- Who is this programme for?
- What are the programmes' objectives and approaches?
- How much teaching do I need to be doing?
- How many sessions will I need to attend?
- Timetable for 2012/13
- What does the assessment involve?
- How much study time does it take to complete the assessment for the accreditation?
- What support do I get whilst doing the programme?
- What qualifications would I get from doing the programme?
- Is a teaching qualification necessary to get an academic post or gain promotion?
- If I have further questions I would like to ask - who can I contact?
- How do I apply?
- Do I have to pay to attend?
- What if I have already attended a Survival Skills workshop?
- What do previous participants say about the course?
Who is this programme for?
The Supporting Learning Programme is designed to be appropriate for:
- Postgraduate students who are also undertaking a teaching role
- Research staff with a teaching role
- Staff whose main role involves supporting students' learning e.g. using information technology, in the laboratory, with flexible learning systems, in the studio
- Library, Careers and advisory staff
- Hourly paid lecturers or seminar leaders with prescribed duties
- Some part-time staff who teach.
What are the programmes' objectives and approaches?
The programme aims to support inexperienced HE teachers in the development of their teaching skills and ideas in the context of their current role, and to increase their understanding and appreciation of alternative approaches and wider viewpoints of teaching and learning issues. Much of the benefit of the course derives from the opportunity to work with peers in similar situations from across the university in a cross-curricular ‘community of practice', sharing ideas and experiences of teaching. Participants review and critically evaluate their on-going experiences, reflecting on the HE learning experience as both a teacher and learner.
A variety of learning and teaching methods are used, including:
- workshops and seminars
- e-learning activities
- working with peers and colleagues within the subject department
- critically reflecting on one's own planning and teaching
- using educational and subject literature to draw upon research and theory
- engaging in a number of practical assessment tasks and writing, including observation of teaching.
How much teaching do I need to be doing?
You may have had some prior teaching experience, but this is not a pre-requisite for enrolment. To enrol on the programme, you must have a minimum of 10 contact teaching hours during the academic year in which you are taking the programme. You may also be involved in other teaching related activities such as office-hours, preparation, marking etc. but this will clearly be dependent upon your teaching situation and is not defined as a pre-requisite for enrolment.
If you have fewer contact teaching hours than this, but a significant level of responsibility for the teaching that you are doing, please contact the course director, Susan Armitage (01524 510621 or s.armitage@lancaster.ac.uk) to discuss the suitability of this course.
How many sessions will I need to attend?
The Supporting Learning programme involves a core attendance requirement over one term plus optional sessions to extend your professional knowledge and skills.
Intensive route (for those who have not done a Survival Skills workshop)
- 3-day introductory course in intro-week on Monday 1st, Tuesday 2nd and Thursday 4th October 2012
- a peer group tutorial on the afternoon of Wednesday 14th November in week 6, 1:30-3:30pm
- an optional tutorial 3 or 4 weeks prior to the deadline for the portfolio
Top-up route (for those who have previously attended a Survival Skills workshop)
- 1-day 'topup' workshop on Tuesday 16th October or Friday 25th January
- a peer group tutorial on the afternoon of Wednesday 21st November or Wednesday 27th February 2013, both from 1:30-3:30pm
- an optional tutorial 3 or 4 weeks prior to the deadline for the portfolio
Additional workshops and seminars held during the year provide opportunities to find out about teaching developments and practices around Lancaster and elsewhere. These are bookable on an individual basis.
The attendance commitment for the intensive route is as follows:
- a 3 day induction workshop during intro week 2012:
Monday 1st, Tuesday 2nd and Thursday 4th October 2012
The attendance commitment for the topup route is as follows:
- Prior attendance at a Survival Skills workshop day in academic year 2010/11, 11/12 or 12/13
If you have yet to attend a Survival Skills workshop details for 2012/13 are available here
Plus
- Attendance at a 'top up' workshop day on either Tuesday 16th October 2012 or Friday 25th January 2013
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 which will take place on the afternoon of:
Wednesday 14th November (Intensive route)
or
Wednesday 21st November ('top up' route October) from 1:30-3:30pm
or
Wednesday 27th February 2013 ('top up' route January)
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.
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.
The deadline for applications via either route - is Friday 21st September 2012
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 ProgrammeWhat does the assessment involve?
