The University Teaching & Learning Office's Workshop & Seminar Series continued to influence conversations about Teaching and Learning amongst academic and support staff. UTLO hosted various seminars, symposia and workshops.

Workshop 1

Topic: Writing Workshop

Presenters: Chris Kapp

Writing for academic publications is perhaps one of the more daunting and frustrating experiences of many a novice academic, particularly in publish-or-perish environments we inhabit. As part of its mission to promote the scholarship of Teaching and Learning, and support academic publications in teaching and learning and institutional research, UTLO hosted a five-day Writing for Publication Workshop for novice researchers conducted by the consultancy, Chris Kapp and Associates. The workshop was aimed at academic staff who were novice authors, had a limited publications record and were trying to improve their publication rate.

During the week-long workshop, from 25 February – 1 March 2013, authors received step-by-step guidance and coaching directly related to an article that they had already written based on the outcomes of empirical research. Authors received expert peer review as well as feedback on their work in progress from experienced critical readers and accredited language editors. The critical readers and editors also provided support to enable authors to develop their articles ready to be submitted to accredited journals.

Workshop 2

Topic: Academic Leaders Workshop

This workshop was attended by Deans of Teaching and Learning, academic leaders of Teaching and Learning, members of School Teaching and Learning Committees, Deans and Heads of School and Deans of Research. The aim of the workshop was to:

• Give feedback on new ways to analyse and report on students evaluations (Dr Lalendle and Professor North)
• Report on student progression trends (Professor Labby Ramrathan and Professor Mike Murray)
• Discuss the Plagiarism Policy Review
• Discuss the Implementation of Teaching Workload policy

 

Presenter: Whitty Green, Department of Higher Education and Training

This Workshop focussed on the need for and role of foundational provision and the DHET Foundation Grant in Teaching and Learning support. It also explored its functions at different stages of a curriculum, the constraints on its effectiveness, and key obstacles to optimal implementation, including the availability of adequate funding. The seminar facilitated in-depth understanding of different models of foundational provision, their suitability for different contexts, and key principles underlying the Foundation Grant. The DHET policy on foundational provision and the Foundation Grant was interrogated to clarify the key elements of current DHET policy on foundational provision and funding focusing on how the revised Foundation Grant framework works and the underlying reasons for its design.

Workshop 4

Topic: Innovative and Exemplary Research Teaching Practices in Undergraduate Curricula

Presenters: Professor Michael Savage; Dr Sadhna Manik, Dr Rubby Dhunpath, Dr Ansurie Pillay

Chair: Professor Renuka Vithal

As part of the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s mission to support and encourage higher education curriculum transformation, the University Teaching and Learning Office invited academics to submit descriptions of innovative and exemplary curricula practices that integrate research into their undergraduate modules or programmes. A wide variety of submissions were received which will be discussed at a workshop.

The main outcome of the Workshop was to develop and disseminate practices and pedagogies that induct undergraduate students into a research orientation or develop “research literacy”. The envisaged publication which is being developed will attempt to capture the range of approaches from a diversity of disciplines or professional degrees.

Workshop 5

Topic: Writers and Writing Workshop