Support for associate teachers, in particular Postgraduates and researchers who teach, is provided through the Higher Education Academy accredited and SEDA recognised Supporting Learning Programme (SLP) and the one-day Survival Skills workshops.
You are also encouraged to take advantage of any of the Continuing Professional Development opportunities, intended for all those at Lancaster involved in teaching and supporting students learning.
The Supporting Learning Programme is designed to provide a framework for the academic and professional development of those who hold posts which involve some duties and responsibilities for supporting the development and/or delivery of learning opportunities.
Potential participants include a wide range of staff who support learning using information technology; in the laboratory; with flexible learning systems; in the studio or clinic; research staff with specialist teaching responsibilities; library, careers and advisory staff or hourly paid lecturers or seminar leaders with prescribed duties.
There is a requirement that participants have at least 10 hours of teaching contact time, or where contact hours are less, that they have a significant level of responsibility for that teaching.
The aims of the programme are:
- To support individuals in their professional activities and development aspirations
- To recognise individual professional achievements
- To advance professional practice
- To enhance the experience of students participating in higher education
- To encourage the development of learning communities with shared values.
The programme is designed so that you can work on it part-time as you teach. There are core attendance sessions and submission deadlines in place to offer a structure to the programme, and to help you to prioritise the programme at certain times.
There are two routes to completing the SLP, but for both routes you need a minimum of 10 hours teaching time during the term in which you are planning to do the programme. If you have fewer contact teaching hours than this, but a significant level of responsibility for the teaching you are doing, please contact the course director, Susan Armitage (01524 510621 or s.armitage(at)lancaster.ac.uk) to discuss the suitability of this course.
The SLP intensive route:
Requires attendance at a 3 day introductory workshop in intro week of the Michaelmas term (Monday 30th Sept., Tuesday 1st & Thursday 3rd October 2013), followed by a two hour peer group tutorial midway through the 4-month programme. The workshop days run from 9:30-4:00 and are usually held in the teaching rooms in the HR Building.
The SLP Top Up Route
Requires prior completion of a Survival Skills workshop during academic years 2011-12, 2012-13, or 2013-14 followed by attendance at a one day workshop from 9:30-4:00, usually held in the teaching rooms in the HR Building. This is usually scheduled to take place during week 2 of Michaelmas or Lent terms and is followed by a two hour peer group tutorial midway through the 4-month programme.
The top-up workshop is a full day from 9:30-4:00 and is usually held in the teaching rooms in the HR Building.
The application form for either route will be available in June 2013
More information about SLP is available via the Frequently Asked Questions list.
Successful completion of the SLP leads to recognition as an Associate of the Higher Education Academy - the national body for teaching in HE in the UK (http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/ourwork/supportingindividuals/professionalrecognition ) and a Staff & Educational Development Association (SEDA) Supporting Learning Award.
Lancaster University Students Union provides advice and guidance to all students at Lancaster and in 2012/13 is developing further its support for postgraduates who teach http://advice.lusu.co.uk/
Further enquiries and early expressions of interest can be addressed to:
Sarah Harris
Tel: 01524 5-10616
Email:OED
Last updated: 25.03.2013 (SA)