Minister to open Teaching and Learning conference

Minister to open National Teaching and Learning conference

This year’s key teaching and learning event for tertiary education teachers will be held at UCOL in Palmerston North this week.

The National Teaching and Learning Conference is sponsored by Ako Aotearoa, the National Centre for Tertiary Teaching Excellence. It will be opened by the Minister of Tertiary Education, Steven Joyce, at 9.30 a.m. on Wednesday 29 September.

UCOL’s Chief Executive Paul McElroy and Council Chair Trevor Goodwin will also speak.

This is the fourth National Teaching and Learning Conference: It is being held at UCOL for the second year running.

Conference Convenor Janet Walke says this year’s theme – The Learning Journey: Who’s in the Driver’s Seat? – reflects the importance of the roles of both teachers and learners in the tertiary education environment.

“It is an opportunity to discuss and learn more about strategies that lead to student success,” she says.

Janet says more than 100 people have enrolled for the conference. Participants will come from a wide range of tertiary institutions, most from institutes of technology and polytechnics but also from universities. Some representatives from Industry Training Organisations will also attend.

Janet says the theme of this year’s conference is an important one, given the increasing emphasis on student success in the tertiary education sector, expressed in the completion of qualifications.

Keynote speakers will address a range of topics including Maori student learning, the use of technology in teaching, and trades/apprenticeship learning.

• The first keynote speaker is Professor Sir Mason Durie, Professor of Māori Research and Development and Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Māori & Pasifika) at Massey University. He will present three case studies on Maori learner success. Wednesday 29 September, 3.00 – 3.45pm

• Tamati Waaka, Academic Advisor to the School of Iwi Development at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi, is the second keynote speaker. He has wide experience in the area of literacy and numeracy in tertiary and community education. Thursday 30 September, 9.00 – 10.00am
• Selena Chan, from the Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology has titled her keynote presentation, “Belonging, Becoming, Being”. She has a special interest in helping new tutors become good teachers, trades /apprenticeship learning and the use of ICT in tertiary teaching. Thursday 30 September, 1.00 – 2.00pm.
• The fourth speaker is Kirsty Weir, Research Manager at Ako Aotearoa, managing the National Project Fund and the Good Practice Publications Grant Scheme. Her areas of interest relate to research methodology and statistics, transitions from secondary to tertiary education, learner motivation and wellbeing. Friday 1 October, 9.00 – 9.45am

• Dr Billy O’Steen will deliver the fifth and closing keynote presentation on Friday. He is a Senior Lecturer in the College of Education at the University of Canterbury. Formerly with North Carolina State University, his teaching and research focus on curriculum design, tertiary education, and professional development with a particular emphasis on experiential education and service-learning. Friday 11.45 am 1 October.

For conference details, go www.ucol.ac.nz

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