Supporting Learning and Teaching Pathway

Generally speaking, SLTP is appropriate for people who support learning and teaching but are not involved in the full range of teaching activities. The course may therefore be especially attractive to, among others:

• Learning-support oriented administrators and managers;
• Librarians;
• Technicians, for example those involved in demonstrations, project assistance and working in labs;
• Computing/technical specialists designing learning materials;
• Part-time or occasional tutors/lecturers;
• Some staff in support and development roles, such as Health and Safety or Careers.

SLTP is intended to assist people in becoming more effective and confident in those parts of their work roles that relate to supporting learning. It is designed to allow participants to develop their understanding and their skills in the context of those work roles. It offers:

• Professional development for this aspect of your work.
• Acquisition of skills and knowledge about learners and the role of the student.
• Improved understanding of your own role in enhancing student learning.
• Relatively flexible study.
• Experience of using a Virtual Learning Environment to engage in online learning.
• The option to apply for Associate Fellowship (at Advance HE).

There are three complementary parts to SLTP:

1. Face-to-face sessions
   SLTP starts in late January with an introductory session that focuses on the key features of supporting learning in different settings, reflecting the roles and experience of participants. This workshop also discusses what is involved in applying to become an Associate Fellow (at Advance HE). The second workshop is a full-day session in February and explores the factors that influence how students learn and how teachers can best facilitate that learning across the whole range of their work. The third workshop is a full day session in March and discusses issues around assessment and feedback methods and approaches. There is also a half-day workshop in June where we will explore learning and teaching practices.
   

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   An introduction to SLTP: Tuesday 20 January, 10.00-13.00

   Introduction to teaching for learning: Tuesday 10 February, 10.00-16.00

   Introduction to assessing and giving feedback: Tuesday 17 March, 10.00-16.00

   Inclusive learning and preparing your fellowship application: Tuesday 09 June, 10.00-13.00

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2. Structured online learning
   In between these face-to-face sessions, online activities are designed to help:
   • Reinforce the learning that has taken place in workshops.
   • Prepare your application for Associate Fellowship (at Advance HE).

1. Additional workshops
   In addition to the core workshops, we recommend that you attend one or two workshops offered by the EDU, People and Organisational Development or the Early Career Researcher Institute. This will allow you to focus on those areas that are relevant to your role. For example, if you would like the chance to review and develop your teaching practice, then attending Communicating knowledge might be particularly beneficial.

SLTP is comprised of the following:

1. Face to face sessions (4) between January and June.
2. Online learning tasks to be completed between sessions.
3. Attendance at 1 or 2 EDU workshops (depending on workshop length) over the January to June period.
4. Submission of application for Associate Fellowship (D1) of Advance HE via the Imperial STAR Framework.

In terms of commitment of time and effort, participants can anticipate spending three full days on the core sessions spread over January to June and a shorter (around one day) length of time on other workshops. The length of time that the online activities take is harder to judge and will vary between participants, but a good indication is between two and three days over the course of the six months.

If you choose to apply to become an Associate Fellow (at Advance HE) you will have to write an application of around 1,500 words.

To take the PG Cert ULT you need to be engaged in a relatively substantial amount of teaching, designing courses and/or supervising university students sufficient to complete the assessment. It will be possible, if the PG Cert ULT is suitable for you in other ways, to progress from SLTP to the PG Cert and to 'count' some of SLTP towards it.

For an informal chat about the course:

Dr Julie Moote
sltp@imperial.ac.uk