Global Utilities

La Trobe University
Curriculum, Teaching and Learning

Edition 9, 2009

30 October 2009

In this edition...

  • Registrations open for the CTL Colloquium
  • Update on the Design for Learning (DfL) Project
  • Design for Learning Forum
  • New resources on the CTLC website
  • Lochaber No More
  • SoLT Research Network - next meetings
  • The Cockatoo Club - next meeting
  • CTLC workshops
  • Conferences

Registrations open for the CTL Colloquium

The annual La Trobe Curriculum, Teaching and Learning Colloquium will be held this year on Thursday 3 December, Friday 4 December, and followed by a post-Colloquium workshop day on Monday 7 December.

Submissions for presentations close today and so far we have received a large number of interesting proposals with half coming from non-Bundoora campuses. The Colloquium program will be posted on the website by mid November.

Staff who are unable to attend in person at Bundoora will be able to watch selected presentations via a webcast and submit questions to the speakers via Twitter or our online chat tool.

For catering purposes we are asking staff to register their attendance by completing the online registration form by Friday 27 November.

Update on the Design for Learning (DfL) Project

The four working groups have commenced their brainstorming activities and have each met five or six times.  The groups are comprised of both academic and professional staff from around the University who have put a lot of time and effort into researching relevant literature, reviewing models of good practice and suggesting ideas for improving the Design for Learning at La Trobe University and fulfilling the recommendations outlined in the Curriculum White Paper.  

The majority of discussion and research has focussed on curriculum design, first year experience and graduate capabilities with the working groups now in the process of summarising the outcomes of their workshops and putting forward their recommendations.  From the recommendations made by the working groups, the Design for Learning Project will develop draft policy, procedure and guidelines which meet these recommendations and those indicated in the Curriculum White Paper.  The drafts will be distributed for consultation with the wider University community.  Also arising from the recommendations made by the working groups will be projects which will assist the University in meeting the objectives of the recommendations.

The Design for Learning Project has appointed a Project Manager to oversee the implementation of the DfL Project and would like to welcome Mr Mark Reedman to the DfL Project.  Should you have any questions relating to the DfL Project, you can contact Mark either by email m.reedman@latrobe.edu.au or by telephone on (03) 9479 6496.

Design for Learning Forum

Research-Based Learning: Reinventing the Undergraduate Curriculum

Students-as-researchers? Dr Chris Rust will explain how 'reinventing' the relationship between teaching, learning and research can help our students become contributors to – not just consumers of – the research cultures of their own disciplines. Based on his experiences leading a five-year project in the UK, Dr Rust will present a strategy for embedding research-related graduate capabilities into undergraduate learning at the earliest stages by encouraging students to engage in their own research.

  • Presenter: Dr Chris Rust, Oxford Brookes University, UK.
  • Intended audience: This workshop will be useful to all staff engaged in curriculum review and revision, particularly those interested in developing students’ research/inquiry skills.
  • Date and Time: Tuesday 17 November 2009; 3-5pm
  • Venue: Bundoora Room TBA / Webcast
  • Register: Please register online

New resources on the CTLC website

Recently we've added to the CTLC website:

Lochaber No More

On 20th September a Free Public Lecture about the Jacobite Rebellions and Scottish Highland Clearances was met with a standing ovation from a cheering packed house in the Agora Lecture Theatre.

This presentation, sponsored by the Curriculum, Teaching and Learning Centre, covered a period in history from 1685 to 1746 during which the Royal House of Stuart attempted to regain the thrones of England, Scotland and Ireland. The continuation of the story to the late 19th century depicted the violent eviction of tens of thousands of Scottish people and their deportation to the New World.

The story was puncuated with traditional Scottish songs and music performed by Celtic duo, Braemar (Marcus de Rijk and Eddie Lewis) and supported by Natasha Trinkle on cello, Cath Connelly on harp and Colin MacLeod on fiddle. One half of Braemar, Marcus de Rijk works with the CTLC as does the writer and narrator of the performance, Alyson Waterson.

The performance was almost entirely staffed by members and ex members of the CTLC who gave of their time freely to provide lighting, stage management/effects, sound and video recording, sound engineering and ushering.

The performance received numerous unsolicited messages of congratulation:

"... We enjoyed it very much and were really impressed with the level of professionalism achieved. Bravo!"

"... The story and music evoked both goosebumps and tears .."

"I would just like to congratulate you on a wonderful show yesterday and thank you for the opportunity of being able to see it. Well done to all involved and a special thank you to La Trobe University for making the venue and staff available".

"... The show was fabulous! Entertaining, engaging and very moving."

"... wonderful performances in a very thought-provoking and emotionally intense presentation. We sat with a bunch of Scots - many of whom cried and sang along."

"... And kudos to the crew - the sound and staging was fantastic."

SoLT Research Network - next meetings

The Cockatoo Club - next meeting

CTLC Workshops

The Curriculum, Teaching and Learning Centre (CTLC) at La Trobe offer a range of workshops and seminars throughout the year.

The CTLC Professional Development Semester 1, 2010 program will be available for download by mid November. This program will include information on key events offered by the CTLC including the Effective Teaching for Higher Learning Practical, Research-based Strategies (three-day workshop); Tutor Training; the Graduate Certificate in Higher Education, LMS and Lecture Theatre Orientation.

Workshops currently accepting registrations are:

Conferences

Please refer to the conference webpage for an extensive list of Australasian and International teaching and learning conferences.

Follow us on Twitter!

Free Twitter buttons from languageisavirus.com

The CTLC is now on Twitter. Why not follow us or send a message to us via our Twitter account @ctlcatlatrobe.