Preparation is an ongoing process that takes place throughout a teaching period. It may include responding to changing situations in learning and teaching, such as student management, administration and engaging student learning.
The following options provide advice for academics new to teaching at ACU, including key duties and resources required to meet the needs of your students at each stage of the teaching cycle.
Each section under 'Your preparation' includes a list of relevant information to support your teaching and further development.
Before the teaching period you will need to check with your school administrator or supervisor to ensure you have an active ACU logon. This will permit access to ACU systems, such as email and the Learning Management System (LEO).
All units taught at ACU irrespective of study mode (face-to-face, attendance, blended learning, fully online), must have a LEO unit site set up and maintained for students.
The diagram below is included to help you prepare and keep track of administrative and teaching responsibilities arising before, at commencement, during and at the end of a teaching period
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As part of your learning and teaching activities it is important to know where to find support and help with technology that enhances the learning experience and allows students to engage wherever they are.
Now you have completed your preparation you are almost ready to commence teaching! Clarifying expectations is an important first step when creating a positive learning environment for students to learn.
This may include checking the teaching space:
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You will need to consider:
At ACU the learning management system (LEO) is used to enhance the student learning experience and their ability to access and engage with their unit content, learning activities.
LEO guides include a range of support resources and videos to help you get started; whether you are employed in a teaching role or lead role. A good place to start is:
or consult with a leader responsible for creating unit or getting them ready for delivery.
During a semester or teaching period there are a number of tasks requiring ongoing attention such as: feedback to students about their academic performance and feedback from them on your teaching practice. Feedback informs regular review and improvement of learning and teaching activities, The best strategies should be implemented at the commencement of a unit and may include; sending a welcome message or email to the class.
At the commencement of a unit, students need time to feel comfortable and establish a learning community and a social presence which will help develop learner engagement. Learning environments differ greatly as they are affected by the level of student engagement with the curriculum, content and activities.
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Listed below are some places where you can find resources to help develop your teaching strategies
Different teachers have different approaches and that is what makes academic teaching so interesting as a profession.
At the end of semester or a teaching period it is important to help students review key aspects of the unit. Ask them to consider how it fits into their program of study? What skills, knowledge and attributes of their chosen profession did they develop? In addition it is important to ensure all marking, feedback and final grades are completed. Final grades must be recorded in an ACU system called ‘Student Connect’. Please see your school administrator to check what your responsibilities are for finalising the unit grades and organising access.
Evaluation is an important part of continuous improvement for the student and teacher. The University has a formal evaluation process in place and you can compare the results with the feedback you gathered during the teaching period.
Evaluation needs to be carefully explained to students so they know that their feedback helps develop strategies to improve their experience, inform curriculum development and achieve excellence in teaching.
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Listed below are some places where you can find resources to help you locate information on evaluating teaching and releasing results and grades.
Please contact the Learning and Teaching Centre for professional development, resources and advice for your learning and teaching needs at ACU.
Canvas provides a free, 24/7 live chat and support number for all technical queries
