Professional learning framework
The concept of professional learning is more expansive than the concept of professional development and includes both formal and informal learning with a strong focus on the spirit of critical inquiry in all professional learning activities. It enables professionals to gain insights into their own learning and their assumptions about their practice.
At Southern Cross University the key formal components of the professional learning framework include:
- Academic staff induction
- Teaching Practice Online and Learning Technologies Online, two suites of web-based modules covering a range of teaching and learning issues
- Graduate Certificate in Academic Practice
- Just-in-time and How-to activities
- Professional portfolio
Examples of informal learning activities are included in the list below.
One's own learning
- Design a unit or course curriculum
- Active participation in a teaching and learning committee or working party
- Participation in a Division of Teaching and Learning seminar on learning and teaching and/or in the Visiting Scholars program
- Production of innovative courseware (resources) in one's own area of teaching
- Participation in a conference on learning and teaching
- Awards and grants consultancy
- Project-based work in schools
- Participation in a mentoring program as a mentee as part of a formally organised mentoring program
Disseminating learning and teaching to others
- Co-facilitation of a seminar/workhop on learning and teaching
- Conduct of a seminar/workshop on learning and teaching
- Dissemination of one's own innovations in pedagogical practice and courseware to others
- A peer-reviewed presentation at a conference on learning and teaching
- Leadership in conference organising on learning and teaching
- Completion of a higher degree in learning and teaching and/or academic practice
- Invitation to be a visiting expert in learning and teaching
- Successful publication about one's own teaching
Leading others in learning and teaching
- Co-facilitation of a seminar/workshop on learning and teaching
- Conduct of seminar/workshop on learning and teaching
- Dissemination of one's own innovations in pedagogical practice and products (courseware) to others
- Presentation at a conference on learning and teaching following peer review
- Leadership in conference organising on learning and teaching
- Completion of higher degree in learning and teaching
- Exchange with another university
- Invitation to be a visiting expert on learning and teaching
- Successful publication about one's own teaching
Updated: 12 December 2011