biology skills without hands-on practical classes-Bethany Hoye, Johanna Turnbull & Melinda Waterman, Science, Medicine & Health [NOTE: Presentation not publicly available, as it includes assessment-related content]
- A respite to COVID-19: Finding opportunities in the transition to remote learning-Zein Saleh and Emma Heffernan, Engineering and Information Sciences [Recording] [Presentation]
- Real time quiz for real time learning-Tam Ha, Social Sciences and Tim Boniface & Josh Hummel, Learning, Teaching & Curriculum [Recording] [Presentation]
Making life easier through the use of the ‘progress bar’-Kellie Buckley-Walter, Social Sciences [Recording] [Presentation] - ‘Kitchen oceanography’: Hypotheses and experiments in the COVID-19 isolation kitchen-Helen McGregor, Science, Medicine & Health [Recording] [Presentation]
- Increasing learner engagement online: Using small group Webex meetings to get students actively involved-Nikki Curthoys, Science, Medicine & Health [Recording] [Presentation]
- Ideas for improving online learning: A student perspective Atheer Alghanmi, Social Sciences [Recording] [Presentation]
WATTLE Forum 13 February 2020
Thursday 13 February 2020: 9.00am – 1.00pm
Building 20, University of Wollongong
The theme of the February 2020 WATTLE Forum was Enabling Students: Pathways, Experiences and Influence.
This Forum was the first of a two-part 2020 Forum series. It highlighted how the university is working with students to support their pathway and transition into university, their experience whilst at university and their influence beyond university. Participants heard from students and staff through expert presentations, panel discussion and interactive sessions designed to allow staff to reflect on their teaching and learning practice.
FEBRUARY 2020 WATTLE Forum Program
Selection of presentations from the forum
February 2020 WATTLE Forum - Opening Address PPT: PVC(S) Equity Initiatives Institutional Approach (PDF)
February 2020 WATTLE Forum - Session 1 PPT: Re-Imagining Widening Participation for 2030 at UOW (PDF)
February 2020 WATTLE Forum - Session 2 PPT: Navigating Indigenous Student Success – The Woolyungah Indigenous Centre have provided a single slide for academics to use in classroom inductions (PDF & JPG)
Celebration: A very WATTLE Christmas
Please join the WATTLE Executive Committee, fellow members, colleagues and friends for a celebration of 2019
Date: Thursday 12th December, 2019
Time: 12pm – 2pm
Location: Building 43, Room G01
Using creativity to cross disciplinary borders in Higher Education
Using creative approaches within higher education teaching can have a deep influence on students, creating opportunities for meaningful conversations and providing an environment in which they can engage and develop as individuals and communities. Within this creative space learners can experiment with new ideas, raise challenging topics and reflect on their experiences whilst enhancing their understanding about important issues.
Presented by Professor Claire Hamshire and A/Prof Kirsten Jack, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK
Date: Monday 9th December, 2019
Time: 12.30pm to 2.00pm
Location: Building 43, Room G01
EmployABILITY@UOW
Employability is an important concern for students and academics alike, and the workshop will use your existing unit outlines embed EmployABILITY thinking: students’ cognitive and social development as capable and informed individuals, professionals and social citizens.
Presented by Professor Dawn Bennett, Curtin University, WA
Date: Thursday 28 November, 2019
Time: 9.30am to 12.30pm
Location: Building 43, Room G01
Resources:
- An Overview of EmployABILITY Thinking (PDF)
- Developing EmployABILITY Report_Sample Student (PDF)
- Sample Educator Report (PDF)
WATTLE Seminar
11 June, 2019
Dr Lydia Woodyatt (Flinders University) presented
5 Meaningful Minutes: Small changes to pedagogy to support student wellbeing [PDF]
Dr Lydia Woodyatt is an award-winning lecturer at Flinders University, with a focus on curriculum-based approaches to support transition into and out of university.
In this workshop seminar Lydia explored what can be done with 5 meaningful minutes to support wellbeing, in the context of understanding that students’ experience of wellbeing and distress are interconnected with their learning and engagement.
WATTLE Forum
Wednesday, 14 February 2019: 9am–2.30pm
Building 20, University of Wollongong
The theme of the 2019 WATTLE Forum was Hybrid Learning@UOW.
The forum featured a keynote by Assoc Prof Margaret Bearman, Centre for Research in Assessment and Digital Learning (CRADLE), Deakin University,
‘ReImagining university education in a digital world’
This was followed by a student panel on Hybrid Learning@UOW and parallel presentations from our UOW colleagues showcasing exemplary work in the area of Hybrid Learning.
