Applications for the Supporting Learning Programme (SLP) in academic year 2011/12 are now closed.  The programme supports and accredits the academic development of postgraduates, researchers and others who support students learning at Lancaster.

The attendance commitment for the intensive route is as follows:

• a 3 day induction workshop during intro week October 2012 (dates tbc)

The attendance commitment for the topup route is as follows:

• Prior attendance at a Survival Skills workshop day

If you have yet to attend a Survival Skills workshop details for 2012/13 will be available here: 

http://www.lancs.ac.uk/celt/celtweb/sskills

Plus

• Attendance at a ‘top up’ workshop day (October 2012 or January 2013 - dates tbc)

This introductory event will start to address the areas of understanding student learning and your own reflective practice as a teacher.  It will also provide an induction into the Supporting Learning Programme.

Both routes require attendance at a Peer Group tutorial (Week 6 or 7)

This informal tutorial gives you the opportunity to review your teaching and share ideas and experiences, and to check and discuss progress on the programme tasks and activities.  You will be asked to sign up to one of several options for when to attend this tutorial on a first come first served basis.

Both routes also offer the opportunity to attend an optional peer group tutorial roughly 3-4 weeks prior to the deadline for the portfolio.  This optional informal tutorial gives you the opportunity to review your teaching with peers and prepare for the final piece of writing for the portfolio.

Successful completion of the SLP leads to national recognition as an Associate of the Higher Education, as the programme is accredited by the Higher Education Academy (HEA) at UK Professional Standards Framework, Standard Descriptor 1 (UK PSF SD1 ).  It is also recognized by the Staff and Educational Development Association (SEDA) and successful graduates receive the SEDA Supporting Learning award.  Both HEA and SEDA are national bodies in the UK.

There will be a deadline for applications via either route - tbc.

NB: You must have at least 10 contact hours in the term in which you are undertaking the course to be eligible for a place.

Guidelines for completion of the application form for the Supporting Learning Programme

The current demand for limited places for this programme has necessitated the establishment of a process of selection via completed application forms and departmental quotas.

If you wish to be considered for a place on this programme, you must complete the appropriate application form IN FULL and return it to the Development Programmes Co-ordinator in OED. No application will be considered without this form, and any gaps in the form will inevitably result in a delay in processing your request.

Application forms will be made available here in due course.

The places will be allocated by giving priority those who have greatest teaching responsibilities, and on the basis of a departmental quota per cohort.

Before completing the attached form, please note that this programme is for those actively engaged in teaching in Higher Education. Before applying to join the programme you should ensure that you will be doing sufficient teaching to complete the programme. You must have a minimum of 10 hours contact teaching time to be eligible to undertake the programme.

The notes below refer to the numbers on the form. Where there is no note against a particular section this means the section should be completed in the way indicated on the form.

12. A brief outline only of postgraduate courses and qualifications relevant to your teaching is required here.

13. It is essential that you detail your teaching commitments for the duration of the course you are applying for, as a minimum teaching load is a requirement of enrolment. Your application cannot be considered without this information, and prioirity will be given to those with more substantial teaching duties

14. It is not a pre-requisite that you have prior teaching experience or professional development, but it is useful for us to know if you have any experience.

15. Attach a separate sheet if you need more space. Even if it is a requirement by your department that you undertake this programme, or perhaps especially if it is, it is very important that you have your own reasons for joining, in terms of what you hope to get from doing it. It will take time and commitment on your part, and so you need to think about what you hope to gain from this investment. This information also helps us with our planning.

16. We do not require references in the usual way, but we do require confirmation from your head of department and supervisor, if you are a post-graduate student, that they support your registration for this programme and have discussed this with you. They should sign and print their names in these boxes to this effect. The application cannot be considered without these signatures.

Please return the form to:

Helen Ratcliffe, Development Programmes Co-ordinator, HR Building, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YN email:oed@lancaster.ac.uk