Last week I attended The Future of Academic Work: A deliberative conference at the University of Technology, Sydney. Its focus was a research project examining specific teaching-focussed, entry-level, continuing or fixed term (rather than sessional or casual) academic positions at Australian universities: The new Scholarly Teaching Fellow (STF) role was introduced into Australian universities in … Continue reading Deliberating on academic futures
teaching
Transformative learning
I am in two minds about transformative learning. Try this definition: "Transformative learning is the expansion of consciousness through the transformation of basic worldview and specific capacities of the self" (Elias, 1997, p 3). Or this: "Transformative learning involves experiencing a deep, structural shift in the basic premises of thought, feelings, and actions. It is … Continue reading Transformative learning
Valuing teaching
I spent last week in Adelaide for the Higher Education Research and Development Association of Australasia (HERDSA) conference. As far as Australian higher education conferences go, it is the largest, with a choice of seven parallel sessions. I was deep in decision fatigue, so stuck closely to the 'academic work' stream rather than move between … Continue reading Valuing teaching
Curricula la la
Fresh from three plus days (and nights) of discussions about the curriculum architecture of the university, this post is a chance to gather my thoughts about understandings and assumptions of curricula in higher education. (Although I note that the plural form ‘curriculums’ seems to be increasingly in use across the university). About fourteen years ago, … Continue reading Curricula la la
Enjoying the little things
Last year, listening to the radio on the way to work, ABC Classic FM played a piece of music that was performed only once during the composer's life. It might have been Rachmaninoff's first symphony, which was difficult to write, had a disastrous first performance and triggered an episode of severe depression. Of his symphony, … Continue reading Enjoying the little things
Enabling dissent
Last week I attended the annual Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA) conference. I really appreciated the sustained and vibrant participation by students across the conference. Over three days I attended sessions on peer review, teaching induction, research-informed teaching and quality curriculum; collected a wealth of resources and ideas; planned research with … Continue reading Enabling dissent
