HERDSA

connectVolume 42 No 1 SUMMER 2020

The magazine of the Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia

Inside Indigenising universities; affiliate member from Bhutan; new columns on ICED and IJAD; reviews - engaging undergraduates in science; plagiarism and integrity; innovative assessment; student transformation; the new majority; a student ambassador program Internationalisation has long been an important aspect of research collaboration and is increasingly seen in teaching collaborations in transnational education and study abroad programs. What can we learn about teaching and learning from our international members in countries such as Malaysia, Ghana, Papua New Guinea and Bhutan? Beena Giridharan’s Postcard from Malaysia explains the establishment of their Student Ambassador Program to support the creation of a connected university community. Deki Gyamtso, our affiliate member from the Royal University of Bhutan, refers to the university’s Wheel of Academic Law which supports the infusion of Gross National Happiness into teaching and learning.

Another international collaboration is explained in our new regular column that will be written by various members of the International Consortium for Educational Development. From the Editor Allan Goody begins by posing and answering the question Maureen Bell What in the world is ICED? The accompanying column Essential Reading IJAD will accompany Essential Reading HERD, and recommend suggesting interesting articles from the International Journal for Academic Development. I hope I am writing this editorial soon after returning from a pony our Essential reading columns offer you a quick and easy trek through Inner Dolpo and Mustang in Nepal. Reflecting way to find the most interesting peer reviewed articles in on the gulf of difference between my life and that of the these top journals. Tibetan people of Dolpo, I am reminded how the lived experience of cultures so different to our own expands our Must reads in this edition include Helen Sword’s advice on consciousness and develops our understanding of different how to deal with information overload and Bob Cannon’s knowledge systems and ways of being. The ‘western’ column Meanderings which includes a 1970’s letter from the university curriculum is often described as culturally narrow University of St Andrews that will raise your eyebrows. and exclusive. I hope you enjoy this edition of HERDSA CONNECT. Don’t In Australia and New Zealand Indigenous scholars such forget your HERDSA conference abstract submission is due as Jade Kennedy (see CONNECT 41/3 2019) and our February 7th 2020. FEATURE writer Dr Meegan Hall, propose indigenisation of the curriculum as culturally expansive and inclusive. In this edition Dr Hall offers a Māori scholar’s perspective on the HERDSA CONNECT, the magazine of the Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia, is opportunities that indigenising the curriculum can bring to all delivered in hard copy to all HERDSA members three students. Our cover photo shows some of Meegan’s students times per year. Contributions are welcome and may be directing robots at Victoria University of Wellington’s Māori submitted to the editor for consideration. meeting house.

Editor • Deb Clarke, NSW, Australia HERDSA CONNECT is available Maureen Bell • Christy Collis, QLD, Australia online at www.herdsa.org.au [email protected] • Julia Hallas, New Zealand Advertising rates • Katrina Strampel, WA, Australia Please contact the HERDSA office Editorial support • Wendy Green, TAS, Australia Sally Ashton-Hay Cover photo: Meegan Hall’s Māori Lukasz Swiatek HERDSA Office students direct robots at Victoria Jennifer Ungaro (Office Manager) University of Wellington’s marae HERDSA Publications Portfolio PO Box 6106, Hammondville NSW 2172 (Māori meeting house). Photo: Te Rawhitiroa Bosch Wendy Green, Chair Phone: +61 2 9771 3911 www.rawhitiroa.com Maureen Bell Email: [email protected] Allan Goody Photo this page Peter Kandlbinder Views expressed by authors in HERDSA Simon Fox, Deakin University Eva Heinrich CONNECT are those of the authors Design and Layout and do not necessarily reflect the Rachel Williams HERDSA Executive views of HERDSA. Written material from Printed by • Denise Chalmers, President, HERDSA CONNECT may be reproduced, Instant Colour Press, Canberra WA, Australia providing its source is acknowledged. www.herdsa.org.au • Elizabeth Levin, VIC, Australia • Rob Wass, New Zealand ISSN 2209-3877 (print) • Kogi Naidoo, NSW, Australia ISSN 2209-3885 (online) • Barbara Kensington-Miller, Issue dates New Zealand January, May, and September. Contents

2 From the President Denise Chalmers

Feature 3 I ngā rā o mua – Indigenising universities back to the future Meegan Hall 03 Community 4 Around the branches 5 HERDSA New Zealand 6 STEM 6 Student view 09 7 Who’s who in HERDSA 8 HERDSA affiliate members 8 Ako Aotearoa 9 The HERDSA Fellowship

Perspectives 10 Wordcraft with Helen Sword 08 20 11 Policy perspectives from Marcia Devlin 12 Beena Giridharan’s Postcard from Malaysia 13 Meanderings with Bob Cannon 14 From the HERD editorial desk 14 Essential reading HERD 12 19 15 What in the world is ICED? by Allan Goody 15 Essential reading IJAD 16 The new majority by Linda Rowan

Reviews 17 Engaging undergraduate students in authentic science research 18 From perplexities of plagiarism to building cultures of integrity

Showcase 19 A student transformation model Natasja Steenkamp Early bird registration now open 20 An innovative online HERDSA 2020 conference assessment platform 30 June - 3 July Danny Carroll Brisbane, Australia HERDSA CONNECT FROM THE PRESIDENT

member for helping a student are all things we could do a little more often. Collaborating in a working community where people support each other and recognise the value of each person’s contribution to our joint endeavours, makes our day-to-day work more enjoyable and meaningful. I am not trying to set myself up as a model of someone who has always done this. I am as guilty as anyone of taking the good work of my colleagues for granted. I wish I had done more noting and thanking. My hope is that you might do it better than me.

Leaders and supervisors have a particular role in actively considering how they recognise and support their teams and how they direct reports. I was in a meeting recently where a senior faculty From the President member commented that they had never thought of putting a teaching-focused Denise Chalmers academic on the faculty curriculum planning or teaching and learning committees instead of allocating the usual tenured academics. These The HERDSA Executive met in One aspect that strikes me as something oversights of providing opportunities Melbourne to plan our future activities we can all be much more engaged in have real impacts on the careers of and consider the strategic directions for is recognizing the work of others, be it people they have a responsibility for. the next few years and into the longer- our immediate colleagues, students and The role of leaders includes looking term. One of the leading questions for professional staff. The teaching side of deeply into the team and noticing those each of the portfolios and the Executive our work remains somewhat isolated, people who get quietly on with their as a whole was to consider ways in taken for granted and unremarked. work without putting themselves forward which we can maximise the value of and It always surprises me how much but who would welcome being invited draw members’ attention to the various passing on a compliment or a comment to contribute or lead a committee. So aspects of HERDSA membership that received from a student or a colleague too is encouraging and mentoring them are available to them. Over the coming is appreciated. By this I mean a to take on these challenges, whether the months we plan to profile different comment or compliment that is specific work is research, teaching or service aspects of HERDSA activities and to something important, substantial or focused. Noting achievements and resources that are available to you as thoughtful that you have taken time to successes of teaching publicly, for HERDSA members. We would very notice. Taking the time to notice and example in department newsletters and much appreciate hearing any ideas that comment or send an email is really meetings; commenting on the work you would like to put forward that you such a little thing, but in the busyness of professional staff for reports and think might benefit our members and of everything we do, the moment can service; is done too little. More can and promote greater recognition of teaching pass. Whatever our role or level, noting should be done to profile and celebrate and learning in higher education. when someone has done something well the excellent teachers at graduation and deserves some praise and recognition, in promotional material for admission. Some of you will be aware of my interest be it for our colleagues, professional in better recognising and rewarding Honour boards that include not just the staff, supervisors or managers. The last research achievements, but the teaching, teaching. I have been fortunate to have of these often have a thankless task and been involved in projects and roles that service and student achievements send deal with a lot of complexity with little important signals about what is valued. have allowed me to pursue this interest recognition. Supporting them with a note over a number of years. While I have seen These things contribute to building a or a word to say they ran that difficult collegial community. so much progress in the ways in which meeting well or their presentation was institutions are clarifying their criteria effective is very much appreciated. [email protected] and expectations on quality teaching over Noting the care colleagues take with the years and which has contributed to preparing a presentation or resources success in awards and promotion, we still for a class, thanking a professional staff have a long way to go.

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for that matter, is Western science, which is also changing constantly and being challenged in multiple ways. Both knowledges are current, evolving, developing and resolving – although as Nayantara Sheoran Appleton indicates, one of them could do with being decentred. As Professor Wendy Larner, President of the Royal Society Te Apārangi, recently remarked at the Royal Society’s Inclusive Excellence Symposium, “It is not about making all forms of excellence fit into one template – rather the challenge is how to embrace multiple forms of research excellence”.

