2020 Scholarship of Learning and Teaching Symposium

SoTL Symposium 2020 design includes drone delivering bright colourful lightbulb graphic to indicate delivery of new, innovative ideas

The 2020 Scholarship of Learning and Teaching Symposium was held over two days online – Tuesday 10 and Thursday 12 November. This year’s event focussed on colleagues discussing the theme of Designing and Delivering Innovative Teaching.

Southern Cross University (SCU) is distinctive, with our student cohort, location, and delivery modes initiating teaching practices that deliver innovative and flexible student learning experiences. The New Southern Cross University 2020–2026 Strategic Plan aims to “establish Southern Cross University among the top 50 young universities in the world by 2026”, and as “the go-to regional university in Australia” for pathways into tertiary study. Achieving these goals “will require new ways of thinking and doing”, including the continued pursuit of innovative teaching and learning practices.

During the Symposium days, colleagues shared their innovative teaching practices of transitioning from a face-to-face or blended learning environment to a predominantly online teaching and learning model in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Colleagues also shared their innovative teaching practices with curriculum renewal, new course offerings, and diverse student cohorts.

The program consisted of an Opening Plenary with Welcome to Country, three Parallel sessions, an Activity session, a panel on intersectional teaching, and a keynote presentation on Looking back to look forward: Considering ‘human factors’ in educational design from Professor Kate Ames, Director, Learning Design and Innovation at CQ University.

The following theme topics guided our discussion:

  1. Transitioning from face-to-face to online
  2. Creating online teacher presence and support
  3. Innovative approaches to assessment design
  4. Flexible delivery of modular formats/intensive modes
  5. Teaching strategies for diverse cohorts

Tefera, A., Powers, J., & Fischman, G. (2018). Intersectionality in Education: A Concept Aspiration and Research Imperative. Review of Research in Education, 42(1), vii-xvii. https://doi.org/10.3102/0091732X18768504

Symposium awards 

Three awards were presented to contributors for:

  • Best contribution – decided by the Steering Group, awarded to:

Equity, access, and innovation in the online learning space: A shift towards Open Educational Resources
Dr Mieke Witsel, School of Business and Tourism, OER Project Team: Carlie Nekrasov, Marin Simpson and Marty Williams, University Library, Dr Jo Munn, Centre for Teaching and Learning

  • Most thought-provoking contribution – decided by popular vote, awarded to:

Student engagement through innovative technologies: VR/AR/XR past, present and future possibilities at SCU
Dr Lisa Jacka, School of Education and Centre for Teaching and Learning, Associate Professor Grayson Cooke, School of Arts and Social Sciences, Dr Tom Round, School of Law and Justice, Dr Lachlan Yee, School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Dr Vinh Bui, School of Business and Tourism, Fiona Lotherington and Andrew Woods, School of Health and Human Sciences

  • Greenhouse contribution - decided by Dr Lisa Jacka, awarded to:

Dr Anne Bellert who initiated a new Greenhouse topic and shared expertise, leading to active conversations.

2020 Parallel Session Abstracts.

2020 SoLT Symposium Recordings

We thank all contributors and staff who helped to make the Symposium a success.