Functions and services

Content

Functions and services

Learning and Teaching

• Partnering with academic and professional staff in the development and implementation of institutional priorities and projects in learning and teaching
• Identifying and responding to opportunities for involvement in national projects that support the University’s teaching and learning goals
• Leading and managing university-wide learning and teaching projects
• Current activities include the Graduate Attributes and Standards Project (2010-2012), supporting Program Leaders professional development, including development and dissemination of role statement, learning spaces advice and education.

Governance, scholarship and strategy

• Leading development and implementation of academic, learning and teaching related policies and procedures
• Developing and supporting implementation of teaching and learning related strategic planning
• Actively contributing to learning and teaching committees, reference groups and working groups
• Engaging in Program Reviews as part of the University’s quality assurance process
• Supporting staff to engage in evidence-based practice
• Contributing to the body of knowledge about academic development and other aspects of learning and teaching through research, publications and sectoral engagement
• Current activities include the implementation of the new student evaluation policy, new course outline template and marks and grades module extension for Blackboard.

Blended learning

• Providing functional and learning design support for the Blackboard Learning Management System
• Leading strategic projects related to blended and multi-site learning and teaching
• Working with fellows and clients to enhance blended learning experiences at the course level
• Leading technology related projects and innovations
• Current activities include the eLEAP Fellowship Scheme, supporting academics in the effective integration of technology to enhance learning, building digital competencies and capabilities across the University, and supporting and resourcing the functional and operational aspects of the Learning Management System (Blackboard)

Professional learning

• Engaging with all teaching staff to provide opportunities for professional learning, partnerships and external engagement in learning and teaching
• Providing academic induction and Foundations of University Teaching
• Supporting staff through the development of informal interest group networks
• Teaching into the Graduate Certificate in Professional Learning
• Providing workshops by nationally and internationally recognised academics from specific fields related to learning and teaching in higher education
• Leading and managing the Sessional Staff development activities
• Current activities include provision of Foundations of University Teaching, a range of self-paced resources to enable staff to be independent and competent users of the Learning Management System, a range of interactive good practice examples of technology enabled learning activities and professional development workshops by internationally-recognised academics and university staff.

Grants and awards

• Providing support and advice to applicants for internal learning and teaching grants (LTGS) and for Office for Learning and Teaching (DEEWR) teaching awards, grants and other opportunities
• Providing administrative support for all stages of the grants and award application experience
• Co-leading the Queensland Promoting Excellence Network
• Current activities include an extensive review of the Open Learning and Teaching Grant Program, development of 2012 support timelines for DEEWR grants and awards, and portfolio leadership for the Q-PEN Network

  [1] Responsibilities with regard to the Blackboard LMS are shared with Information Technology Services. Put simply, anything that relates to the functioning of the system is the OLT’s responsibility while ensuring technical stability is the role of ITS. Both areas work also at the point of intersection between these two, in tasks such as troubleshooting, testing and upgrades.

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