“I ngā rā o mua” is a Māori phrase that literally means ‘ngā rā’, the days, ‘o mua’ of front or before. But this doesn’t mean the future. In a Māori worldview, the ‘days before’ are the past. As Māori, we face the past in front of us. It orients I ngā rā o mua us to know our histories. We recite our pepeha, our statement of identity. Indigenising universities My mountain, my river, my people. By looking to the past, we understand the now. We go back to the future. back to the future We learn from our mistakes, and we correct the imbalances. We remember Meegan Hall that universities are not the beginning of higher education in this country. At best they are a momentary ‘middle’ When Times Higher Education (THE) injustice and boosting the status of period. So, what some may see as an recently ran a story asking “How far Indigenous peoples?” Later in the piece, “indigenisation” process happening to should the indigenisation of university to validate his concerns, he cited two universities, is simply a rebalancing, teaching and research go?” it showcased academics from Canada who, despite a reconciliation as explained by Jade the Ballanggarra people in Western having no apparent research experience Kennedy and his team, and a revealing Australia working with staff from the working with Indigenous knowledge of “ngā rā o mua”. University of Sydney to train goannas or people, made up for it with negative Dr Meegan Hall is from Ngāti Ranginui and not to eat lethal cane toads as reported by anecdotes and vitriol for Indigenous is an Associate Professor in the Centre for Ward-Fear et al in Conservation Letters. practices and beliefs. He also boxed the Academic Development and the Assistant It turns out, the Ballanggarra rangers can scope of Indigenous knowledge into Vice-Chancellor (Mātauranga Māori) at Victoria University of Wellington in Aotearoa spot goannas at great distances – even historical, not contemporary, contexts New Zealand. This feature draws on ideas the shy ones hiding in the grass. And it and made value judgements about where from Meegan’s keynote speech at the was those more reserved ones that they Indigenous knowledge ‘fits’ within a HERDSA 2019 conference. Meegan thanks Barbara Kensington-Miller, Julia Hallas and were after because, the research found, limited list of subjects. their organising committee for prioritising the shy goanna are more trainable. voices of Māori scholars in higher education As a Māori scholar, I couldn’t help but learning and teaching with two of the four Unfortunately, there was nothing be dismayed by the assumption that conference keynote spots. reserved about the THE article. The only Indigenous people can benefit from author set out to assess the goals of learning about Indigenous knowledge. Links blending Indigenous knowledge into Indigenous knowledge (or mātauranga Appleton, N., Feb 4, 2019: www.criti- university teaching and research so, Māori, as we call it in Aotearoa New calethnicstudiesjournal.org/blog after notching up the goanna and then a Zealand) has no limits. Our traditional Jade Kennedy et al. International Journal couple of Sámi and Canadian examples, whare wānanga (places of higher for Academic Development, 24:2. See the story took a twist. The author learning) attest to that. We did not stop Jade’s article in HERDSA CONNECT 41.3 (Ed) pondered, “Are such goals realistic? knowing, or thinking, the minute that www.timeshighereducation.com/ Are they wise? And will they achieve Captain Cook arrived on our shores. features/how-far-should-indigenisation- their desired goal of redressing historical Mātauranga Māori is not static. Neither, university-teaching-and-research-go

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Around the branches

Our branches in Australia, New Queensland Members, Tina Acuna and Jo-Anne Zealand and Hong Kong offer added Kelder, as Fellows of the Australian HERDSA Queensland on Show value to HERDSA members. Council of Deans of Science (ACDS), symposium was held at Griffith ACT presented at the ACDS Learning University’s Southbank facility, the Leaders Forum, ACSME, and UNSW ACT branch committee has met to Ship Inn. Our keynote speaker was Connections Seminar series and have plan an exciting program for next Professor Sally Kift. The symposium facilitated workshops at mainland year. We will hold a ‘bootcamp’ for is our version of a HERDSA rekindled universities on embedding scholarship HERDSA abstracts in January and activity. into the academic teaching role. a peer review of teaching workshop They suggest using the Curriculum HERDSA Queensland was co-sponsor in April. Later in the year we are Evaluation and Research Framework of the CAULLT 2019 Advancing aiming for a workshop focused on the (www.acds-tlcc.edu.au/cer-stem/) to Academic Development event. development and use of e-portfolios coordinate members of a teaching and the processes of reflective South Australia team in a planned approach for practice. evaluation and research focused on It has been another active year to their course curriculum. By the time you are reading this we reflect on for South Australia – five will have enjoyed a celebration lunch workshops; friends moving on and Branch member Sarah Prior is a member of a Clinical Redesign to recap our teaching and learning friends signing up to the HERDSA teaching team that has developed highlights in 2019. SA Branch. We welcome Sarah Hattam and Tanya Weiler from UniSA and delivered a workshop on the Hong Kong College. basics of publishing in-course project work in peer-reviewed journals; Eight student teams presented their We enjoyed collaborating with our and enabling graduates to develop a projects and ideas at the highly friends from ACEN to present panel detailed structure for a potential paper. successful HERDSA Hong Kong insights at the Higher Education Other members have been attending Redesigning Student Learning Group of Adelaide on the topic of professional development workshops Experience in Higher Education Incentivize us! Higher education to enhance online teaching skills, (RSLEIHE) Symposium. The for example, member Jane Pittaway KPIs. We brought insights from University of Hong Kong team won attended a conference on the flipped keynotes Peter Felten, Melinda the 2019 award with their project classroom and blended learning. Webber, and Jane Gilbert at the Promoting Service Learning in Higher HERDSA Auckland conference Education by Implementing The Victoria to explore the benchmarks against Eczema Eradication Project. The HERDSA Victorian Branch in which Australian institutions will association with ACEN and Monash be measured – graduate outcomes; Feedback for the Symposium was University held the annual Snapshots student experience; student success very positive. Colleagues were highly event with 120 registrations. and equity group participation. impressed by students’ enthusiasm and Presenters from HERDSA and ACEN ideas for improving higher education. We look forward to a good rest ahead conferences were invited to re-present. They increased their understanding of of our AGM in February. An expert panel comprising Judy Kay, student needs and creating meaningful RMIT; Darci Taylor, Deakin; and Allie learning experiences for students. Sign Tasmania Clemans, Monash; discussed various language interpretation was provided Provocations are back at UTAS; types of partnerships – with students, in the Symposium. A recent series of provocation across disciplines for learning and teaching research, and work-integrated HERDSA members visiting Hong conversations have been held at UTAS learning. Kong are most welcome to HERDSA investigating controversial topics such as: All exams should be online HK activities, see contact list on and Good course design is all that Our following event in November was page 5. is required for 21st century student Embedding Indigenous Knowledges. development. The Small Provider Network is busy

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undertaking a benchmarking activity on academic integrity.

Western Australia Erik Brogt The HERDSA WA Branch was excited to host Education Conferences (P)re-kindled in November at University of Western HERDSA New Zealand Australia. We invited anyone in WA who presented at the HERDSA NZ conference or who is or was HERDSA-NZ branch sponsored development, and it was good to presenting at any another education the third Academic Development hear the different perspectives from conference to share their presentations Symposium in Wellington, New academic developers, researcher either as a traditional presentation, a Zealand. Now in its third year, this developers, and HR organisational pecha kucha, or as a poster. symposium brings together academic development. As an exercise, we developers from the eight universities looked at all the different things we This is a wonderful opportunity in New Zealand and is co-organised do in our organisations at various for those who are unable to attend by the HERDSA Academic levels, working with: individuals, the HERDSA national conference Development SIG with the University departments/programs, university and other national and international of Canterbury, and Victoria and national/professional community. higher education conferences, to hear University of Wellington. It is a It was clear that as developers, we their colleagues’ presentations. It is chance to catch up with colleagues, work at all levels and anywhere also an opportunity for people who find out what the academic in the institution, which led to the have not attended a higher education development units in New Zealand conclusion that we are in a great conference before to experience are doing, and discuss issues of position to advise at the system’s level examples of presentations that may common interest. This year’s theme and break down silos. assist them in preparing their abstract was holistic academic development submissions for HERDSA 2020 in (see e.g. Sutherland 2018); how can We held a World Café conversation Brisbane. academic developers support the on five topics: Developing the whole of person, whole of academic whole-academic; Working with role, and whole of institution? The the whole-institution; Supporting the whole-person; Māori academic HERDSA Branch contacts event attracted more than thirty development; and Learning (left to right above) participants, including colleagues in Researcher Development and design for academic development. ACT Chair: Pamela Roberts Conversations were diverse and [email protected] HR Organisational Development roles. The day had a slightly more identified largely systemic issues: HK Chair: Anna Siu Fong Kwan muted character as colleagues from where we sit as development units [email protected] the University of Auckland had just within the organisation, institutional QLD Chair: Sara Hammer learned that the Centre for Learning incentives for staff to engage in [email protected] and Research in Higher Education development, and the need to SA Chair: Andrea Duff will be disestablished. collaborate with other units to support [email protected] staff while clearly retaining our own The symposium started with all areas of expertise. TAS Chair: Tracy Douglas [email protected] units updating us about past and future activities. An Expo over We finished with a reflection on the VIC Chair: Theda Thomas day and next steps, in particular re- [email protected] morning tea helped us follow up with colleagues. Afterward, we had garding research to support holistic WA Chair: Katrina Strampel a plenary discussion about what we academic development. [email protected] actually mean by holistic academic [email protected]

