Dear colleagues
At the turn of this century Jan Orrel and Allan Goody hatched a plan to host the Australian Foundations Colloquium which ran successfully for many years. That annual colloquium focussed on the needs and interests of those involved in developing and teaching ‘teaching foundation’ programs for their universities; the agenda was invariably driven by the colleagues who attended the colloquium.
We wonder if that opportunity to learn from each other is missed in the sector and if there is an opportunity, perhaps through the use of technology, to recreate the discussion opportunities the colloquium afforded?
If there is interest in the sector, then we would like to explore options – for example, a one day colloquium held probably in a capital city, or a zoom linked colloquium which has a location in perhaps every capital city, or a webinar series perhaps along the lines of the assessment webinar series or ???
What we’d like to know is:
1) Did you attend any of the foundation colloquia and if so, what was your experience?
2) Regardless of whether you attended the colloquia or not, would it potentially be useful for you to engage in discussions with colleagues about teaching induction?
3) What lessons might we learn from the foundations colloquia if we do decide to create a professional development opportunity about this topic – why did it cease to exist?
4) Can you suggest a format or approach for this PD?
5) Are there particular barriers to people participating that we might usefully consider if we do choose to proceed with this development?
Cheers
Kym Fraser and Ann Luzeckyj
1) Did you attend any of the foundation colloquia and if so, what was your experience?
ReplyDeleteYes. A positive experience of sharing good practice and of benchmarking against good practice.
2) Regardless of whether you attended the colloquia or not, would it potentially be useful for you to engage in discussions with colleagues about teaching induction?
Yes for sharing good practice and benchmarking approaches and programs.
3) What lessons might we learn from the foundations colloquia if we do decide to create a professional development opportunity about this topic – why did it cease to exist?
I believe that funding was available, so that participants attended by self-funding travel and accommodation only.
4) Can you suggest a format or approach for this PD?
Open to suggestions, but there is great value and benefit in a face to face meeting (for ensuring engagement and also for networking).
5) Are there particular barriers to people participating that we might usefully consider if we do choose to proceed with this development?
Financial support, institutional support (for time and travel).
Great to see this re-emerge across the sector.
ReplyDeleteThe Foundations Colloquium did provide very useful occasions to network with like minds/ consider benchmarking of our activities / share resources and reflect on practice. I attended 3 or 4 Colloquia.
It would be valuable to engage in discussion about directions in HE; including processes for recognition and rewarding teaching/ sector pressure to meet 'academic expectations' and the different pathways for 'developing' academics about teaching and learning. Sharing engagement with the HEA Fellowship Scheme would be beneficial.
On format, there would need to be virtual and physical participation and preferably access to some funding/ support - currently limiting opportunities. Video conferencing/ State meetings might help. Aligning with other conferences/ activities also helps attendance.
Thanks for getting the communication rolling
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