- 2019 WATTLE Forum Program
- Keynote Presentation
- Selection of presentations from the forum
- WATTLE Forum 2019 - Dr Agnieszka Golda & Dr Jo Law
- WATTLE Forum 2019 - Emily Purser
- WATTLE Forum 2019 - Jenny Fisher
- WATTLE Forum 2019 - Dr Michelle Eady, David Fulcher, Corinne Green, Dr Flynn Hill, Tim Boniface
- WATTLE Forum 2019 - Dr. Sandra Chapple & Dr Celeste Rossetto
- WATTLE Forum 2019 - Dr Sue Downie
WATTLE: ESD WIL Forum: Contemporary practices in work integrated learning
Wednesday, 4 April 2018: 10:00am–12:00pm
Graduate School of Medicine (Building 28), Lecture Theatre 101
The Employability Skills Development & Work Integrated Learning Hot Topic Group (ESD WIL HTG) is excited to showcase contemporary practices in the domain of work integrated learning (WIL) embedded in UOW degrees. Academic and professional staff from various faculties as well as Career Services will present on best practices in the provision of WIL.
WATTLE: Students as Partners Forum with Lucy Mercer-Mapstone
Monday, 26 March 2018: 9:30am–2:30pm
Panizzi Gallery, UOW Library (Building 16)
The Students as Partners Hot Topic Group (SaP HTG) is starting with a bang in 2018 with our first presentation on Monday 26 March. Lucy Mercer-Mapstone from the University of Queensland has been invited to share her work as an Australian L&T Fellow focused on Students as Partners. She is also the inaugural chair of the International Journal for Students as Partners, so may have some advice for writing for this publication. Lucy’s profile
2018 WATTLE Forum
Wednesday, 14 February 2018: 9am–2pm
Building 20, University of Wollongong
The 2018 WATTLE Forum was held on the 14th February from 9am – 2pm in Building 20 and it was dedicated to showcasing the expertise of staff and students at UOW.
Wednesday’s with WATTLE: Ann Rogerson
Wednesday 6 December 2017: 12:30pm–1:15pm
Teaching and Technology Hub: Building 17, Level 2
Please join us for the Wednesdays with Wattle workshop / seminar series – a relaxed informal way to discover what your colleagues are doing / planning / imagining in the teaching and learning space. Please bring your lunch and take the opportunity to discover some of the exciting innovations happening within UOW and beyond.
Ann Rogerson will be discussing her research entitled: ‘It is not just about the method of assessment: The importance of the question asked and the instructions given to ensure integrity’. This presentation discusses the need for rigorous framing of assessment questions (whether written, online, presentation based or via examination) as being the critical foundation point to support academic integrity.
Working with students for students: creating a culture of partnership towards enhancement
Wednesday 6 December 2017: 2:00pm–4:00pm
Building 67, Room 302
The Fellowship builds on the momentum developed during the OLT Strategic Commissioned Priority Project: ‘Student engagement in university decision making and governance” (2014-2016). The project asked the questions: What is ‘student engagement’ leading to ‘student partnership’ in institution decision-making? Why is student partnership valuable to institutions, their students and to the sector as a whole? How may student engagement processes be embedded effectively to lead to an ethos or culture of student partnership? The project report is available on the Fellowship website.
International research showed how student partnership is becoming firmly embedded in higher education sectors elsewhere and evidence shows clear benefits for both institutions and their students. Authentic and effective engagement of student voice is recognised as enhancing the quality of teaching and learning and the educational experience of students, while facilitating their personal development in terms of critical thinking, leadership and citizenship. Partnership with students in faculty and university wide decision making, from course and subject representation to matters of strategy and direction, has a strong role to play in developing the skills required for the rapidly changing work environment.
In this presentation Sally discussed the collaboration, the principles and the framework and the proposed way forward to sustainable student partnership.
Wednesdays with Wattle: Michelle Eady
Wednesday 1 November 2017: 12:00–12:45pm
Building 67, Room 343
Please join us for the Wednesdays with Wattle workshop / seminar series – a relaxed informal way to discover what your colleagues are doing / planning / imagining in the teaching and learning space. Please bring your lunch and take the opportunity to discover some of the exciting innovations happening within UOW and beyond.
Our First speaker will be Michelle Eady. Michelle will be discussing her research regarding the ongoing quest to find ways that we can improve teacher education programs and produce the best teachers possible. This discussion includes the importance of school and university partnerships, the role of each party in that relationship, and understanding what influences the third space in teacher education.