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STEM Sally Male STUDENT VIEW Natasha Bettridge

Threshold concepts are transformative and central to the My journey into education was a rocky one, with six mastery of a subject. Students often think at first that they different schools before dropping out in year 12. I chose have understood, but then they struggle to apply such Polytechnic education over traditional University education concepts. Johannes Strobel and colleagues have shown in because I know that education is changing. I thought a the USA and Europe that engineers need empathy. I read Polytechnic that focused on practical vocational training their papers and thought I understood. In fact I have been would give me skills to move into the private sector. told this for years and I am only starting to understand now. At the beginning of my HERDSA conference In my PhD project I identified competencies required presentation, I said my pepeha, which is how Māori by engineering graduates. Many employers complained introduce themselves to identify who they are and where of arrogant graduates. Senior engineers employed by they come from in Te reo (Maori). It was only a few engineering contractors and mining companies reported years ago when I went back into higher education I learnt that every Australian engineering graduate had sufficient more about Te reo and my heritage, my whakapapa. This technical competence but the employers sought graduates was challenging as I did not grow up with Te reo as a who could work with diverse others in diverse workplaces. language, but I was supported at Unitec through Whai ake The employers sought graduates with concern for others where we take on a mentor-mentee relationship. Because because, without concern, safety training would be of Maori success programs like Whai ake that’s based ineffective. I thought I understood but was not sure what on the tuakana-teina model I was able to reconnect back this meant for engineering curricula. to my whanau. When I think about measuring success, I I won a grant from the Australian Government with support think about my whakapapa and what makes me a Maori from Engineers Australia and the Australian Council of and Pakeha person. Engineering Deans to develop virtual work integrated There is a big job ahead in academia, precisely because learning. Deans and the accreditation manager insisted that the type of learner is changing due to technology students using the simulations should feel the emotions advancements. When we move into the future, we must experienced in a workplace. A dean reported an engineer’s adopt the “leave no one behind” attitude. The world is decision to reduce the work breaks for operators in a dairy. changing. We have a new breed of “digital learners” The operators tweaked the temperature of plastic bottle caps known as the Gen Z and Gen Alpha learners, who have to cause stoppages. If only the engineers had understood grown up with the internet, smartphones and social media. how the operators felt. Again, I thought I understood but We are moving towards the automation era, whether that struggled to see how to achieve the deans’ request. is in AI or Machine Learning. We must take a good look We use virtual reality to teach safety. Students operate a at our current education system. I wish all academic staff simulated vehicle-loading crane. Other students observe. good luck on this journey. I had thought the challenge was for observers to visualise Natasha Bettridge is a student at Unitech, New Zealand. spatial issues. People have died because operators stand

with their backs to the controls, unable to see the controls Pepeha - How Māori introduce themselves and crane simultaneously. The observing students need to Te reo - Māori empathise with the operators. Finally I start to understand Whai ake - Māori mentorship program for Māori students this threshold concept for engineering educators, that Whakapapa - Line of descent from one’s ancestors Tuakana-teina - Older sibling/Younger sibling (peer to peer) engineers need empathy. Whanau - Family

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I have eclectic music taste including girl bands, indie rock, post-punk, new wave, alt country, Motown, Disney tunes, goth rock and 70s and 80s bad hits.

I have a renewed love of travel after a recent month-long trip to the US. I’m hoping to find a job that allows me to spend a month in New York and Montreal every year.

I’m very proud of my publishing business Not Quite Newtown that produces children’s book based on and around the streets of the inner west of Sydney. Pete Warrington and I started with a council grant to get our first book published and have followed on from that with two successful crowdfunding campaigns to fund the next books. We have produced four so far. The books Who’s who in HERDSA are based around photography and illustration. Pete writes the stories and Rachel Williams I photograph and design the books. We then work with an artist that produces Rachel Williams is the creative spirit become really rich and spend my time illustrations that are placed over behind the design of HERDSA CONNECT. travelling around all the film festivals. my street photographs. It’s a lovely Rachel works closely with the Editor of collaboration. each edition to ensure your magazine is I love photography, particularly Cindy so visually attractive, stylish, coherent and Sherman, Tracey Moffat, Nan Goldin, I love working with young minds readable. She has been designing and because they are so imaginative and free. laying out CONNECT since April 2015. Diane Arbus, Bill Henson, Gregory Crewdson, Mark Broyer and Samantha They come up with the best ideas. We run kids workshops so they can create I am passionate about film and Everton. And I love design, especially their own books. my favourite Sydney cinema is the graphic design – art’s intersection with functionality – a fun way to earn a quid. independent art deco Golden Age in We are branching out to become an Surry Hills. It was the old Paramount I like Instagram independent publisher and have just met screening room and has been restored to and filling our feed with urban photography. There is a lot of street our crowdfunding target for our first a gorgeous forty seat cinema including a project – The Stencil Art Prize 10 year beautiful period bar. art where we live, and I enjoy sifting through the walls looking for pieces that anniversary book. It will feature work from two hundred artists from Australia My first Sydney Film Festival attendance I think people will like to see. I am really and internationally. was in 1994 and have been every year excited by street art because it is always since. I would take a week off and see current, and the streets and walls are like Photo: Rachel and her family at the Grizzly Giant, Yosemite. about thirty-five films but since having a big, free, unpretentious gallery. kids I see between ten-fifteen now. My I enjoy podcasts Links favourite directors are: Jim Jarmusch, , particularly crime. Although I’ve had to lay off those lately Not Quite Newtown Wes Anderson, Pedro Almodovar and https://not-quite-newtown.myshopify.com Xavier Dolan. My retirement plan is to so I can sleep better at night.

HERDSA 2020 Conference: Research and Development in Higher Education

Register now and pay before the Pre-conference workshops on 30 June 2020. Register early. early bird deadline to save up to Book accommodation via the online registration form. $175 on your registration fees. Follow and share conference information with your Abstract submission deadline is network and colleagues #HERDSA 2020 7 February 2020.

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Celebrating the journey of excellent teaching in Aotearoa, a further ten top tertiary teachers joined over 230 exceptional teachers to receive a Tertiary Teaching Excellence Award since establishment in 2001. Awards celebrate outstanding learner-centred teaching practice and recognise teachers who demonstrate consistently high levels of: commitment to their learners/ HERDSA Affiliate Members values and principles in the teaching learner outcomes, sharing Affiliate membership is a trial and learning. great practice widely, and HERDSA initiative that aims to foster contributing to communities. engagement with individuals and RUB comprises twelve constituent and institutions from emerging and affiliated colleges spread across Bhutan. Ako Aotearoa, in its journey developing tertiary education Currently, RUB has 11075 students as managers of the awards for systems within our region. Membership and 1267 faculty members. The Office provides access to a community the Minister of Education since of scholars and teachers with an of the Vice Chancellor in the capital 2007, has focused on attracting interest in teaching and learning at Thimphu is responsible for central greater diversity among the tertiary level and this may lead to coordination. Courses are offered in nominations. Earlier successes collaborations and mutual learning. seven broad curriculum areas: teacher include introduction of the education, business and management, Dr Deki Gyamtso Kaupapa Māor i Category with engineering and physical sciences, a total of 17 awardees by 2019; Royal University of Bhutan computing and information science, www.rub.edu.bt the Māori Prime Minister’s biological sciences and agriculture, Supreme Award; the addition humanities and social sciences, and The Royal University of Bhutan of Pacific endorsement added national language and literature. (RUB), the country’s first national to the awards and the first Pacific Prime Minister’s university, was launched in 2003 My role at present is within the Supreme Awardee with Pacific by a Royal Decree pronouncing: Department of Research. I have endorsement. dissemination of knowledge and the developed various published projects advancement of learning through a over the years since completing To further the drive for balanced, well regulated and sound my PhD at the University of New inclusivity, this year tertiary education system for the England in Armidale, Australia. These Ako Aotearoa oversaw economic and cultural development of include: Teacher learning in changing significant changes to the the Kingdom of Bhutan and to promote professional contexts: Bhutan and the criteria; resulting in first the cultural enrichment, personal educating for GNH initiative; Present time success for a Māori- development and wellbeing of our practices and background to teaching medium provider - Te Whare people. Bhutan is a small, developing and learning at the Royal University Wānanga o Awanuiārangi with country sandwiched between Tibet and of Bhutan; and The state of research its Kaupapa Māori teacher India so education has been accorded at the Royal University of Bhutan Associate Professor Mera priority as a means of building the and ways forward. I have a particular Penehira. We look forward to human resource base for supporting interest in curriculum development and changes across the sector so political, social and economic Biggs model of constructive alignment, excellent teaching and training development in Bhutan. The University so I was pleased to see Professor Biggs is recognised and celebrated has adopted The Wheel of Academic made a Life Member of HERDSA through these awards. Law which documents policies, recently. procedures and standards and to infuse [email protected] Gross National Happiness (GNH) Photo: Deki standing at right with colleagues

