Foundations of Learning and Teaching

Overview

This unit aims to set the foundations of learning and teaching in higher education settings. This will involve establishing a peer network in which students will participate in a range of activities to learn about diverse learning theories and pedagogies, and the tertiary environment in which they are working and studying. The scene will be set for continued consideration of how to support the variety of paths students take in their learning journeys.

Unit learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

1. Characterise contemporary assessment practices from design to application.
2. Design and develop appropriate formative and summative assessments in the context of the relevant unit, course and discipline.
3. Apply a diversity of methods and modes to provide and encourage multi-directional feedback.
4. Enact, reflect on, and evaluate evidence-based change improvements of their teaching practice.

Teaching methods

Hawthorn Online

Assessment

Content

Professionalisation of tertiary teaching:

• Reflection and reflective practices
• Establishing a personal professional network – peer partnership
• Professional advancement in your teaching career
• Learning and teaching portfolio design
   

Learning theories and pedagogies:

• Western theories of learning
• Non-Western theories of learning
• Australian university adoption of outcomes-based education – An introduction to constructive alignment – intended learning outcomes, activities, assessment
   

Students’ learning journeys:

• How do students learn? 
• Strategies to support learning for a diversity of students
   

The changing tertiary and teaching environment:

• Good teaching practice indicators 
• The on-campus/blended/fully-online learning and teaching spectrum
• Curriculum and subject review in relation to learning theory, pedagogies and frameworks
• Managing the tension: Quality assurance and quality teaching