The state of play in digital enabled learning in Higher Education
Wednesday 27 September 2017: 11:30am–12:30pm
Building 67, Room 343
Join Professor Barney Dalgarno, Director of Learning Online at Charles Sturt University (CSU) for a discussion on the state of play in digital enabled learning in higher education (HE).
Professor Dalgarno will draw upon his research across the Australian HE sector to discuss the present opportunities and challenges in digital enabled learning in HE. This will be followed by a round table discussion reflecting on experiences across our institutions and the sector, whilst exploring emerging research opportunities.
This event is ideal for learning and teaching leadership staff as well as, technology and learning researchers or innovators.
Symposium on Group/Team Work Assessments
Friday 29 September 2017: 9:00am–2:00pm
Building 24, Room 203
You are invited to attend a symposium on Group/Team Work Assessments. This symposium will focus on ideas about organising effective team work/group work assessments and other learning activities that involve groups of students working together.
Staff from different faculties and schools of UOW will share their experiences about organising and assessing group work effectively.
There will also be a student panel, where students will share their own experiences about working on group work assessments and learning activities.
This symposium will be informative for anyone who currently uses or wishes to implement group work/team work based learning activities and assessments in their classes.
Program for “Symposium on Group/Team Work Assessments” (PDF)
Slides and video of “Symposium on Group/Team Work Assessments” (Dropbox folder)
Networking: Heating up with WATTLE
20 July 2017, 4:00pm – 5:30pm
Ground Floor (G01), Science Teaching Facility (Building 43)
This is a chance to network with other passionate educators whilst hearing from our WATTLE Hot Topic Leaders, with opportunities to become involved. Members are encouraged to bring a friend to introduce to the WATTLE network.
Hot Topic Groups:
- Technology that Enhances Learning – Dr Sue Downie
- Innovative Teaching Pedagogies – Dr Theresa Larkin
- Transforming Assessments in Higher Education – Dr Pranit Anand
- Employability Skill Development – Dr Venkat Yanamandram
- Students as Partners – Dr Anu Bissoonauth-Bedford and Ms Natalie Cutler
Workshop: Shifting the focus from skills to ‘graduateness’
7 July 2017, 9:30am – 12:00pm
“There is no difference between academic skills and employment skills,” (Jackson, 2011, p1). In this workshop Lorna Froud and Chris Rust examine the relationship between graduate attributes and employability and discuss how approaches to learning can improve both students’ employability and their academic achievement. They will argue that there is often a false dichotomy in the minds of academics between employability, and the so-called “skills agenda”, and the teaching of academic disciplines. And even in professional courses, the view of employability can be very blinkered, limited to getting a job and working in the specific profession e.g. law, nursing, architecture. It is their argument that an explicit focus on the graduate attribute “personal literacy” - literally the ability to “read oneself”, to be critically self-aware- can unite the academic and employability agendas and reveal them as one, joint enterprise. In addition, that both the development of employability and the learning of academic disciplines can be significantly improved through the development of students” critical self-awareness and personal literacy. Having made this case, they will then go on to consider examples of how this might be achieved in practice.
Lorna Froud was Head of Careers at Oxford Brookes University, UK, during which time she also served on the Board of AGCAS (Association of Graduate Careers Advisors). More recently she was Director of Employability at the University of Reading, UK. She is now an independent consultant.
Chris Rust is Emeritus Professor of Higher Education at Oxford Brookes where he worked for over 25 years. He was Head of the Oxford Centre for Staff and Learning Development, and Deputy Director of the Human Resource Directorate from 2001-2011. Between 2005-10 he was also Deputy Director for two Centres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning - ASKe (Assessment Standards Knowledge Exchange) and the Reinvention Centre for undergraduate research (led by Warwick University). For his last three years, he was Associate Dean (Academic Policy).
Workshop: Rethinking Assessment - An Academic Program Director’s Guide
6 July 2017, 9:30am – 12:00pm
This interactive workshop hosted by Professor Chris Rust is intended for any course or subject leader, or Head of School/Department, who seriously wants to improve assessment practice and align it with current UOW (TAPS) and HESF policy. Supported by current research, the workshop will argue the need to reduce but improve summative assessment, in particular regarding the assessment of course learning outcomes and integrated learning, while increasing opportunities for formative assessment, the development of the students’ assessment literacy, and effective engagement with feedback. We will also consider how assessment standards can be shared with the course team, students and for external referencing purposes. Above all, this workshop will provide practical examples of how this can all be achieved in the real world of Higher Education.