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I’ve also found that the Fellowship has been the final formal reward that has followed many other informal rewards. The most fulfilling of these has undoubtedly been the opportunity over the last few years to discuss my thinking and practice with the other members of my Talking About Teaching And Learning (TATAL) group. Even though the group’s members have changed slightly over the years, we continue to meet roughly once a month. After each Skype or Zoom session, I still feel a deep sense of privilege and joy at being able to connect with such wonderful, like-minded The HERDSA Fellowship educators (in alphabetical order: Ana Maria, Carlos, Coralie, HERDSA Fellows have completed an in-depth reflection on philosophy Jenny, Maria, Nirma, Stuart and and practice over an extended period leading to the development Ursula). of a significant teaching portfolio. HERDSA Fellow Lukasz (Luk) Swiatek lectures in the Discipline of Media and Communications at UNSW, Another informal reward has Sydney. Luk reflects on his experience of the HERDSA Fellowship. been the opportunity to grow as a reflective practitioner thanks to the support of Erik Brogt, my The wisdom of the and staying oriented towards Fellowship mentor. The value HERDSA Fellowship future-focused critical practice. of the mentoring system, as an The other half of the recognition integral part of the Fellowship Lukasz Swiatek involves acknowledging completed process, is undeniable. Thanks Since receiving my HERDSA work and the ongoing professional to Erik, I sharpened my Fellowship in July, there have been development undertaken over time. reflective skills and learnt more days when I’ve half thought about On most days, I’m more than happy about the world of academic giving half of it back. (I’m only half to be challenged, and to challenge development. joking, too.) myself. There have been days, though, when I would have preferred Although I’ve split the I know exactly which half I’d give to have rested on this laurel. Fellowship artificially into back. It’s the half that prods me to two halves here, to make my keep enhancing a learning resource However, this is the wisdom of the point, the whole enterprise is for my students, and even innovate HERDSA Fellowship scheme. As enormously beneficial. Jests with it, when I know that what I’ve I’ve found, it not only encourages about returning half of the developed is already acceptable; it’s applicants to take their knowledge, Fellowship aside, I’m grateful the half that keeps nudging me to practice and scholarship of teaching to have undertaken the process. agonise over curriculum design into and learning to even higher levels I look forward to continuing to the small hours, mapping my plans through the development of a serve my students, colleagues against principles and best practices portfolio; it also holds recipients and other communities more of different kinds. to higher standards. The actual effectively. recognition itself doesn’t do This is the half of the HERDSA anything, of course. As I’ve noted in [email protected] Fellowship that’s about looking Photo: Luk receives his Fellowship some of my own research, accolades from (past) president Allan Goody forward, aiming for continuous are just tools. improvement, making innovations

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established academic tradition. So why not organise a dedicated “reading week” instead, whether alone or in the company of colleagues?

Finally, reupholster. A colleague of mine keeps a comfortable “reading chair” in her office. When she’s busy meeting with students, answering emails or pushing administrative documents around her desk, that beautifully upholstered armchair sits in the corner and gently reminds her not to neglect the pleasures of reading. She reserves her reading chair exclusively for the perusal of hard copy books and journal articles, which are kinder on her eyes than digital screens and invite the colourful kinetic experience of highlighting key phrases and scribbling marginal comments. Wordcraft Helen Sword Sinking into the chair towards the end of the day feels like snatching a stolen moment of delight rather than succumbing to the nagging pressures of Writing expert Professor Helen Sword academics in most disciplines should be productivity. answers readers’ questions about able to find ways of adapting them to academic writing, productivity and their own circumstances. wordcraft. The following is reprinted Each of these solutions involves physical displacement, whether to a café, a from an August 2019 feature article in The first is reframe. Sometimes all we Times Higher Education titled “Skim, Skip, cabin or just a different chair, as well as need to do is change the lens through Tweet, Retreat…?” emotional displacement (from pressure which we view our academic workload. to pleasure, from “busy” to relaxed). The In his book The Happiness Advantage, Let’s face it, there’s never enough time glare of screens is replaced by the softer psychologist Shawn Achor recalls how to read. No matter how hard we try, we glow of white paper, and the burden he reframed a stress-inducing, deadline- can’t possibly keep up with the newest of keeping up melts into the balm of driven literature review by reminding scholarship in our own fields, much slowing down. less with all the interesting research himself how much he loves learning being published in other disciplines. It’s about new ideas and research findings: Professor Helen Sword (www.helensword.com) “I thought about how I was defining is a scholar, poet and prize-winning teacher tempting to succumb to informational who has published widely on academic imposter syndrome: staggering under the task mentally (menial labor) and writing and writers. Her recent books include the emotional burden imposed by all consciously changed it (to reading for Stylish Academic Writing and Air & Light & enrichment). I also changed the language Time & Space: How Successful Academics those unread books and articles, we Write. become convinced that everyone else is I used to describe the activity to other somehow managing better than we are. people. After telling a few friends I was at Starbucks reading for pleasure, I Do you have a burning question But information overload is hardly a started to realize that in fact I was.” about academic writing that you new dilemma; nor is it unique to 21st would like to see answered in this century academe. As historian Ann Blair The second of the three Rs is retreat. column? Send it to Helen Sword points out in her 2010 book Too Much To Twice a year, Microsoft founder ([email protected]) with Know: Managing Scholarly Information Bill Gates packs up a stack of books the subject line ‘Wordcraft’. before the Modern Age, scholars have and papers and sequesters himself been complaining at least since the in a remote cottage for a week of invention of the printing press about uninterrupted reading, writing and Links having “too much to read”. thinking. Gates’ famous “think weeks” are what Cal Newport, author of Deep www.timeshighereducation.com/features/ how-can-academics-keep-literature Lately, whenever I feel in danger of Work: Rules for Success in a Distracted freefalling into a bottomless pit of World, calls a “grand gesture”: an references, I make a conscious effort to allocation of resources that announces step back from the brink and substitute both to the world and to ourselves pleasure for pressure. The following just how much we need and value our three Rs may not work for everyone, but thinking time. Writing retreats are a long

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the prestige of research at the cost of effort and resource being put into teaching quality and into teachers. We also need to gently remind colleagues that the research on teaching and learning is ‘real’ research and that it has at least equal validity to other types of research with higher prestige.

Significant innovation and outstanding teaching practice is going on in pockets of the Australian sector by individuals and small and larger teams. These include collaborative approaches to constructing and sharing knowledge. Multi-disciplinary contributions from internal colleagues (‘peeragogy’); external MOOCs; industry educational offerings; and formal recognition of prior and concurrent student real life Policy Perspectives Marcia Devlin learning outside the classroom are increasingly common, which can only be a good thing. And there is, of course.

