University Teaching from Coursera

University Teaching is an introductory course in teaching and learning in tertiary education, designed by staff at the Centre for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning at the University of Hong Kong.

With input from instructors, guests and interviewees, including teaching award winners, students, and experts in the fields, you will be exposed to research evidence in relation to effective university teaching and practical instructional design strategies. You will also be exposed to multiple examples of effective teaching, and hear the views of teachers whose teaching has been judged to be excellent.

More specifically, University Teaching will help you to address the following questions:

- What does teaching in higher education involve?

- What does research evidence tell us about effective teaching in higher education?

- How can we ensure that our instructional design will help our students achieve their intended learning outcomes?

- What pedagogic options do we have to make our teaching successful?

- What assessment and feedback practices can help our students learn more effectively?

After completing the learning tasks in this course, you will be able to:

- Discuss the teaching and learning context in higher education and reflect on the potential challenges and opportunities you might encounter.

- Explain key teaching and learning concepts and relevant evidence in relation to effective university teaching.

- Analyse the relationships between various aspects of teaching and student learning.

- Identify a range of instructional strategies to support effective student learning.

- Apply key concepts to the structuring of course outlines and lesson plans in order to create learning experiences to support successful student learning.

Course trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJu-dViz3NE

Course outline: http://www.cetl.hku.hk/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/CETL-MOOC-course-outline.pdf

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Introduction

What does it look like teaching in higher education?

This module focuses on a wider scope of what it is like teaching in higher education, such as, what responsibilities are involved, where challenges and opportunities might occur, and how experienced academics approach their teaching development, to help you to think about your teaching role in a broader context.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Covers various aspects of teaching in higher education, such as responsibilities, challenges, and opportunities, fostering reflection on teaching roles

Provides a curated selection of established research evidence on effective university teaching, promoting evidence-based instructional practices

Introduces key ideas for instructional design, enabling learners to immediately apply concepts in their teaching approach

Presents real instructional examples from diverse disciplines, inspiring the design of effective and engaging course experiences

Offers principles and practical guidance for designing assessments that enhance student learning, promoting the creation of meaningful and effective evaluations

Provides strategies and advice on giving constructive and high-impact feedback, emphasizing the value of effective communication in the learning process

Reviews summary

Introductory guide to university teaching

According to learners, this course provides a solid foundation and serves as an excellent introduction to teaching in higher education, particularly for new university teachers or those looking to formalize their approach. Students frequently praise the well-structured modules, clear content, and practical advice offered on topics like instructional design, assessment, and lesson planning. The inclusion of guest interviews and examples from different disciplines is also highlighted as valuable. However, some reviewers noted that the course may be too basic or lack sufficient depth for individuals who are already experienced educators, sometimes feeling like common sense. A few also found the content or examples slightly dated or hard to relate to their specific fields, and mentioned that forum discussions could be more active.

Well-structured modules with clear explanations.

"The modules are well-structured and the videos are clear."

"I appreciated the structure and the clear learning objectives for each module."

"Content is presented in a very clear and digestible format."

Offers actionable strategies and design ideas.

"...you will be introduced to some key ideas you can immediately apply in your instructional design."

"Very practical advice."

"Helped me think differently about lesson planning."

"I learned how to use practical tools and strategies that I could apply immediately to my work."

Excellent starting point for new teachers.

"Excellent course for understanding the basics of teaching in higher ed. Highly recommended for new university teachers."

"Good introductory course. It covers a wide range of topics from design to assessment."

"As a PhD student about to start teaching, this was exactly what I needed."

"Solid foundation course. It covers the fundamentals well."

Some found forums inactive or unhelpful.

"The discussions in the forum weren't very active."

"The peer review assignments were not helpful due to low quality reviews."

"I didn't find the community discussions very engaging."

Examples might not fit all specific disciplines.

"The examples were sometimes hard to relate to my specific field (STEM)."

"...hoped for more detail on specific pedagogical techniques."

"...could use more resources for further reading or field-specific examples."

May lack depth for experienced teachers.

"Disappointed. The course felt very basic and didn't go into enough depth for experienced teachers."

"Much of the content was common sense."

"I was expecting more advanced strategies."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in University Teaching with these activities:

Review research on effective teaching

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Update your knowledge on evidence-based teaching practices.

Browse courses on Teaching and Learning

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Identify relevant research papers or articles on teaching.
Read and synthesize the key findings of the research.

Seek a mentor in your field

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Connect with experienced educators for guidance and support.

