Teaching is the communication of new ideas and processes in a way that can be understood, retained, and applied.
Course Development
It is necessary in tertiary education to ensure that courses are constantly being reviewed and improved to ensure the content, assessment, and teaching methods are effective and up to date. As a course advisor I have assisted with the development and maintenance of a number of courses, particularly focusing on the structure and progression of course themes, presentation of content through module books and workshop activities, and contextualising assessment to meet both university and industry expectations.
Content Delivery
Being a tutor requires an adaptable approach to presentation, and an in-depth understanding of the content. As a workshop demonstrator, I presented weekly workshops on course modules, and facilitated class discussions about content to address queries and also encourage critical thinking about the topics. Even in university workshops, it’s important to recognise the interest and understanding so content presentations can be tailored.
Assessment and Feedback
Feedback is the most important aspect of learning, as it allows for a greater understanding of the concepts. As a sessional tutor I provided extensive feedback in-class and on assessment pieces, verbally and through both structured and unstructured responses. I believe that feedback isn’t just about pointing out what can be improved, but providing guidance on how to approach those improvements.
Courses I have worked on
During my time at Griffith University I’ve had the opportunity to work on a variety of courses in several different capacities. These have primarily been within the School of Information and Communication Technology, with a focus on Human Computer Interaction.
1805ICT - Human Computer Interaction
Human Computer Interaction is a foundational course that is compulsory across most of the ICT undergraduate degrees. The content covers the basics of HCI, from user research through to prototyping and evaluating a concept. The assessment piece asks students to propose a solution to a selected problem in the form of a design brief, placing emphasis on justifying decisions with user research and design conventions.
3705ICT - Virtual and Augmented Reality
Virtual and Augmented Reality is a new course designed to give ICT students an understanding of the unique challenges of VR and AR software, from both a design and development perspective. Key course concepts include the transition from 2D to 3D design, use contexts, suitability of VR and AR solutions, and the setup and troubleshooting of a VR or AR project in Unity.
3723ICT - Interaction Design
Interaction Design is an optional elective that serves as an extension of Human Computer Interaction. Students dive deeper into the practicalities of user research activities, and developing an empathetic understanding of users’ needs and challenges. They work in small groups to propose a solution to a significant interaction problem, based on actual research activities they conduct with representatives of the primary user groups.
3820ICT and 3821ICT - Work Integrated Learning
Work Integrated Learning is the capstone course for all ICT students, who work in teams to deliver a software solution to a real external client. Teaching this course takes the form of mentoring students through their first Agile project experience, from client communication and requirements elicitation, through to development sprints and product delivery.