Recently, an academic colleague posted enthusiastic, well organised teacher Many higher education providers may be on Twitter a picture of his completely with outstanding communication skills, hesitant to move away from traditional empty lecture theatre. Another colleague who builds and maintains rapport, modes of learning and teaching such followed suit soon after. And the posts shows respect for students and their as the lecture. Institutional culture, an went viral in the academic community. learning, engages them in activities and undervaluing of teaching compared to critical thinking, enables collaborative research and the effort and resources As HERDSA Connect readers know, the approaches to problem solving within required to make major change all research in learning and teaching shows the class, provides stimulus for deep probably play a part in the Australian clearly that didactic teaching and passive thinking during and after the lecture, sector’s reluctance to significantly reception do not result in deep, lasting or makes concepts come alive through change teaching practices. meaningful learning for most students. examples and the use of various media, It’s curious, then, that we persist with provides ‘aha’ moments for those in the Approaches to University teaching lecturing at students in large groups in room and so on. The challenge is that the must keep pace with the disrupted and most universities. Worse, one of the most vast majority of lecturing is not like that, changing contexts of education. As the common lecturing practices is to ‘stand which is why students generally don’t global, digital and societal upheavals we and deliver’ PowerPoint slides. bother coming and instead either watch are experiencing continue, the lecture it online or skip the class altogether. as the staple approach to University Lectures worked well back in the day teaching should probably start to go the for many current academics. These As the Australian economy moves to way of the once ubiquitous handwritten colleagues were, as students, particularly an era in which knowledge and ideas overhead transparency. Perhaps the intellectually able, intrinsically are precious commodities, the role performance funding measures many of motivated and clear on their educational of universities internationally is even us have not looked forward to might be and vocational goals, that is, to continue more important as innovation, the usefully employed as a policy incentive to pursue knowledge throughout their transformation of businesses, technology to innovate in learning and teaching career through research and teaching. and access to knowledge and education toward better engagement and outcomes One challenge for those of us who take place amidst prevailing inequalities, for students. work in Universities and who have political tensions, environmental responsibilities related to enhancing the Professor Marcia Devlin is a long time HERDSA challenges and huge economic changes. member and Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor quality of learning and teaching is that While we tend to revere research that at Victoria University. A longer version of this the lecture is assumed to be the basis of creates new knowledge in Universities article was first published In Campus Review. effective teaching practice when it may – and there is good reason to do so – or may not be, depending on the student we are significantly less enthusiastic and context. about sharing that new (and existing) knowledge through our other core Of course, not all lecturing is bad. business of teaching. We tend to chase A lecture hall can be led by a gifted,

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members are involved and work together to provide learning and teaching, student engagement and student life, support services and sports and recreational services.

To create a connected university community, special efforts have been taken to establish a Student Ambassador Program at Curtin Malaysia, where students act as ambassadors of the university and play integral roles in welcoming new students and help them adjust to the new settings. Student ambassadors come from many countries and work with staff support services to provide valuable experiences to new- to-university students. The campus being located in a fairly remote part of the country, means that new students appreciate all the help they can get Postcard from Malaysia from their peers in understanding the local culture, and feel inspired to grow Beena Giridharan and develop as individuals. For student ambassadors, it is an opportunity to cultivate leadership skills and contribute Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains around the emphasis on promoting intercultural to the well-being of their peers. It also world celebrated Diwali, more known understanding between international allows them to develop communicative as the Festival of Lights, last weekend. and domestic students. The fact that skills, expand their team work abilities, The festival holds significance for a Malaysia is a multi-cultural and multi- and learn to plan and organize better. variety of reasons, but the word Dipavali linguistic country in its makeup, and in Sanskrit referring to “rows of lights”, that our domestic student population Speaking to student ambassadors over perhaps explains what the central theme comes from diverse ethnic backgrounds, a cup of tea, it was encouraging to hear of the festival symbolises. It is a joyful facilitates the engagement between them say how much they appreciated occasion to commemorate the triumph our distinct student body. Academic the experience of helping other students of light over darkness and of good over staff at the campus originate from adapt and settle into life at the university. evil. The celebration of light which over twenty countries and contribute “I never imagined helping others would represents knowledge in ancient beliefs, to a diverse workforce as well. It is bring me such joy”, commented a first brings me to reflect on universities as well documented that at universities year student. “Having gone through knowledge creation hubs, and focus on where minority groups feel welcome some challenging times myself, I was why it is significant to embed inclusive and there are efforts to bring campus eager to help out new students”, stated practices and diversity at university communities together, students have another student ambassador. campuses. By diversity, I refer to gender better experiences and develop expanded Student involvement in the design and diversity, racial, economic, geographical, world views. development of the program offered and multicultural diversity. For international students, being in a on campus is certainly key to further In Australia, many universities embed new location and studying abroad is enhancing the program. We are hoping core values related to social justice and often challenging so we need to make to grow our student ambassador numbers inclusion in their processes. At Curtin every effort to welcome them, celebrate to represent most of the countries University, diversity and equity practices who they are, and add value to their students originate from, to provide are ensured through fair and just university experience. Through the more engaging opportunities on campus treatment of the university community student journey mapping and a Student to support personal and professional and through the implementation of lifecycle approach, the university has development of students. equitable opportunities. taken steps to ensure that each student On that note, I wish all readers a very has a unique and inclusive experience happy Diwali. At Curtin Malaysia, students who at the campus. The student experience come from more than fifty countries applies to all aspects of student life, be it Professor Beena Giridharan is Deputy Pro Vice globally comprise around 16% of the academic, social or cultural. To deliver Chancellor, Curtin University, Malaysia. student population, and there is a strong a distinctive student experience, all staff

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Dear Mr Schache, Thank you for your letter. We do not have an Industrial Agreement with our staff, these people are lucky to have any work at all, let alone bits of paper guaranteeing rights and similar rubbish. If they don’t like the job, there are plenty of people waiting to step into their shoes. To take your points in order. We offer a week’s recreation leave; at present, this is on full pay. So is sick leave, God knows why; if these people are prone to sickness, they should never have sought employment. If you are going to be a burden on your employers, better to sell matches on a casual basis, is my view. I do not know what you mean by long Meanderings service leave. If men have been lucky enough to have held their job for a long time, that is boon enough, without more Robert Cannon handouts. It’ll be clocks on retirement next, if we do not watch our step. I know even less what you mean by Reading papers on academic What would Alan Coren say? special leave. Indeed, the fact that your employment is distressing. Consider first four items all deal with leave I find this article from Greg McCarthy and Coren was an English satirist and former extraordinary in itself. The relationship his colleagues, “The proletarianization editor of the humorous magazine Punch. between employer and employee is of academic labour in Australia” in From 1973-76 Coren was Rector of the about work, not about leave; there is HERD (36,5, 2017): “…the deskilling University of St Andrews. In that role, quite enough malingering and shirking about as it is, without encouragement of teaching was firstly achieved through Coren succeeded John Cleese. Other from those in positions of responsibility. casualisation that broke the research– notable Rectors include John Stuart Mill, creativity–teaching nexus. Once this Rudyard Kipling and Andrew Carnegie. Hours of duty are 8 till 6. They are also nexus was broken then teaching could given time off for lunch, and for a Founded in 1413, St Andrews is the be regarded as directly serving the morning tea-break, as the result of oldest Scottish university and third- action by, I have little doubt, militant market...”. oldest in the English-speaking world. extremists who want nothing more than And there’s this from Kate Cantrell Elected by the matriculated students, the the overthrow of this country. and Kelly Palmer in Overland, 6 May Rector is the president of the University Dismissal and Disciplinary Procedures. At 19: “… if you’re a casual academic, Court. Only the four ancient universities present, two days’ notice is given, but you’re just as likely to attain a contract of Scotland, St Andrews, Glasgow, we are pressing to have this reduced as you would be if you worked at Aberdeen, and Edinburgh, as well as the to Instant Dismissal: I cannot for the life of me see why an incompetent or a McDonald’s… Working at an Australian University of Dundee, elect a Rector. criminal or a layabout should remain on university is just as precarious as All this is background to an undated the premises for a moment longer than working at Mickey D’s. Except there the letter I discovered reproduced in an old necessary. parking is free and you get a toy with University of Adelaide magazine, Lumen your lunch.” Paternity leave is a term entirely new to with the heading “And you thought you me, unless it is a mistyping. When fathers With overflowing watery metaphors, were hard done by…”. bear children, we may reconsider the Paul Kniest writes in The Flood of position! The letter is from Coren to the Ancillary Insecure Employment at Australian I trust that answers your queries. Do Staff Association, sometime in the mid- Universities that “…the rising tide of please feel free to get in touch should 1970s, in response to the Association’s insecure employment evident in the data you require further information. request for information about conditions up to 2015 has persisted and become Yours sincerely, of employment. Word limits on worse. The rising tide has turned into a Alan Coren, Rector, Meanderings demand that I select only flood and there does not seem to be any University of St. Andrews the best bits of Coren to quote here. signs of this abating anytime soon as it Robert Cannon is an education adviser They certainly give a colourful view of inundates our university workforce.” in Indonesia and formerly Director of the employment at that time! Advisory Centre for University Education at the University of Adelaide. [email protected]

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ESSENTIAL READING HERD

Stephen Marshall, co-editor of the HERD journal, recommends the article by Aitchison, Harper, Mirriahi, & Guerin (2019): Tensions for educational developers in the digital university: developing the person, developing the product. HERD, DOI: 10.1080/07294360.2019.1663155.

