The Learning and Teaching Matters newsletter provides just in time resources to support academics and professional staff. Keep up to date with current news and resources through the latest edition below.
The Learning and Teaching Matters newsletter provides just in time resources to support academics and professional staff. Keep up to date with current news and resources through the latest edition below.
I hope that you have had a productive and engaging start to Semester 2. I understand that this point in the semester can be especially demanding with staff fully engaged in teaching and supporting students. To support you, we have curated a brief selection of just-in-time resources related to your learning and teaching.
I wish you all the best with your teaching endeavours for the remainder of Semester 2. Please reach out to CEI@acu.edu.au if you require any support or guidance.
Professor Anthony Whitty
Director, CEI
One of the possible outcomes of an investigation of potential academic misconduct is a finding of 'Poor Academic Practice' (PAP). When a PAP is determined, it is recorded, and the student is provided with counselling and can be directed to compulsory education. Importantly, a PAP does not constitute academic misconduct.
Under changes to the Procedure, Lecturers in Charge (LIC) can now directly determine a PAP finding and assign compulsory education, typically through a module in Canvas. Previously, only an Academic Integrity Officer (AIO) could make a PAP determination following investigation from the referral by the LIC.
To attend one of four informative training workshops in the next two weeks, please register for a session here.
Feedback from academics suggested that this change will lead to quicker resolutions for staff and students and make the process less intimidating for students, enhancing their overall experience.
As we approach ACU Term 4, this is a reminder that our two Canvas instances will be merged into a single, unified platform. The change will take effect from Monday, 30 September 2024. This consolidation is part of our ongoing efforts to improve the Canvas experience for both staff and students, ensuring better support and more streamlined operations.
From Term 4 onwards, all on-campus and online units will be available at canvas.acu.edu.au.
Staff and students will be able to access their completed ACU Online units via the archived site canvas.online.acu.edu.au/
For assistance, please contact the Learning Technology Team via Service Central.
The Graduate Certificate in Higher Education (GCHE) is designed to help you to develop your career as a tertiary educator and to contribute directly to extending a culture of excellence in learning and teaching at ACU. The GCHE is now open for enrolments for commencement on 23 September 2024. The final date for enrolment is 20 September 2024.
The course is work-integrated so that you undertake learning activities that are of direct relevance and benefit to you. It aims to model and illustrate good practice and ensure your learning experience is transparently relevant and strategically beneficial.
Teaching academics, including sessional staff and professional staff who have a role leading teaching and learning at either the School or Faculty level are eligible to have their fees waived.
Read more about the GCHE and enrol now.
ACU October graduations are coming up in Sydney and Melbourne! This is a significant event in the university's calendar and an opportunity for staff to offer a final show of support and celebrate the accomplishments of our graduates. All staff (academic and professional) with a university degree or diploma are welcome to participate in the academic procession and be seated on stage for the ceremonies. Academic regalia can be provided, or you may bring your own.
The Graduations team are also looking for more staff to join the mix of academic and professional staff who love volunteering on the day: welcoming grads, scanning tickets and ushering grads in and out of their seats. The graduates love seeing a familiar face behind the scenes to calm their nerves before crossing the stage! No special skills or experience necessary, just a big smile.
Anyone wishing to attend, participate in, or support the graduation ceremonies must submit the Staff Registration for Graduation form. Visit the graduation website to access the full schedule of ceremonies. We can't wait to see you at graduation!
Progress continues apace on ACU's new enrolment tracking tool, which, following a student survey, is now officially known as CourseTrack.
Course Coordinators of 13 courses now have access to the CourseTrack enrolment audit. Feedback during our consultations sessions has been overwhelmingly positive. Course Coordinators are finding the student audit intuitive and easy to use and anticipate that it will save a significant amount of time identifying students who are course complete.
We have also been able to identify over 30 students with potential enrolment errors for Semester 2 units before the census date.
Over the next two months we'll be continuing our consultation meetings with Course Coordinators, undertaking user testing with students and staff and rolling out another 12 courses to staff in preparation for going live to students in early October.
CEI's Higher Education Learning and Teaching Academy (HELTA) is hosting a three-part series focussed on GenAI looking at what concerns us, and students, and to hear the innovations happening in this space.
You're invited to participate in these sessions starting with campus-based staff forums, student panels, and rounded out by a keynote presentation from Professor Danny Liu.
Register for the sessions here
Session 1: Promise or problem: How do we use Gen AI and what concerns us
What: A campus-based, in person staff forum
Date: Tuesday 24 September, 9 am - 12 pm
Session 2: You can't ask that: How students use Gen AI and what concerns them
What: A campus-based, in person student panel
Date: Tuesday 8 October, 10 am - 12 pm (9 am - 11 am QLD)
Session 3: How can we CRAFT a response to generative AI together? Looking at Culture, Rules, Access, Familiarity, and Trust
Keynote: Prof. Danny Liu
What: Hybrid delivery: North Sydney and online
When: Tuesday 29 October, 10 am - 12 pm (9 am - 11 am QLD)
The 2024 CEI Teaching and Learning Showcase theme is "The power of the story in learning and teaching".
If you or your teaching team are interested in participating in the showcase, we invite you to submit an abstract.
Abstract submissions should include a 250-word summary of your presentation (15 minutes & 5-minute Q&A) or workshop (40 minutes). Abstract submissions will close on 7 October 2024 and will be peer-reviewed by panels from CEI and Faculty, with feedback and outcomes advised by late October 2024.
Registrations will open soon for Showcases to be held on the following dates:
*Strathfield and Blacktown staff are invited to attend the North Sydney Showcase.
CMAS is the ACU system for managing curriculum information from approvals through to publication. Whilst adhering to the Course Accreditation, Amendment and Review Policy, each faculty's governance team overseas curriculum approvals, which in turn are published by the Curriculum Management Team in Student Administration.
Step-by-step training guides, including detailed processes for creating, amending and reviewing units and courses are available on the CMAS Resources section of the staff website.
To receive an introduction to CMAS please contact Annette.Rigby@acu.edu.au who will liaise with relevant faculty governance teams to arrange group introductory sessions.
The library has created an AI hub, that explores the responsible and ethical use of generative technology. The hub also promotes the application of critical thinking skills, which are essential in evaluating the accuracy and authenticity of generated results.
The hub is designed to improve your understanding of generative AI and how it can assist with your teaching and research at ACU. The hub is also a valuable tool to direct your students to.
The AI hub features 4 tiles:
GenAI comes in many forms, each capable of producing different types of content. These include AI that create art, videos, text, music, and computer code. The AI tools section provides an overview of these various genAI types and offers a curated selection of examples for you to investigate.
| Assoc Professor Jennifer Carpenter | Associate Dean Learning Teaching and Governance, Faculty of Education and Arts |
| Dr Ian Elmer | Acting Associate Dean, Learning and Teaching, Faculty of Theology and Philosophy |
| Assoc Professor Stephen Guinea | Associate Dean, Learning, Teaching and Professional Experience, Faculty of Health Sciences |
| Assoc Professor Bhavani Sridharan | Associate Dean (Learning Teaching and Accreditation), Faculty of Law and Business |
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