Browse courses on Teaching and Learning

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Identify potential mentors who align with your teaching goals.
Reach out to them and express your interest in mentorship.

Create a resource repository

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Build a collection of valuable resources for effective teaching.

Browse courses on Instructional Design

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Gather resources such as lesson plans, handouts, and online materials.
Organize the resources into a central location for easy access.

Five other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all eight activities

Review: The Teaching Gap by James M. Lang

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Gain insights into the challenges and opportunities in teaching higher education.

View Encyclopedia of Diversity in Education (Sage... on Amazon

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Read Chapter 1: The Teaching Gap
Reflect on your own teaching experiences and identify areas where you can improve.

Attend a virtual study group

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Get support and feedback from fellow learners.

Browse courses on University Teaching

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Join an online study group relevant to the course.
Participate actively in discussions and share your insights.

Attend a workshop on effective assessment

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Gain practical strategies for designing and implementing effective assessments.

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Identify a workshop that aligns with your teaching needs.
Attend the workshop and actively engage in the activities.

Create a teaching portfolio

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Compile and showcase your teaching skills and experiences.

Browse courses on Curriculum Design

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Gather evidence of your teaching practices, such as lesson plans, student feedback, and course materials.
Organize the evidence into sections that demonstrate your strengths and areas for improvement.

Mentor a student teacher

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Share your knowledge and pengalaman with aspiring teachers.

Browse courses on Teaching and Learning

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Reach out to your department or local schools to find mentoring opportunities.
Provide guidance and support to the student teacher on teaching methods and classroom management.

Career center

Learners who complete University Teaching will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Postsecondary Teacher

A Postsecondary Teacher provides instruction and support to students enrolled in higher education programs. Oftentimes, Postsecondary Teachers lecture to students and provide interactive learning experiences. Graduates of University Teaching who become Postsecondary Teachers can contribute to the development of pedagogical strategies for successful teaching and learning.

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Instructional Designer

Instructional Designers develop, implement, and evaluate instructional programs, and learning materials to support effective student learning. Graduates of University Teaching who become Instructional Designers can use instructional design strategies to build an effective learning experience that caters to the needs of a specific audience.

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Education Consultant

An Education Consultant provides advice and support to educational institutions and organizations on a variety of issues related to teaching and learning. Graduates of University Teaching who become Education Consultants can offer expertise in university teaching practices to their clients.

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Curriculum Developer

A Curriculum Developer designs, develops, and implements educational programs. Graduates of University Teaching seeking to become a Curriculum Developer can leverage the knowledge and skills they gained from this course on curriculum design to create effective learning experiences.

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Dean

A Dean oversees the management of an academic unit. Graduates of University Teaching who become a Dean can provide support to faculty members seeking to enhance their teaching skills.

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Instructional Coach

An Instructional Coach provides support to teachers in improving their teaching practices. Graduates of University Teaching who become Instructional Coaches can use their knowledge of research evidence in relation to effective university teaching to support other educators.

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Learning Specialist

A Learning Specialist provides support to students with learning differences. Graduates of University Teaching who become Learning Specialists can use their understanding of effective teaching and learning to help meet the needs of students with diverse learning needs.

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Academic Advisor

An Academic Advisor provides academic and career counseling to students. Graduates of University Teaching who become Academic Advisors can apply their understanding of curriculum and instructional design to help students plan their academic careers.

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Instructional Technologist

An Instructional Technologist designs, develops, and implements instructional technologies. Graduates of University Teaching who seek to become Instructional Technologists can use their understanding of instructional design to improve the use of technology to support learning.

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Learning and Development Specialist

A Learning and Development Specialist develops and implements training programs for employees. Graduates of University Teaching who become Learning and Development Specialists can apply their knowledge of instructional design to create effective training materials.

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Educational Psychologist

An Educational Psychologist studies the psychology of learning and teaching. Graduates of University Teaching seeking to become an Educational Psychologist can use the knowledge they gain from their study of research evidence on effective teaching to inform their research and practice.

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Higher Education Administrator

A Higher Education Administrator manages the operations of an institution of higher education. Graduates of University Teaching who become Higher Education Administrators can use their understanding of teaching and learning to inform their decision-making.

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Educational Researcher

An Educational Researcher conducts research on teaching and learning. Graduates of University Teaching who become Educational Researchers can use their understanding of research methods to design and conduct research studies on effective teaching practices.

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Teacher Educator

A Teacher Educator prepares teachers to enter the profession.

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Chief Learning Officer

A Chief Learning Officer oversees the learning and development function of an organization.

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