A range of organisational activities fall under the umbrella of educational development. The authors use the term to describe the work of people From the HERD editorial desk in roles formally titled as academic developers, academic language and Craig Whitsed and Wendy Green learning developers, learning advisers, learning or instructional designers, online educational developers, and As we come to the end of the year, the Association’s membership and educational technologists. The breadth and our first three-year term as the HERD’s readership. of responsibilities in these titles Co-Executive Editors of HERD, mirrors the ambiguity and complexity Finally, Dr Craig Whitsed will step we reflect on the upcoming changes of the changes universities are having down from his role as Co-Executive to the HERD editorial team. We to undertake to evolve and sustain their Editor to concentrate on research and thank Associate Professor Amani activities. Bell, IRU Vice-chancellors’ Fellow, writing, leaving Dr Wendy Green who will be leaving her role as one as sole Executive Editor of HERD. The authors interviewed thirty staff in of our four Co-Editors. Over the Craig’s co-leadership of the journal various educational development roles past three years Amani has made a has been critical to its continuing drawing out the themes in their work significant contribution to HERD, not growth, in terms of our readership, and the changes they have experienced. only through her input into HERD’s authorship and impact. He will be Unsurprisingly, a common thread is the editorial direction, but also through sorely missed. role of digital technologies as enablers her support for the work of our of blended and online educational HERD is a journal that everyone in Associate Editors. modes and as tools for professional the Association can be proud of. Over development and support, but also the the past three years, the journal has We thank Dr Deanne Gannaway unresolved issues of managing change published a diverse range of analysis, who is also leaving us at year’s end. and aligning development with the research, and perspectives on many As HERD’s Book Review Editor, strategic aspirations of institutions. Deanne has overseen publication topics of significant interest to higher of many insightful, scholarly book education, including our special The challenges we face in continuously reviews. Along with these departures, issues on student success in higher evolving our personal and collective we will see some changes within the education, reading and writing across organisational capabilities at a editorial team when we begin our next the disciplines, and re-valuing higher pace that matches the ever-faster three-year term. Associate Professor education. During the next three development of technology and the Stephen Marshall will leave his role years, HERD will continue to inform associated business models is apparent from Co-Editor to take up the role of and challenge us to consider the in the accounts. The authors highlight Special Issues Editor while Dr Susan past, present and the future of higher the need to focus the energy and Blackley will assume the role of Co- education. While we can chart the past resources of educational development Editor. and locate ourselves in the conditions on sustaining people, rather than of the present, the future challenges being captured by the technological We are also very pleased to announce us to think not only creatively product of the moment. Much as good that Assistant Professor Jisun Jung and responsibly but potentially in education focuses on the learner, not from University of Hong Kong will altogether new and different ways the content, educational development be joining the HERD editorial team as about higher education. HERD will must itself help our institutions Co-Editor from 2020. She will bring continue to provide a platform for appreciate the need for people-oriented to the team not only her knowledge such explorations. strategies that sustain and build and experience of the higher eduction [email protected] educational capability. sector but greater representation of [email protected]

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ESSENTIAL READING IJAD

International Journal for Academic Development (IJAD) co-editors Klara Bolander Laksov, Peter Felten, Johan Geertsema, & Kathryn Sutherland have chosen: Reflecting on institutional support for SoTL engagement: developing a conceptual framework by Paula Myatt, Deanne Gannaway, Ivy Chia, Kym Fraser & Jacquelin McDonald from IJAD (2018) 23(2).

For the first instalment of this new regular feature, in which members What in the world is ICED? Allan Goody of the IJAD editorial team select a notable article from a recent issue, we start with the Article of the Year Did you know that HERDSA is a national or regional networks. In October for 2018. Myatt and colleagues member network of the International I travelled to Portugal and Slovakia. focus on institutional support Consortium for Educational Academic development in Portugal for academics to become SoTL Development (ICED)? HERDSA, as one is in its early stages however there is practitioners. of the larger member networks of ICED, sustained academic development activity has been a member from formation in happening across the country. Hopefully In many countries, higher education 1993. we will have networks formed in both institutions support academics countries in the near future to widen to engage in the Scholarship of The objective of ICED is “for the ICED’s reach into central Europe. Teaching and Learning (SoTL). public benefit to advance education Research about SoTL-oriented worldwide by promoting, sustaining While ICED does not have individual academic development, however, and increasing individual and collective memberships, as a member of HERDSA tends to be highly contextual, knowledge and understanding of all you are a de facto member of ICED. making it challenging for academic aspects of educational development Even if you are not actively involved developers to make evidence- in higher education.” ICED helps in academic development I encourage informed decisions about this work. member networks develop their capacity you to use the ICED network to seek Myatt et al introduce a broad but for academic development in higher out collaborations and resources as well still context-sensitive framework education, supports academic developers as read IJAD for the latest international designed to open up consideration to form networks and supports research and practice in academic of alternative ways for an academic development. (Academic, development. Despite language, cultural institutional approach to SoTL educational, and faculty development are and even higher education system capacity building. interchangeable terms). differences, we all face very similar challenges, undertake our work informed The authors, who are academic As a ‘network of networks’ with by a common scholarship and openly developers in Australia and currently twenty-six members, ICED collaborate and share resources. Singapore, worked iteratively in aims to link networks and individuals cycles to develop and refine a tool across the world. We do this in several In this new regular column colleagues for taking the pulse of institutional ways including an annual Council from the ICED network will shed light SoTL capacity building. Through meeting, a conference held every second on what is happening in higher education this process, they moved beyond year, and the International Journal for and academic development in their part their initial intention of constructing Academic Development (IJAD). Perth of the world. And if you are looking a checklist, which turned out to hosted the fourth ICED conference in for a friendly, collegial and educational be too hierarchical and audit-like. 2002 and the next conference will be in conference in 2020, join us in Zurich and Rather than presenting a simple Zurich Switzerland in June 2020. start making those connections. set of ‘best practices’, they have As the President of ICED I have the Links created a flexible conceptual privilege of meeting with colleagues in ICED and member networks: icedonline.net framework to open up spaces for these emerging educational development ICED conference 2020: www.iced2020.ch reflection and discussion of context- regions to talk about teaching and specific institutional policies, learning and academic development and Photo Allan Goody: University of Coimbra, priorities, and practices. the formation or further development of Portugal, founded in 1290.

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social construction of citizenship in Aotearoa New Zealand. For most, the core citizenship courses they need to take in the BA are their first encounter with concepts of citizenship that extend beyond holding a passport or walking into a polling booth. They already have work experiences, life histories and study experiences that often surpass those of the tutors and lecturers they encounter in university. They have firm values, priorities and goals and little time for tasks that don’t challenge their thinking.

So, when they examine course materials, they are aware of the hidden curriculum – the message and values being promoted. They aren’t malleable and open to just accepting knowledge and value-laden ideas that their ‘traditional’ predecessors might have absorbed. They relish critical reflection and use their life experiences to examine what they The New Majority of Higher are presented with. They find their own opportunities to explore knowledge Education beyond academic texts. They engage in deep thinking in the quiet spaces of the Linda Rowan routine and in critical conversations on ethics, societal values and the rapidly PhD student Linda Rowan reflects statistics for Australia and New Zealand changing world with their workmates, on a key idea she encountered at the are similar at 43% and 50%. their children, the people they sit next HERDSA conference in Auckland. to on the train, at dance lessons. They This is the ‘new majority’ of higher are engaged citizens looking for ways in HERDSA is my go-to conference. As a education. These students have jobs, which they can contribute meaningfully more mature PhD and academic I relish complex and often demanding personal in society. They want to act on their new the opportunity to network and listen to relationships, little time and limited knowledge. what is happening in higher education opportunity to spend on campuses. teaching and learning research. The These are the ‘non-traditional’ student Their focus is outward and moving buzz of the full lecture theatre of people population referred to over the last three forward. Their goals both immediate with common interests from across decades. Recognising the new majority and far reaching, but their mobility Australasia and the globe is energising is with us and likely to grow should less so. They are looking for their – a reminder that our own citizenship in affect the ways in which we work, how Tūrangawaewae, their standing place in higher education is important. physical spaces are designed, and our university and in the world from where expectations. they will reach out. The conference theme was Next Generation, Higher Education: Peter’s research has looked at the The challenge for us is keeping up, Challenges, Changes and Opportunities. barriers which these learners confront engaging meaningfully, and building the Peter Felton from Elon University, including the imposter syndrome, academic citizenship of the with the new cleanly bridged between the USA, different experiences of access to majority – allowing them to act as global Australia and New Zealand context services for minorities, and “fear of citizens.

drawing on research from across the shame everywhere”. A challenge we all Linda Rowan is a PhD student in the Faculty globe and HERD journal. Peter spoke face in building successful environments of Education, Victoria University Wellington. about how the student demographic for learning is recognising, building Her research looks at the reflexive processes diverse Aotearoa-New Zealand university worldwide is changing. In the USA 50% and enriching teaching and learning students use when considering value-laden of students attending university and four- relationships with our students. concepts presented in core citizenship year colleges are over twenty-four years courses, using a critical realist approach. of age and one-fifth of attendees are first The new majority encompasses the Photo: Linda Rowan in class with a student in the family in higher education. The participants I have encountered in my research on higher education student’s