About Professor Chris Rust
Professor of Higher Education, Oxford Brookes University, UK, Chris has been Associate Dean (Academic Policy). Previously, for ten years, he was Head of the Oxford Centre for Staff and Learning Development (OCSLD), and Deputy Director of the Human Resource Directorate. Between 2005 - 2010 he was also a Deputy Director for two Centres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning - ASKe (Assessment Standards Knowledge Exchange) and the Reinvention Centre for undergraduate research (led by Warwick University).
He has researched and published on a range of issues including:
- the experiences of new teachers in HE
- the positive effects of supplemental instruction
- ways of diversifying assessment
- improving student performance through engagement in the marking process
- the effectiveness of workshops as a method of staff development
Most recently he has increasingly focused on researching and writing about assessment, including: improving student learning through active engagement with assessment feedback, and the significance of both explicit articulation and socialisation processes in improving students” understanding of assessment requirements and assessment feedback.
He is also interested in the design, development and use of social learning space in universities, as well as the development of research-based learning in the undergraduate curriculum, including its potential effect on university organisation.
Launch: Fostering Asynchronous Online Discussion in Higher Education
15 June 2017, 4:30pm – 6:00pm
WATTLE is pleased to host the launch of the FOLD website which has been developed through an OLT Seed project led by WATTLE members A/Prof Irina Verenikina, A/Prof Pauline Jones and Dr Janine Delahunty.
The FOLD website will be officially launched by Dr Cathy Stone (NCSEHE Equity Fellow) and will include a seminar presentation on the website, followed by refreshments. This guide has been designed for university lecturers to facilitate online discussion. Fostering deeper levels of collaboration and communication can often be challenging in blended mode of delivery. This resource provides useful strategies for task design, effective communication, pertinent scaffolding support and clear expectations for meaningful student participation.
Dr Irina Verenikina is an Associate Professor at the School of Education, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Wollongong. She holds a PhD in Developmental Psychology from Russian Academy of Education. Irina’s research interests relate to the sociocultural contexts of effective use of digital technologies in education.
Dr Pauline Jones: Associate Professor, Language in Education in the School of Education. Pauline has a long history of working with teachers at all levels of education in national and international contexts through language-based projects aimed at addressing educational disadvantage.
Dr Janine Delahunty has had a sustained interest in the impact of asynchronous discussions on learning and sociality in higher education. Janine’s interests include how the learning experience can be enhanced – particularly for online students, first-in-family and those from diverse and/or less advantaged backgrounds.
Seminar: Improving Participation, Success and Retention in Online Higher Education
15 June 2017, 2:00pm – 3:30pm
Online learning has become a well-recognised part of the broader landscape of higher education. It is also proving to have a critical place in widening access and equity within this landscape. Increasing numbers of students from backgrounds historically under-represented at university are taking the opportunity to begin undergraduate study online, including through open-entry and alternative-entry pathways. However, retention in online undergraduate programs has been shown to be at least 20% lower than in face-to-face programs (Greenland & Moore, 2014; Moody, 2004), with an Australian Government Department of Education and Training report (2014) finding that only 44.4% of fully external (online) students, compared with a rate of 76.6% for face-to-face students, completed their undergraduate degrees over an 8-year period.
The presentation will provide an overview of a national project report released at the end of March 2017, which delivers findings from an investigation into the effectiveness of practices, supports and retention strategies in online learning at Australian universities and at the Open University UK. Dr Cathy Stone will discuss the background to this project, its findings and outcomes and there will be opportunities for audience discussion and feedback.
Dr Cathy Stone received a NCSEHE Equity Fellowship to investigate strategies used within online learning at Australian universities and the Open University UK to improve student success and retention in online higher education. Dr Stone's background in Social Work includes her role in the School of Humanities and Social Science, as well as counselling and professional roles. Her varied experience has provided detailed insight into the education experience for mature aged students and other diverse student groups.
Live Streaming Webcast Invite: How to Interpret a Turnitin Similarity Report
16 March 2017, 12pm – 1pm
Hosted by Dr Ann Rogerson
Webinar and face-to-face Q&A with UOW expert
WATTLE invites you to join us in person to watch a live webcast "How to interpret a Turnitin Similarity Report”, hosted by Dr Ann Rogerson.
Ann is a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Business, and has made valuable contributions to the development of academic integrity strategies and resources at UOW. Last year she was a winner of one of Turnitin’s Global Innovation Awards.
