Advancing Learning and Teaching

What is ALT?

Advancing Learning and Teaching (ALT) is for academics, course convenors and program leaders looking to holistically invigorate and improve the teaching and learning experience in their course(s) through course design and the use of diverse research-led approaches to enhance teaching, student engagement and assessment.

Extending on our Exploring Learning and Teaching (ELT) program, ALT provides extended opportunity for peer-led discussion and showcasing of course and assessment examples, skill development, critical analysis and follow-up action research with a view to advancing learning and teaching at ANU.

On completion, participants will be encouraged to review and re-design an element of their own course(s) in light of the ANU context and priorities, curriculum and student learning needs and academic expectations supporting a positive student experience.

More information about the ALT modules and weekly partnered workshops is below.

Who can participate?

ALT participants are usually:

• Educators and academics with teaching experience of 3 years or more and who have responsibility for designing or convening courses and programs at ANU;
• Professional staff with faculty-centred support roles and professional input into the student learning experience and/or prospective courses;
• Experienced educators looking to invigorate and/or re-design courses and improve their teaching practice; and
• Educators proactively benchmarking and seeking improvement in course delivery and the student experience.

Program Description

ALT comprises six core modules, and additional partner workshops which are paired with each ALT module. Workshops are delivered by ANU academics and experts and provide further understanding and local examples which will help you enhance your knowledge and skills as an educator.

Module 1 – Learning and Teaching in Higher Education
Knowing the context in which educators teach is as important as developing teaching practices. Find out about learning and teaching in Higher Education, and how this relates to ANU.
Module 2 – Student Engagement
The way students learn informs effective teaching practices. This module examines learning in higher education, and how educators can teach to enhance these learning processes.
Module 3 – Course Design
Although an often-overlooked aspect of teaching, course design plays an integral role in engaging learning. This module develops course and curriculum design principles that facilitate inclusive and engaging learning and teaching.
Module 4 – Student Engagement and Academic Care
Increasingly, educators in higher education employ holistic approaches to learning and teaching. Explore the pastoral and academic factors that affect learning and teaching in this module.
Module 5 – Assessment for Learning
While a significant part of learning and teaching, the role of assessment is often undervalued by educators and learners alike. This module evaluates effective approaches to assessment and feedback to support lifelong learning.
Module 6 – Improving Your Professional Practice
Lifelong learning is applicable to educators as well as their learners. Through evaluation and self-reflection, this module provides a framework for continuous professional development and improvement.

Completion of the program

To successfully complete the program, participants are required to attend all synchronous modules M1-M6 and complete a follow up re-design task.

If participants anticipate missing more than one module, then they should consider future offerings to ensure the program has maximum learning benefit and minimal disruption for all persons involved.

Upon successful completion of the program, participants will receive a non-award certificate from the Centre for Learning and Teaching (CLT). Activities completed as part of this program may be used to stimulate ideas, research and reflections incorporated in future ANU Education Fellowship Scheme applications.