Poster 7

Title

Enhancing the design and delivery of breadth units

Author(s)

Gemma Lewis, Tasmanian School of Business and Economics
Sebastien Robin, College of Health and Medicine
Joanna Jones, Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture
Roger Latham, Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture
Sandra Murray, School of Health Science
Sophie Ross, College of Business and Economics
Anna Tayler, Student Retention and success
Graham Wood, School of Humanities

Subtheme

Excellent teaching happens by design

Presentation Type

Poster

Room

Sir Raymond Ferrall Centre Foyer

Time

14.15-14.45

Abstract

Breadth units provide our students with the skills and deep understanding to make a difference in their own lives and those of others (UTAS, 2018). Currently there are 38 breadth units offered at UTAS, and approximately 150 staff who have been involved with these units in some way. In May 2018, a peer learning circle of XBR unit coordinators and lecturers was formed to explore what challenges are associated with breadth units, and which of these are shared, versus unique to a unit, College or discipline. Such discussions are considered important given it has been four years since breadth units were first introduced, and during this time many changes at a central, school and unit level have taken place. Our aim was to identify how design and practice improvements can develop the teaching, student engagement, and administration of these highly-beneficial experiences. This poster will present some of the topics we have explored so far, and future actions we feel will strengthen this rich and diverse area of learning and teaching. Thus, the contents of our poster address how excellent teaching happens by design, and why excellent breadth unit teaching engages and encourages our students to learn. There is a blank space on our poster designed for delegates to post their own experiences and ideas. We hope that the thoughts of our peers may verify and extend our own thinking and inform the final outputs of our peer learning project.

References

UTAS. (2018). ‘Breadth units’ available at http://www.utas.edu.au/students/lead-achieve/breadth-units date accessed 11 September 2018.