Scholar shares findings on quality teaching and learning

Improving the quality of students' learning through high quality teaching was the theme of the visit by Professor and Director of the Institute for Teaching and Learning at the University of Sydney Keith Trigwell on 18 and 19 February 2008.

Professor Trigwell presented a lecture on "Teaching and Learning Scholarship" as part of Learning and Teaching week at USQ.

Professor Trigwell said teachers approach to their students' learning is integral to providing high-quality teaching.

'The way people think is so important. The variation in thinking is closely related to variation in acting and variation in student learning,' he said.

'Teaching is they key. Teachers who are aware of their students as people and are more aware of the students the quality of teaching is higher and learning is higher as well.'

In researching factors contributing to high quality teaching Professor Trigwell identified key influences.

'Assessment is the main key driver of high quality learning,' he said.

'The first thing students do is find out how the course is assessed. Then they gear their program based around that.

'Yet so many teachers change aspects of the learning objectives and when the students have geared their program to the assessment and then find out it has changed it has serious consequences.

'Teachers need to show students an example of the changes to the course which is linked to changes assessment at the start.'

Coordinator (Academic Learning Skills) of the Learning and Teaching Support Unit Associate Professor Janet Taylor said Professor Trigwell's presentation would be used for staff development in the future.

'We are extremely lucky to have Keith for a couple of days. He is one of the most highly respected researchers in the field of learning and teaching in higher education.  He has a vast experience, both nationally and internationally, to share with USQ.

'We will be recording a number of interviews with Keith that will be located on the LTSU web site and used for professional development in the future. The ideas and concepts within them are great discussion starters for the development of learning and teaching at USQ.'

Media Contact: Jane Urquhart USQ Media +61 7 4631 2559