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Engaging undergraduate students in authentic science research Susan Rowland, Gwendolyn Lawrie and Rhianna Pedwell

for every stage of the design process This comprehensive, good-practice maintaining the focus on the importance Guide provides a wider scope than of the student being able to support, simply providing guidelines to design, achieve, demonstrate, and evidence develop and implement ALURE. It their learning. cleverly provides a concise, clear and sequential outline to the novice I appreciated the exemplars provided in researcher on how to get started in the the appendix yet having explored these scholarship of teaching and learning I was hankering for more. After reading (SoTL) and serves as a useful reference the Guide I realised I was limited only for the seasoned SoTL researcher. From by my imagination in designing more the perspective of a discipline researcher ALURE experiences. The Guide also turned science education researcher, very cleverly uses exemplars to caution I enjoyed the chapters on evaluating “The practical laboratory as central to both first-timers and experts of potential ALURE, because it articulated the undergraduate science education” is the challenges when implementing ALURE process of SoTL in a step-wise fashion opening sentence in this Guide, and aptly in their classrooms. It highlights the clearly reinforcing the process. That is; summarises its content and the relevance importance of feasibility and suitability from the point of articulating an initial of Authentic Large-scale Undergraduate in relation to authenticity, novelty, research question/idea through setting Research Experience (ALURE) to a relevance and engagement and forewarns about approaches on how to answer Science student. An ALURE is part implementers of likely institutional, the research question, the importance of the undergraduate curriculum for academic and student scepticism. The of ethical clearance to gather data, the large classes. Students are mentored authors acknowledge there may be richness of quantitative and qualitative by academics and teaching associates challenges in obtaining set-up funding, data and how to analyse them to finally disseminating research findings. Aspects who facilitate the implementation of training personnel, and managing staff of this process can baffle the novice a real-life research project, exposing and student expectations. Nevertheless, researcher or one trained in disciplinary- them to knowledge creation through the Guide offers much encouragement research and exploring SoTL research an authentic scientific experience. to the reader and uses its exemplars for the first time. This Guide therefore Although the learning gains derived to highlight the importance of the has manifold uses and is positive support from a practical class are manifold, the sustainability and furthering longevity for educator development. Guide demonstrates how a research- of ALURE through maximising its relevance and adaptability to fit curricula driven laboratory experience provided Finally, I congratulate the authors of multiple units. This identification by ALURE has the potential to empower on their efforts on creating a quality of key challenges, lessons learnt and students to define a research question student learning experience within the helpful tips in designing and sustaining and develop the skills to investigate classroom, empowering them with ALURE is inspirational and thought this question. This experience enables skills that go beyond the classroom and provoking. students to develop an understanding of showing how ALURE can potentially “being a scientist”, facilitating both a Given that students will acquire enhance the career trajectory of all cognitively higher order level of learning a diverse skills-set, attributes and concerned. This is a must-read for all and useful potential career preparation. discipline-specific knowledge through STEM educators! The authors draw on their learnings to a well-designed ALURE, the authors Rowland, S., Lawrie, G. & Pedwell, R. provide a step-wise guide to planning discuss a diverse range of summative (2019). Engaging undergraduate students and formative assessments, including in authentic Science research: A large a constructive, relevant ALURE scale approach. Higher Education experience. Elements related to opportunities for reflection and self- Research and Development Society of Australasia. feasibility and sustainability, support reported learning gains. Training in self- for learning and student engagement reflection and learning is critical for the The reviewer are effectively interrogated and are development of evaluative judgement – a Dr Nirma Samarawickrema (FHERDSA) is a quality that equips students for a lifetime Senior Lecturer at Monash University. She pertinent prompts for those new to teaches Biochemistry to undergraduate designing and implementing ALURE. of assessing their own learning – but also students undertaking medical, biomedical, Particularly beneficial are the provision powerful evidence on the value of the science and nutrition courses and her ALURE activity. research focuses on the Scholarship of of designer and practitioner questions teaching and learning.

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From perplexities of plagiarism to building cultures of integrity Tracey Bretag

teaching and research if it is maintain provider registration. Academic its social license to operate. Reviewing integrity training programs for students fifteen years of academic integrity and academic staff show it is the research Bretag notes that Australia has responsibility of all members of the taken a different approach to the US academic community to promote and research that has focussed on students’ uphold academic integrity. cheating behaviours. Australia’s approach has been more education- Bretag’s review shows that Australian focused recognising that international researchers and practitioners have shown students are mostly second language global leadership in the area of academic learners who are learning to work within integrity. She argues that we now have academic conventions that are not a much more nuanced understanding of academic integrity beyond simple The purpose of higher education always clearly explained or understood. views that some students cheat. Bretag is increasingly being brought into The education-focused view maintains acknowledges that there will always be question now that one in four students that international students require a small percentage of students who will in the Australian university sector is an induction into the Australian academic continue to take shortcuts with their international student. The proportion environment. Bretag’s research into learning. What she sees in the Australian of international students varies at each contract cheating brings this assumption sectors response is that an educational university and cases where institutions into question. She identifies three approach is the only credible strategy enrol almost half of their student body elements of the larger and more diverse for dealing with academic integrity in as international students raises concerns student cohorts – the reliance on an universities. With that Bretag has given that the sector as a whole has become internationalised higher education, the us some evidence-based approaches captured by the need to raise alternative greater competition in the graduate job for building cultures which foreground sources of funding. market, and easily accessible technology learning, teaching and researching with The media regularly raises accusations that allows for widespread sharing – that integrity. of ‘soft marking’ and reducing academic combine to put layers of stress on the standards, with whistle-blowers university system. Bretag, T. (2019). From ‘perplexities providing evidence that international of plagiarism’ to ‘building cultures of Bretag argues that staff play an integrity’: A reflection on fifteen years of students are little more than a revenue important role in responding to this academic integrity research, 2003-2018. stream to increase research-based HERDSA Review of Higher Education, context as models of the values university rankings. For their part, Vol. 6, pp. 5-35. and practices of academic integrity, international students are well aware especially to students. Yet many that they are purchasing what Simon academic staff are feeling the same The author Marginson (1997) calls ‘the positional Tracey Bretag is an Associate Professor competitive pressures as their students, good of higher education’ and many are in Higher Education at the School of competing for precarious work contracts Management in the University of South willing participants in the pretence that and publication in high ranking journals, Australia Business School. Tracy was the they are engaged in higher learning, Founding Editor of the International Journal that feed into university ranking systems. conscious of the opportunities afforded for Educational Integrity and has undertaken Consequently there have been a number numerous grants to improve academic to those lucky enough to graduate. of plagiarism scandals among academic integrity across Australian universities for the Australian Office for Learning and Teaching. This transactional view of higher staff that have undermined the reputation education puts the emphasis on of universities for honesty and integrity. The reviewer commercial rather than academic Peter Kandlbinder is Executive Editor, HERDSA The result has been a call for a sector Review of Higher Education. concerns and brings with it incentives wide response to academic integrity. for staff and students to seek an unfair References National policies and benchmarks advantage by cheating. Into this context Marginson, S. (1997). Markets in education. have worked towards embedding Sydney: Allen & Unwin. Tracey Bretag (2019) highlights that core elements of exemplary academic academic integrity is a fundamental integrity policy across institutions. value in higher education which needs TEQSA has introduced academic to demonstrate fairness, honesty and integrity standards to be linked to responsibility in all aspects of learning,

18 SUMMER 2020 HERDSA CONNECT SHOWCASE

to students’ learning experiences and allows strong individual relationships between students and the team. The outcome of our work is empowered students with a ‘can-do’ and growth mindset, who are successful learners, work ready, confident business professionals, embrace opportunity and succeed beyond their expectations.

