Do I have to attend the Teaching and Learning Programme?
If I cannot attend both days of the session, is this a problem?
How long do I have to complete the practice-based task/accredited assignment?
How do I submit the practice-based task/accredited assignment?
Do I have to attend the Teaching and Learning Programme?
No, unless this has been requested of you by your department. However, postgraduates and research staff with no previous training or teaching are advised strongly to attend to develop the knowledge and skills essential to good practice. In the past, those who have only a small amount of teaching have reported that they have benefited greatly from the opportunity to explore areas of teaching that they may be requested to work upon in the future and have also enjoyed learning about the work of other departments.
It is hoped that all postgraduates and research staff will have a mentor/observer from within their own department who will support them with their teaching duties. For postgraduates, this might be your postgraduate studies tutor or a different person. In some cases, when there are difficulties with finding a mentor, another postgraduate who has had considerable experience of teaching may support you. For research staff, this might be a colleague who has completed the TLHE Programme or another member of staff who has had considerable experience of teaching.
It would not be appropriate for us to nominate a mentor so you will need to discuss this with your postgraduate studies tutor or with the member of staff responsible for teaching and learning in your department.
If I cannot attend both days of the session, is this a problem?
The two-day programme is designed as a cohesive unit. The gap of a few weeks between the two dates, is intended to give time for reflection, and sometimes, the opportunity for participants to trial new approaches. In exceptional circumstances, for example owing to illness, a person who misses the second day can attend another session. However, this can sometimes result in that person missing some material or a repetition of other work.
I would like my presentation to focus on my own studies/work but this is complex and might not be easily understood by a non-specialist audience. What should I do?
The presentation requires that you demonstrate your ability to present with an awareness of your audience. Whilst you will not know about this in advance, you will all be in a position where there will be students and research staff from a range of subjects present. As such, it is better to select an aspect of your work that is relatively simple to present or, alternatively, choose a completely different subject such as a hobby.
I have recently prepared a presentation on my own studies/work for a conference/university seminar; would it be acceptable to use this for my Teaching and Learning presentation?
Whilst we would not want to answer 'no' to this question, it is often this type of presentation that poses problems for the presenter as the work can be too detailed/complex for this 'lay' audience. If you do choose to use the same presentation, you must adapt it to ensure that it is an appropriate length and, as stated in the response above, it is comprehensible to all.
I would like to use a USB stick to transport my material to the Graduate School for the presentation; is this possible?
The computers at the Graduate School allow access via USB stick or CD-ROM. If your presentation is saved on a floppy disk please let the administrative office know so we can arrange for an external floppy drive to be available. Do contact sue.battin@bris.ac.uk if you have any questions concerning equipment for your presentation.
How long do I have to complete the practice-based task/the accredited assignment?
We suggest that the teaching observation takes place as soon as possible after the two-day programme so that you have plenty of time to reflect further on your work, should you wish to complete the accredited assignment. If you have a light teaching load we understand that you may take longer to complete the learning journal but, wherever possible, we suggest that you do this by the end of the term following that in which you attended the sessions.
How do I submit the practice-based task/accredited assignment?
Submission of work is via our TLHE Programme Blackboard course. You will be registered for this when you enrol on the programme. Everything you need to know to complete the 2-day programme is on Blackboard.