Queensland University of Technology

CRICOS No. 000213J

RWL policy and enabling structures; assessment and implementation issues

Prof. Stephen Towers

Dean of StudiesOffice of Teaching Quality

27 October 2009

CRICOS No. 000213Ja university for the worldrealR

realIt’s thething …

CRICOS No. 000213Ja university for the worldrealR

Vision for T&L

• To provide outstanding learning environments and programs that lead to excellent outcomes for graduates, enabling them to work in, and guide a world characterised by increasing change …

CRICOS No. 000213Ja university for the worldrealR

What students say …

• Lecturers and tutors who are in touch with the 'real world'

interested in their subjects who will prepare tutorials in line

with the beliefs they are advocating and will be accountable

for their assessments

• [But not] …. taking ' real world ' focus too far [to become] a

reason not to assist students as we would encounter this in

the real world.

• Fit with [the] slogan …

“university for the real world”

Curriculum Decision Making

Informs

Phase 1: Thinking Ahead (substantive focus)

What are the characteristics of good curriculum architecture?Curriculum

Design Policy

Assessment Policy

Work Integrated Learning Policy

How should we go about curriculum development?

How do we know that the divisions are well-informed and ready to support implementation?

Curriculum Development and Approval

Policy

Customised Ed Policy

Informs

Informs

Phase 2: Development (process focus)

Implementation

TQ DataInforms

Phase 3: Ongoing (QA focus)

Are our courses: viable? quality learning environments?; good learning outcomes?

Is our current suite of courses strategic?

Is curriculum design sound in our current courses?

Course QA Policy

Info

rms

Strategic Planning

Cycle

Ideas for new courses

Who wants them?

Who needs them?

What should they

look like?

(Faculty Strategic Courses Update)

CRICOS No. 000213Ja university for the worldrealR

Curriculum design

• Curriculum design … one of three principles …– The curriculum embeds real world learning pedagogies.

• Real world learning and teaching– enables students to experience and understand the relevance of their learning

to their work and lives, and

– supports the creation of their identity as a professional practitioner.

• Curriculum elements to support Real World Learning:– work placements, simulations of professional work, and teaching by practising

professionals

– assessment tasks that encourage students to examine real world issues …

– learning that is contextualised to the real world practice of the professions is supported from the commencement of first year study through to the graduate’s transition into the profession.

CRICOS No. 000213Ja university for the worldrealR

Assessment

• Assessment … one of ten principles – Assessment approaches are consistent with QUT’s approach to real

world learning and teaching and include a variety of assessment tasks.

CRICOS No. 000213Ja university for the worldrealR

Satisfaction with group work

What students tell us ...

• Approach could be improved:– awarding group mark– manage group dynamics -

underperformers– clarity of tasks– difficulties in getting together – language barriers.

AUSSE 2008 ITEM QUT FY Aus FY Diff FY QUT LY Aus LY Diff LY

often worked with other students on projects during class

66% 45% +21% 60% 47% +13%

often worked with other students outside class to prepare assignments

67% 45% +22% 68% 52% +16%

“... the positive is teamwork, but the negative is managing

those not contributing ...

CRICOS No. 000213Ja university for the worldrealR

Satisfaction with group work

What students tell us ...

• Approach could be improved:– awarding group mark– manage group dynamics -

underperformers– clarity of tasks– difficulties in getting together – language barriers.

Policy approach

• Purposefully included in the curriculum design:

– including FYE principles

– ‘rule of thumb’ - one unit per semester.

• Promote use of the Team Work Protocol.

• Upper limit is 50% of the unit grade on the ‘collective’ component .

CRICOS No. 000213Ja university for the worldrealR

Course Quality Assurance

ICR 2009

CRICOS No. 000213Ja university for the worldrealR

CCPR Data summaries

CRICOS No. 000213Ja university for the worldrealR

Faculty level data trends

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Learning environment

Outcomes

Viability

CRICOS No. 000213Ja university for the worldrealR

Strategic Faculty Courses Update

CRICOS No. 000213Ja university for the worldrealR

Curriculum Development and Approval

– Embedded within Academic Plan ... to provide examples of how real-world tasks have been incorporated into the curriculum .

FABSFCUCurriculum

Concept Plan

CurriculumProposal

AcademicPlan

BusinessPlan

+++

Wh

ich

ma

y in

clu

de

UAB

CRICOS No. 000213Ja university for the worldrealR

Links

• QUT positioning <http://www.qut.edu.au/study/futurestudents/>

• Plans <http://www.frp.qut.edu.au/services/planning/corpplan/strategic.jsp >

• Policy <http://www.mopp.qut.edu.au/C/>

– Curriculum design <http://www.mopp.qut.edu.au/C/C_04_02.jsp>

– Curriculum Development & Approval <http://www.mopp.qut.edu.au/C/C_04_01.jsp>

– Assessment <http://www.mopp.qut.edu.au/C/C_05_01.jsp>

• Protocols: <http://www.otq.qut.edu.au/policy/guide/protocols_assessment_april09.pdf>

• Definitions: <http://www.otq.qut.edu.au/policy/guide/definitions_moppc.pdf>

– Work Integrated Learning: <coming>

CRICOS No. 000213Ja university for the worldrealR

Questions

? ? ?? ??