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
Workshop 3
Topic: Effective implementation of foundational
provisioning for extended programmes
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
Presenters: Chris Kapp
The workshop brought together academics from a variety of
disciplines and provided writing and editorial support to further
develop their research publications.
