Project Description

2012 ascilite Innovation and Excellence Award.
Design and implementation of the Flexible Learning Institute’s Teaching Fellowship Scheme which focused on curriculum design, distributive leadership and design-based research. The ascilite Innovation and Excellence Award was given “in recognition of outstanding innovation and excellence in the development of a major professional development initiative that promotes the exemplary and research informed use of technologies for teaching and learning in tertiary education.

Teaching Fellowship Scheme

The Flexible Learning Institute’s (FLI) Teaching Fellowship Program enhanced teaching and learning at Charles Sturt University using blended and flexible learning and utilising distributive leadership as a catalyst for curriculum change. The Teaching Fellowship Program engaged 26 Fellows across four faculties, 23 schools and nine different campuses.

A community of practice focused on peer learning assisted the Fellows in innovative redesign of courses/degree programs and subjects and in generating a number of outputs including presentations, publications and professional development in the scholarship of teaching and learning. Within their schools, teaching fellows widened the awareness of flexible and blended learning strategies through discussion, presentations, informal and formal dialogue. Schools and faculties benefited from innovative options in teaching and learning using blended and flexible learning, which benefited student learning.

The Program was planned with broad intent, its purposes including but not limited to the following aims:

  • The support and encouragement of the development of potential leaders across multiple levels and multiple areas of the university in line with the principles of distributive leadership.
  • The facilitation of collaborative professional relationships between the Flexible Learning Institute and the various schools and faculties and the strengthening of collaborative bonds between the schools themselves.
  • The proactive development of course and subject relevant blended learning systems at the university.
  • The specific promotion and facilitation of CSU Interact (in-house learning management system) as a pivotal teaching and learning hub.

The Teaching Fellowship Program achieved the development of potential leaders across multiple levels and multiple areas of the university in line with the principles of distributive leadership. It facilitated collaborative professional relationships between the Flexible Learning Institute and the various schools and faculties and the strengthening of collaborative bonds between the schools themselves. It achieved proactive development of course and subject relevant blended learning systems at the university.

The following YouTube videos were produced by the Flexible Learning Institute in relation to the Teaching Fellowship Program. The first video provides an overview, followed by individual case studies from nine Fellows.