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This course is designed to support  postgraduate research students who will be teaching at St Mary’s University. Below is an indicative outline for the workshops. However, we’ll have the opportunity to shape the course to suit participant interests and experience.

The course comprises three 2-hour workshops and it will run three times in 23-24.

The broad aims of the programme are to

  • enable you to enhance your skills and understanding of teaching and learning in higher education
  • combine personal experience and values with educational theory and practice
  • promote a student-focused approach to pedagogy
  • support the design of diverse and inclusive approaches to learning within the classroom
  • encourage reflection and evaluation.

If you are new to teaching, the programme can increase confidence and alleviate some of the anxiety many new teachers face. It also encourages a more efficient use of preparation time, as well as building a firm foundation on which to base future professional development.

Additionally, the programme provides a useful opportunity for reviewing and evaluating your teaching within the context of recent developments in research and practice across the sector. We’ll discuss the UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF) – the professional framework for university teachers. This course will help you to begin to evidence your practice against the UKPSF. As an option, once you have gained sufficient teaching experience, you will be able to apply for professional recognition through St Mary’s and become Associate Fellow of the Higher Education.

Programme learning outcomes:

By the end of the programme, you will be able to

  1. Design and deliver a seminar
  2. Plan a programme of small group teaching
  3. Implement a range of teaching and learning methods
  4. Evaluate your own teaching using a range of techniques
  5. Explore and evaluate models for giving feedback on assessment
  6. Integrate and critique higher education scholarship and resources.

The Introduction to Teaching course will run 3 times in 23-24.

Iteration 1: 

  •  5 October 12-2 (on campus)
  • 12 October 12-2 (on campus)
  • 19 October 12-2 (on campus)

Iteration 2: 

  • 14 Nov 10-12 (online)
  • 21 Nov 10-12 (online)
  • 28 Nov 10-12 (online)

Iteration 3: 

  • 7 Mar 1-3 (on campus)
  • 14 Mar 1-3 (on campus)
  • 21 Mar 1-3 (on campus)

Participants join one iteration of the course.

For more information about the course, please contact Dr Colleen McKenna or contact adf@stmarys.ac.uk.