As we bid a fond adieu to our outgoing DVC Shirley Alexander, we reflect on how her leadership has shaped learning and teaching at UTS. From learning.futures fundamentals to using student feedback for better online experiences, Shirley’s contributions to the Futures blog show how our culture of learning and teaching has evolved since the blog was launched five years ago. They also highlight the key themes that Shirley considered important to the ongoing successes of learning and teaching at UTS.
1. The evidence base for learning.futures (2017)
In connection with the UTS Model of Learning (what our students learn), the learning.futures strategy is all about how our students learn and what our teachers can do to support that learning. Perhaps the most important aspect of the learning.futures strategy is that students should be engaged in active learning. In this explainer blog, Shirley presented evidence that active learning leads to improved learning outcomes.
2. The future for teaching and learning (2018)
In 2018, UTS was gearing up to release its 2027 strategy. Shirley gave Allison Glavin a preview of her ‘Towards 2027: the future for teaching and learning at UTS’ keynote in the lead-up to the 2018 UTS Teaching and Learning Forum.
Our graduates are entering a workforce that is undergoing significant change, and we need to ensure we are preparing them for this future.
Shirley Alexander
3. English language development and moral responsibility (2019)
In mid-2019, the topic of a Town Hall gathering was ‘Improving students’ English language capacity’. To get the conversation going, Shirley looked at the challenges that UTS faces in ensuring all students have a level of English language to help them thrive at university.
4. The importance of teacher presence (2020)
Something that was impossible to predict when exploring the future for teaching and learning was the impact of COVID-19. In a challenging period of remote teaching and physical distancing, Shirley highlighted the importance of teacher presence in delivering the best student experience.
Over and above everything else, students value their relationship with their teachers. When they have a good relationship and feel their teacher cares about them and their learning, they have a great experience.
Shirley Alexander
5. Good practice for online ‘lectures’ (2021)
With remote teaching continuing well into 2021, UTS made the decision to put what many term ‘lectures’ online, while more interactive classes such as tutorials will be offered on campus. Shirley often used student survey feedback to uncover key themes and in this post, she offers five strategies for academics to adjust for online but still provide a quality student experience.
Image by Fidel Fernando