She has been invited by Turnitin to present a webinar on the topic of interpreting similarity reports, which will be of great interest to teaching staff who use Turnitin, particularly subject coordinators and Academic Integrity Officers (AIOs) in each School.
The webcast will run live for 30 minutes, with 10 minutes question time for online participants. Anne will join us immediately after the live streaming session for a face-to-face Q&A about the UOW context.
Interested UOW staff are invited to join us for a live streaming of this webcast over what we are calling a ‘brown bag’ session in a teaching room in Building 19 - bring your own lunch and be prepared to chat! We’ll stream the webinar on an overhead projector although you are also encouraged to bring your own devices to go online if you wish to make comments or notes.
Workshop: Students As Partners
15 March 2017, 10.30am – 12.30pm
Christel Brost, Center for Teaching and Learning, University of Malmö, Sweden, with Anu Bissoonauth-Bedford Christopher Khatouki, Lisa Belfiore and others
Hands-on "students as partners” workshop with visiting scholar Christel Brost. Participants will be invited to discuss their students as partners" project plans and ideas, raise issues and gain advice from an expert "students as partners" academics. All welcome.
Symposium: Students As Partners
9 March 2017, 2:30pm – 4:15pm
Christel Brost, Center for Teaching and Learning, University of Malmö, Sweden, with Anu Bissoonauth-Bedford Christopher Khatouki, Lisa Belfiore and others
Visiting scholar Christel Brost, will explore the value and educational significance of the transfer that takes place when we engage students as partners in subject and course design, drawing on several years' experience engaging students to work with academic staff on curriculum. A panel of UOW academics and students will then speak to their successful "students as partners" projects at UOW.
Models of Engaged Learning and Teaching (MELT Workshop)
13 February 2017, 10am – 4pm
Dr John Willison, University of Adelaide (2016 OLT National Senior Teaching Fellow)
- Would you like graduates of your programs to have developed deep understandings of subject matter and a research or problem solving mindset?
- Do you want to foreground critical thinking and use technology to support its development, not have technology drive the agenda?
- How can you help students to connect together the skills associated with problem solving, critical thinking, clinical reasoning and researching in ways that enable these skills to mutually reinforce across multiple semesters of a degree?
This workshop will help you address these questions and produce a draft MELT that suits your context. The idea of MELT comes from academics, tutors and librarians who have collaborated and adapted the six facets of Research Skill Development (RSD) framework to suit a range of contexts and in ways we didn’t expect. Multiple uses of the MELT with context-appropriate terminology provides various opportunities for these facets to become student thinking routines that develop researching, critical thinking and problem solving mindsets by graduation. This workshop provides you with collaborative time to learn about others’ models and adapt these so that you can MELT and mould your course or learning context.
WATTLE Forum: Hot Topics In Learning And Teaching
14 February 2017, 9am – 3pm
UOW colleagues are warmly invited to join the first WATTLE Forum for 2017! This is an opportunity for the teaching and learning community to come together to discuss, share and explore new ideas and in the following hot topic areas:
- Technology that enhances learning
- Innovative teaching pedagogies
- Innovative assessment practices
- Employability skill development
- Students as Partners
The Forum format will include a series of 6 minute presentations showcasing innovations from UOW leaders in the Hot Topic areas, followed by break-out discussion groups for collaboration and sharing. We will also hear from UOW colleagues who have been nationally recognised for outstanding programs and practices at UOW - sharing their experiences, knowledge and good practices in teaching and learning.
The topic areas have been selected based on current sector trends and feedback from the WATTLE member survey conducted in 2016.
Workshop - Graduate Employability 2.0: Applying and adapting the connectedness learning educators toolkit for my context
25 October 2016
Associate Professor Ruth Bridgstock is an Australian National Senior Teaching Fellow for Graduate Employability 2.0. The fellowship supports students, teachers and universities to build and use effective professional connections and partnerships for innovation, career development, and learning. In this workshop, Ruth joined UOW to share research and tools for strengthening connections and partnerships with industry and community.
The Graduate Employability 2.0 website.
Quick Connections With WATTLE [PDF]
20 October 2016
An opportunity for Members and guests to meet with colleagues and share ideas about teaching practice and research.
Celebrating Member Success: OLT National Fellows Showcase & Book Launch [PDF]
25 November 2015
Dr Sarah O’Shea, National Teaching Fellow (University of Wollongong)
Engaging Families to Engage Students
Professor Garry Hoban, National Senior Teaching Fellow (University of Wollongong)
Digital Media in Science Education: learning, explaining and communicating content.
