Improving teaching

From June-December 2009 we are conducting the evaluation of the Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC) project, Preparing Academics for Teaching in Higher Education (PATHE).

The PATHE project is scoping the different approaches currently adopted for the induction of academic staff as they commence their teaching practice in Australian higher education as well as reviewing best practice.

Currently induction programs for training and development of academic staff new to teaching in higher education are diverse in content, duration and process. They are also variable in quality and have no systematic sector-wide approach to their development, or the development of the staff who design and teach in them (Dearn, Ryan and Fraser, 2004).

The project aims to devise a framework for teacher induction programs that will benefit the sector by promoting a set of shared expectations and understandings about the nature of university learning and teaching, and locating induction programs in that wider context.

Over 30 universities have become partners and provided endorsements for the project.