Frequently Asked Questions
• What is the course about? • How is the course offered? • What's the assessment? • What are the subjects?
• Am I eligible to do the course? • What are the course fees? • What if I want to do further study after this course?
• How do I apply? • When can I start the course? • Who should I talk to for more information?
What is the course about?
The Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Teaching and Learning is a course for current university teachers. It aims to help you develop:
- an understanding of different ways of thinking about university teaching and their consequences for student learning, which enables you to make informed decisions about your approaches to teaching and learning, course and subject design and assessment in a variety of contexts and with a diversity of students
- an ability to reflect critically on and evaluate your own teaching and subjects and make changes which are aimed at improving your students' learning and informed by current literature on university teaching and learning
- an ongoing commitment to scholarship in teaching and to self-directed continuing teaching development
- a broader awareness of the higher education, university and academic career contexts in which you work, to assist you to develop your academic potential more effectively
How is the course offered?
The course is offered part-time. To complete the course, you complete four subjects and develop a reflective portfolio where you provide evidence of what you've learned. Subjects involve a mix of face-to-face interactive workshops, participation in online discussion and individually negotiated assessment that relates to your own teaching.
Check this year's timetable to find out when different subjects have their face-to-face sessions.
What's the assessment?
For assessment in the course, you develop a Reflective Portfolio. In your portfolio you will provide negotiated evidence of achieving the aims of the course and your own learning goals. Most of the work you do for your portfolio can be closely related to your own teaching, and different participants will include different forms of evidence. You will complete your portfolio by undertaking a small scholarly teaching and learning project. Some examples of evidence that past participants have included in their portfolios include:
- a new self-managed learning package for a subject, which includes information on assessment tasks and criteria with evaluation by students and colleagues, and a critical reflection which includes the teacher's intentions in developing the package and the literature which informed its design
- a series of weekly entries where a participant reflected on their face-to-face teaching and assessment of students, and made ongoing suggestions for improving a subject based on their reflections and reading
- a conference paper on an innovative approach to creating alignment of subject objectives, teaching and learning approaches and assessment in a new online subject which the participant had developed
There are no exams!
What are the subjects?
Participants need to complete four subjects: Student learning and teaching approaches; Course design and assessment; Reflective academic practice; Scholarly teaching and learning project.
Am I eligible to do the course?
To do the course you must be concurrently teaching at university level, as a full-time, fractional or casual teacher. This is because the course is designed to integrate your learning with your current teaching practice. If you are intending to do the course while on PEP or study leave, you will need to have access to immediate past students to complete the Student learning and teaching approaches subject. The course is not offered to international students, except those who are currently undertaking a PhD at UTS and are teaching as a tutor or demonstrator. It is not intended as a qualification for TAFE or school teachers.
What are the course fees?
UTS full-time and fractional staff are usually eligible for sponsorship from the University. Casual UTS academics with a continuous series of contracts should contact the course co-ordinator to discuss whether they may be eligible for sponsorship. For course fees please see this link using course code C11154 http://datasearch.uts.edu.au/fees/courseFees.cfm
What if I want to do further study after this course?
The Faculty of Education at UTS offers courses at the Masters and Graduate Diploma level courses in Education. The Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Teaching and Learning articulates to the Masters in Adult Education, with graduates receiving 12 credit points advanced standing.
How do I apply?
Application for entry to the course needs to be made through the usual UTS processes for applying for Graduate Coursework programs. Application forms are available from the Student Info and Admin Centres at UTS Broadway and Kuring-gai or from the Institute for Interactive Media and Learning. Completed applications must be sent to Student Info and Admin Centre. The address is on the form.
To apply you will need to complete an application form and provide copies of the documents it specifies (eg. evidence of qualifications). You will also need to provide a statement from your Head of Department/School/Program or Associate Dean stating that you will have regular teaching commitments during your enrolment and provide a brief personal statement about why you would like to do the course.
When can I start the course?
The best time to start the course is in February each year. The course usually starts before the beginning of the normal teaching semester. It is also possible to start the course in July. Please contact the course co-ordinator to discuss your options.
Who should I talk to for more information?
If you would like a printed copy of the course guide or have administrative questions, contact:
Enza Mirabella
Course Administrator
Institute for Interactive Media and Learning
Phone: (02) 9514 1669; Fax: (02) 9514 1666
Email:
Enza.Mirabella@uts.edu.au
If you have questions about the course focus, content or assessment or your eligibility for the course, contact:
Jo McKenzie
Course Co-ordinator
Institute for Interactive Media and Learning
Phone: (02) 9514 2198; Fax: (02) 9514 1666
Email:
Jo.McKenzie@uts.edu.au