To gain the Supporting Learning accreditation, you need to submit a portfolio of teaching related tasks and activities. The assessment is seen as part of the learning process, and not simply a measure of attainment. The tasks therefore are based around your current teaching practices and concerns, are informed by scholarship and draw upon feedback from colleagues and students.
Portfolio Tasks
- Production of an annotated bibliography of useful generic and discipline-based resources on teaching and learning
- Peer observations of teaching
- Collecting student feedback
- Reflective writing tasks culminating in a final reflective commentary on your development over the period of the programme
- Submission of a teaching reference by your departmental mentor
How much study time does it take to complete the assessment for the accreditation?
This is a difficult question to answer, as each person varies in their approach. Much of the learning and reflection on this course occurs during the experience of playing the teaching role, and so this forms part of your everyday work. The assessment does require wider reading and reflection, and collection of feedback and evidence from your practice accumulated during the programme. The programme is normally completed within 4 months.
What support do I get whilst doing the programme?
There are a number of support mechanisms:
- a subject mentor in your own department, who observes you teach, meets to discuss your teaching with you, and helps you with the development of ideas and materials in your subject
- departmental colleagues who have responsibility for the courses on which you teach
- the programme tutor team, who support your work through sessions, a Moodle virtual learning environment and tutorials
- your peers, with whom you can share ideas and discuss your practice and emerging issues
- The Moodle virtual learning environment where you can find documents, information, and a forum for discussion
- The "Annotated Bibliography" is a growing resource produced by programme participants for all staff at Lancaster
- the development programmes co-ordinator to whom you can direct enquiries. Tel: 01524 510623; Email:OED@lancaster.ac.uk
What qualifications would I get from doing the programme?
Upon successful completion of the programme which is accredited by the Higher Education Academy (HEA) , participants will become Associates of the HEA and will also receive a nationally recognised Supporting Learning SEDA award.
Is a teaching qualification necessary to get an academic post or gain promotion?
At the moment a teaching qualification is not necessary for postgraduates who teach. However many institutions are now making accredited status a requirement for probation or recruitment to lecturing posts. This programme, nationally accredited by the HEA and recognised by SEDA, is therefore recognised across the HE sector. In this way it can contribute towards such requirements when applying for an academic post or promotion.
If I have further questions I would like to ask - who can I contact?
The Development Programmes Co-ordinator in Organisation & Educational Development processes application forms and can answer administrative enquiries.
Tel: 01524 510623
Email:OED@lancaster.ac.uk
You can talk to the Programme Director, Susan Armitage if you have further queries.
Email: s.armitage@lancaster.ac.uk Tel: 510621.
You could also talk to graduates of the SLP and the previous programme, the Associate Teacher Programme (ATP). The Development Programmes Co-ordinator can give you contact details of those in your faculty.
How do I apply?
If you would like to apply for a place on the programme, you must first discuss this with your Head of Department (and where relevant your supervisor) to agree that you can apply for a place and to agree a workload allocation. You then need to complete an application form , signed by your Head of Department (and supervisor where relevant). The application process is detailed here.
Please email an electronic copy to OED and the copy signed by both yourself and your HoD/Supervisor via internal post to:
The Development Programmes Coordinator
OED, HR Building
Lancaster University
Back to questions
The costs of the programme are met centrally - there is no charge for individuals or departments within Lancaster. Places are allocated pro rata per department.
Please note: Places are limited for all of the courses and they fill quickly. Early application is recommended.
Back to questions
What if I have already attended a Survival Skills workshop?
If you have attended a Survival Skills workshop, you can apply to take the "top-up" route onto the programme. This requires attendance at a further 1 day workshop and a follow up tutorial, plus a number of departmentally-based assessment tasks and activities. The application process is described in more detail here.
What do previous participants say about the course?
Here is a selection of quotes from participants about SLP
"teaching staff were extremely friendly and helpful which made the whole course all the more enjoyable, whilst the themes discussed on the course were well chosen and very topical"
"I found the assessment took longer than expected but I did learn a lot from it. I think encouraging students to keep on top of their coursework as they undertake the module is a good idea."
"brilliant course - invaluable"
"Really good course! Really helpful staff! It has certainly made me a better teacher"
"Since undertaking the Top-up workshop, I became very aware of my role as a tutor and a demonstrator. I can honestly say that the course has completely changed my life in the same way that my Iphone 4 did."