Guest Seminar: On the Way to Becoming a SOTL Scholar [PDF]
2 November 2015
Dr Peter Draper (University of Hull, UK)
Exploring paths to becoming a SoTL scholar.
WATTLE Think Tank: Employability [PDF]
12 October 2015
Professor Dawn Bennett (Curtin University), Martin Smith & Professor Patrick Crookes (University of Wollongong)
Research Showcase: ECTE350 iSee Pitch (Technology Enhanced Learning: Linking Campuses and Industry)
28 September 2015
Sasha Nikolic (School of Electrical, Computer & Telecom Engineering, University of Wollongong)
Research Showcase: BRiTE (Building Resilience in Teacher Education)
Dr Noelene Weatherby-Fell (School of Education, University of Wollongong)
Guest Seminar: Engaging Students as Partners and as Change Agents [PDF]
4 August 2015
Emeritus Professor Mick Healey, Higher Education Consultant and Researcher (University of Gloucestershire, UK)
An interactive session exploring four ways in which students may be engaged as partners.
Guest Seminar: Lifelong Learner Progression - Whole Person, Whole Journey [PDF]
24 July 2015
Philip Dent, Chief Executive of The Progression Trust, UK
A framework for discussion and development of practice that will translate research from multiple disciplines into approaches that support the progression of all students - embedding the concept in outreach, access, transition and success activities across the university.
Guest Seminar: Educational Leadership
20 May 2015
Dr Dilly Fung, Director, UCL Centre for the Advancement of Learning & Teaching (University College London, UK)
Leading education vision, strategic action and the scholarship of teaching and learning
WATTLE Think Tank: Assessment & Feedback
30 April 2015
Facilitator A/Prof Margaret Wallace
Research Showcase: Using a Bilingual Peer assisted Learning (B-PAL) model to assist the teaching of Chinese accounting students in Australian higher Education
1 April 2015
Ms Jin Cui (Faculty of Business, University of Wollongong)
Chinese Academic Business Learning & Education (CABLE) provides Chinese Business students with academic support through informal, peer-led bilingual instruction, as well as social support by building community engagement.
WATTLE Think Tank: What does and what should count as a SoTL output?
23 February 2015
Professor Patrick Crookes, Director WATTLE (University of Wollongong)
A forum to consider important topics related to Teaching Excellence and Scholarship in Teaching & Learning
International Perspectives on 21st Century Learning and Teaching Practices in Higher Education: Where are we and where are we going?
18 February 2015
Professor Anthony Smith, Vice-Provost Education and Student Affairs (University College London, UK), Professor Eeva Leinonen, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) (University of Wollongong), Professor Peter Bol, Vice-Provost for Learning Advances (Harvard University, Boston, USA)
Member Session: Abstract Writing Workshop - 2015 ISSoTL Conference
22 January 2015
Professor Patrick Crookes, Director WATTLE (University of Wollongong) and Professor Patricia Reynolds (Kings College London, UK)
Members sharing 'the art of abstract writing' in a collaborative, collegial environment.
Employability Master Class: Scholarship and Practice [PDF]
4 December 2014
Following the 34th annual conference of NAGCAS.
Professor Tristram Hooley (University of Derby, UK), Tony Botelho (Simon Fraser University, Canada), Eluned Jones (University of Birmingham, UK)
Guest Seminar: What Technologies Genuinely Enhance Student Learning? [PDF]
4 November 2014
Dr Janet Strivens (Centre for Lifelong Learning at the University of Liverpool, UK)
Guest Seminar: Say Goodbye to Pleasantville - Digital Literacy and America’s new Educational Standards [PDF]
21 October 2014
Dr Dennis Jablonski (Southern Oregon University, USA)
Measure for Measure: Marking, Standards and Assessment Symposium
17 October 2014
Emeritus professor David Boud (University Technology Sydney), Emeritus Professor Chris Rust (Oxford Brookes University, UK), Professor Simon Pyke (University of Adelaide)
Guest Seminar: Graduate Capabilities
9 October 2014
Professor Paul Wellings, CBE, Vice-Chancellor (University of Wollongong)
“Capabilities enable students to be career ready, as well as demonstrating the technical skills needed for specific jobs. Universities, through Faculties and support from careers services, have developed sophisticated approaches to helping students evidence graduate capabilities.”
Member Discussion: What will a successful WATTLE do for you personally?
23 September 2014
Professor Patrick Crookes, Director WATTLE (University of Wollongong)