The Centre for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning (CETL) was established to work with and support the University, its faculties and staff to improve student learning outcomes. Our Centre's academic development programme and institutional research projects are aligned with the University's wider teaching and learning plans and curriculum reform. At CETL we have developed a framework that allows for different options/levels for academic faculty at the University of Hong Kong to engage in Professional Development opportunities to enhance learning and teaching.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES  

Introduction to Teaching and Learning @ HKU

The 'Introduction to Teaching and Learning @ HKU' is a mandatory programme for all new academic and academic-related staff with full-time teaching responsibilities commencing on or after September 1, 2011. This one day programme should be taken within the first year of appointment; there are no exemptions. The overall aim of this foundation programme is to provide new staff with a better understanding of specific issues related to teaching in Hong Kong and at HKU such as the 4-year undergraduate curriculum reform, the demography and culture of HKU students, English as a medium of instruction, the common core curriculum and e-learning at HKU.

Advanced Teaching and Learning @ HKU

This three day programme provides an opportunity for in-depth application of the principles and concepts of scholarly, evidenced based teaching and builds upon the Introduction to Teaching and Learning at HKU. All new faculty are required to complete the Advanced programme during their first two years of appointment; it is also recommended as a professional development activity for all academic staff who may be experienced in teaching but interested in curriculum renewal. The overall aim of the programme is to provide participants with both knowledge and strategies to help in developing skills in course design consistent with an Outcomes-Based Approach to Student Learning (OBASL). This incorporates the alignment of learning outcomes, learning activities and assessment.

Certificate Programme for Post-graduate Students

Some research postgraduate students take on teaching duties during their studies. Research postgraduate students who register in September 2011, and thereafter, will be required to complete the CETL Stage I Certificate course in teaching and learning before undertaking teaching or assessment duties for their various departments. Participants who wish to pursue further study and development in support of students' learning in higher education after completing the Stage I course are invited to consider entering the Certificate of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education: Stage II.

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The seminar series offers a chance for one theme to be explored in an in-depth way by providing a series of workshops throughout a term around a common theme. Participants may select individual workshops or attend the complete series. The topics of these seminar series vary from term to term and are chosen to reflect the needs of the faculty. Examples of a recent themed series include an Assessment Series offered in the winter term consisting of the following individual workshops:

• Types of Assessment/Alignment of Assessment
• Designing and Assessing Presentations and Written Assignments
• Assessing Individual Performance in Group Tasks
• Portfolio Based Assessment
• Project Based Assessment

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These workshops are offered in response to specific university wide strategic initiatives and offered in a timely way as need arises. Examples include workshops on Writing Course Proposals for Common Core Curriculum Courses.

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Workshops are scheduled on a number of varying topics and are repeated as needed. Examples of this type of workshop are the workshops offered on Postgraduate Supervision, Writing Teaching Development Grants, Preparing applications for Outstanding Teaching Awards, Addressing the Student Evaluation of Teaching and Learning (SETL) Questionnaire.

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CETL offers customized workshops that can be offered within faculties to address specific needs on request. Examples of these workshops include Course Design for Outcomes-Based Approaches to Student Learning, Active Learning in Large Classes, Assessment for Learning, Incorporating Technology for Interactive Learning.

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CETL Academic Staff are available for consultations with faculty teams, or individual faculty to help with teaching and learning initiatives such as redesigning curriculum, programme development or review, writing learning outcomes, enhancing feedback, discussing ideas for teaching development grants or teaching research projects.

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These special seminars are offered when we have visiting scholars who are able to provide a specific workshop/seminar that may be of interest to HKU staff, or in some instances we are able to invite participants from other staff development units in Hong Kong, for professional development. Examples of this include Facilitating Faculty Learning Communities and the Scholarship of Teaching through the Integration of Learning Centred Programme Reform and Staff Development (open to other HK staff development units) and Imagining Learning and Teaching in Technology Enriched Environments, (HKU faculty).
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Special events include symposiums, show and shares and other one or more day long events around a specific theme. These events may be held annually and are open to the wider HK educational community.

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REFLECTING ON YOUR TEACHING

The University of Hong Kong takes a research-led and evidence-based approach to teaching and learning. A range of evidence can be used to demonstrate best practice in your teaching to enhance student learning.

The following examples are designed to provide some helpful ideas on how you may self-evaluate your approach to exemplary teaching. These examples are appropriate for use in your teaching portfolio, awards applications and performance reviews to show evidence of good teaching. Please note, this document is provided as a guide for your self reflection. It is not intended as a checklist as there is no set formula for effectiveness in teaching. You are encouraged to consider those criteria that apply to your teaching context and to add others that may be relevant to your situation.

EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AND ENGAGEMENT WITH STUDENTS AND THEIR LEARNING

• Feedback from your students / SETL questionnaires
• Examples of how your students have demonstrated achievement of learning outcomes
• Evidence of appropriate assessment practices
• Evidence of effectiveness in teaching aspects of post-graduate supervision

CURRICULUM DESIGN RENEWAL AND INNOVATION

• Development of new courses within an outcomes-based approach
• Development of core courses for the new curriculum
• Evidence of participation in, or leading, curriculum review, planning and/or development
• Development of teaching related innovations or learning resources evaluated by peers or students
• Feedback from HKUSLEQ

INDIVIDUAL TEACHING AND LEARNING DEVELOPMENT

• Participation in programmes and workshops related to learning and teaching
• Post-graduate qualifications in teaching or completion of other teaching related workshops
• Certificates from CETL core teaching programmes for academic staff: Introduction to Teaching and Learning @HKU ;  Advanced Teaching and Learning @HKU
• Evidence of being a ‘reflective practitioner’ in applying lessons learned to your subject

LEADERSHIP AND SCHOLARSHIP OF TEACHING AND LEARNING

• Peer evaluation and recognition: teaching awards, teaching development grants, participating in peer reviews
• Deans/Heads reports
• Leading or contributing to seminars on teaching ; peer reviewed publications on teaching and learning

LEARNING-TEACHING-RESEARCH NEXUS

• Evidence of success in cultivating students’ understanding of the research culture and research skills in the discipline
• Evidence of success in developing students’ experience and engagement with research (such as students pursuing research degrees, or examples of student success in research activities)

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Phone: (852) 2859 8996 | Fax: (852) 2540 9941 | Email: cetlhku@hku.hk | Website: www.cetl.hku.hk

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