The team’s authentic teaching transfers to real world employability. A Bachelor of Business student recently secured a permanent position. She said: “My shyness and lack of confidence was limiting me. With your persistent conversations to believe in myself, I made the deliberate decision to confront my fears”. With our ‘just do it’ culture, we immerse students in A student transformation model authentic activities and networking experiences with an engaged industry Natasja Steenkamp and team network. We model professional conduct, employability skills, and personal characteristics. We use a suite Fostering hope and showing students grade point average. His standing as a of techniques to teach, coach and equip that you believe in them develops student role model was recognised and our students to become empowered. their self-belief and self-efficacy. The he delivered the student address at his Consequently, students become work- CQUniversity School of Business and graduation ceremony. He obtained his ready and achieve career mobility, Law (SBL) Mackay Team empowers professional qualification, worked for securing employment with high profile regional university students, constrained KPMG, and held a prestigious position regional employers and national and by obstacles, to transform their internal at the Australian Accounting Standards multinational organisations. narrative and to become confident Board. This CQUniversity Mackay business professionals. Our students are Alumnus is now an Associate Director, Our coaching of students and continued from low SES and non-English speaking Finance Group, National Australia Bank. positive narrative transforms their backgrounds, first in family to university, “I will be forever grateful to my Mackay thinking and self-belief. A recent mature aged, or a combination of these. lecturers and support staff for helping CQUniversity Business graduate who is We challenge students to transcend me overcome many obstacles and to gain Indigenous and first in family to attend demographic limitations, explore confidence. Because of their ongoing university attested to the benefit of our opportunities within and beyond their help and support, I was work-ready for influence. “[There was] a real focus on postcode, and awaken their minds prestigious positions, with the self-belief ‘can-do’ approaches to help transform to believe in transformed futures. To that I can excel beyond my dreams.” our futures…learning was about so much reflect our practice, we have developed more than just the classroom”. the Student Transformation Model (© A key premise of this model is the SBL Mackay Team) to capture how we active and reflective learning of both Our collective industry-facing learning influence, motive and inspire students. students and the team. Many Mackay practices inspire and support students to students perceive living in regional, rural realise often-unrecognised potential and A Bachelor of Accounting (Honours) and remote communities as socially to apply for many different opportunities. graduate demonstrated the enduring isolating and a disadvantage. These Our aim is to transform students’ ability benefits of our advocacy that perceptions pose both a challenge and to forge new perceptions of a hopeful regionality is not a constraint. He was an opportunity. We influence students’ personal future. We suggest this student an international student with English learning journeys with the specific transformation model has application to as second language and first in family intent to break through their mental empower people to transform futures in to attend university. As a result of barriers and unlock their inner strengths, other regional contexts. our coaching from his initial study taking an active interest in their holistic Team members are Natasja Steenkamp, enquiry through to graduation in 2013, learning from our first interactions. Maree Franettovich, Robyn Collins and and our collective teaching practices We inspire diffident students to move Maria Tyler. Contact Natasha for information: inside and outside of the classroom, beyond any constrained thinking, see [email protected]. he developed a suite of professional other perspectives and develop a ‘can- Photo: SBL Mackay graduates Megan Brunker, skills, attaining the highest possible do’ mindset. Our approach is integral Bianca Webster, Tenille da rin Perette.

SUMMER 2020 19 HERDSA CONNECT SHOWCASE

Schools at UNSW Business use REVIEW widely that provides an assessment ePortfolio as students retain access to all feedback. While REVIEW has always been learner-centered, UNSW customisations have super-charged the features that connect with students their past peer feedback and self-assessment history from multiple units. Filters enable students to run self-reports that highlight skill performance, development and progression. In new assessments, linkages to access specific relevant past feedback are signposted. This feed- forward connection operationalises reflection in action and supports student’s incorporation of past feedback through a An innovative online assessment systems provisioned mechanism. UNSW’s many customisations of platform Danny Carroll REVIEW have extended on Darrall Thompson’s (UTS) original design of mapping criteria to learning goals. The UNSW contribution has been to improve The assertion that assessment drives observation is that marking against the platform’s ability to engage students learning is widely accepted however as criteria supports judgement processes in judgement practices and help learners David Boud and others note, students and concise and actionable feedback. connect their short-term assessment too often indicate their experience UNSW’s development of a Marker performance with their longer-term of our assessment and feedback is Dashboard further supports efficiency professional skills development. For vague, fragmented and not particularly and quality, as on-screen displays staff, we’ve developed visualisations helpful. Many argue that criteria- ‘surface’ summaries of marker and of marking, feedback and judgement based assessment can provide clear student data. The dashboard displays that supply actionable assessment judgements, frameworks and feedback marking completion, marks spreads at intelligence, supporting the quality and that can be shared and explicit to task and criteria level, marker averages insight into their assessment practice. staff and students. Despite policy and student access to feedback once Together, these have made a systematic and injunctions, embedding criteria published. These actionable intelligence contribution to the evolution of REVIEW in assessment across the curriculum features support quality assurance, as an assessment platform based on an remains a challenge for some. marks management and insight into both assessment for learning philosophy. assessment design and student use of In 2011, the UNSW Business School feedback. The experience is best summed up in introduced REVIEW as an optional student’s own words on REVIEW: online assessment platform. From REVIEW is used in large first-year the initial trial in four courses, usage courses to develop student reflective and … it let me see whether I have has grown to 504 courses, with 1,495 judgement capabilities. In ECON1401, answered all the questions … made me staff and 44,186 students on UNSW self-assessment and reflection are realise which parts i excelled at and REVIEW in 2019. This operational undertaken as a natural and rewarded which parts needed more work … scale reflects the observation of element in all assessment tasks. In … a great way for us to reflect on our numerous positive impacts on the staff MGMT1001, the Faculty’s second strengths and weaknesses …. quite and student experience of assessment. largest course, mandatory student useful in developing judgement skills These include (supporting the University self-assessment is included to drive Danny Carroll is an educational designer, policy requirements on Standards Based student reflective practice. Our analyses trainer and educational systems developer Assessment), an increased student have shown multiple benefits, as and administrator: his work and research engagement in assessment through self self-assessors routinely out-perform relate to improving assessment and self- assessment, learning analytics and future and peer-assessment. non- self-assessors and access feedback assessment systems. at higher rates. My studies show that Staff report efficiency and quality students’ response to training to develop improvements from online criteria- self-assessment accuracy is positive. Links based marking and the visually intuitive Initially low-performing students appear http://handle.unsw.edu.au/1959.4/60597 interfaces are popular as is the error- www.ascilite.org/conferences/sydney13/ to especially benefit from the high program/papers/Carroll.pdf free marks calculation. A frequent marks-gain after criteria-level feedback.

20 SUMMER 2020 HERDSA Guides have gone digital

HERDSA Guides provide useful ideas and information on many aspects of teaching and learning. Written by experts in specific fields, they are short, inexpensive and easy to read. The Guides draw on research and good practice to provide practical and effective strategies as a resource to assist in the enhancement of the management, curriculum development, Kortext teaching and learning practices and the is a 21st century learning and analytics platform used by student experience within the tertiary students in more than 80 countries around the world. sector. Kortext is home to thousands of digital books, provided HERDSA Guides have been a stable by the most renowned publishing houses. They’re all of the suite of HERDSA publications for available to be read on the Kortext Reader, an enhanced, many years. Authors of the Guides are customisable platform designed for students by people generous in freely sharing their expertise who have been there and done it and know exactly what and best practice with the HERDSA learners want. community and beyond. The Guides Students can highlight important paragraphs or sections, go through a rigorous peer review make notes, save references, share them via email, copy and editorial process to ensure they and paste, and bookmark entire pages. As we believe maintain the aim of being practical and education should be equal for all, our accessibility features accessible. allow students to change font size and style, background And now the HERDSA Guides are going colour for clearer reading, and select the Read Aloud option if they’d rather be read to. Our digital books can digital. HERDSA has been working with also be downloaded so learners can read and study on the Kortext to make the HERDSA Guides move, without the fear of poor WiFi or draining mobile data! available as ebooks distributed through the Kortext platform to provide an We also integrate into the student virtual learning enhanced reader experience. The environment, such as Moodle or Blackboard, making Guides will be accessible to a global the transition between traditional and digital education readership at the click of a button, at a seamless. Kortext are the leader in delivering content under reduced price and without the hassle flexible access models that work for your university and your of delivery time or costly international students. Access can be from the library OPAC, discovery shipping fees. portals or reading lists. We work in any single sign-on environment and your students will always have a personal HERDSA Guides are still available in bookshelf for their ongoing use. print and both the digital and the print versions are available for purchase: We’ve thought about every step here at Kortext, because what’s the point of providing the content without knowing http://www.herdsa.org.au/publications/ the impact it’s having on your students’ learning? Our guides analytics dashboards provide real-time data that shows The Kortext platform also provides how students engage with their key resources, learn and progress. These data sets can help you make informed HERDSA with the opportunity to distribute decisions on curriculum review, highlight students who other HERDSA publications including may need support, leading to improved retention and HERDSA Connect and Occasional progression rates. Publications. More on this in the future. Kortext is for everyone, whoever you are, wherever you are. This is a new venture for Kortext working with a professional society in teaching To contact Kortext, please email Maureen Quinn at and learning with HERDSA joining many [email protected] of the world’s major publishers in the Kortext library. https://www.kortext.com