“Student success – in all dimensions of their experience ...mams.rmit.edu.au/xx2pxkhebpda1.pdf · “Student success – in all dimensions of their experience – is the paramount

Media and Screenwriting graduate Julian Lucas (centre) winner of 2014 Tropfest. (Pictured with Adam Spencer and Kat Stewart.)

Student success in all dimensions of their experience is the paramount concern.

(McInnis, Ramsden & Maconachie, 2012, p.9)

School of Media and Communication

Learning & Teaching Report: 14 Dec 2014

Associate Professor Fiona Peterson Deputy Dean, Learning and Teaching

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Contents Summary 3 Program Development 4 Teaching Awards 5 Grants 6-9 Publications and Presentations 10 WIL, Mobility and Employability 10-12 Student Experience / Inclusion Initiatives 13 Professional Development 13-16 Development of Processes 16

This report was prepared by:

Associate Professor Fiona Peterson Deputy Dean, Learning and Teaching School of Media and Communication with input from Bronwyn Clarke, Suzana Janko, Dr Marianne Sison, Clare Renner, and Associate Professors Lisa French, Laurene Vaughan and Peter Ling 14 December 2014 Reference: McInnis, C., Ramsden, P., & Maconachie, D. (2012). A handbook for executive leadership of learning and teaching in higher education. Sydney: Office for Learning and Teaching.




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1. SUMMARY

In addition to the Program Annual Review, which is a significant milestone in the learning and teaching calendar, the key activities in 2014 were to:

1) renew our HE program suite, ensure AQF requirements, focus on employability

2) recognise excellence, build L&T research and scholarship 3) foster excellence, innovation, integrated scholarship, global

learning by design 4) refresh articulation agreements with strong pathways 5) improve student satisfaction through all these initiatives and

closing the loop.

The Learning and Teaching Committee, with the College, oversaw 10 Bachelor program amendments; 2 accelerated plans, 1 Vietnam program and one Master program amendment; 5 new Master programs (and two more in progress); 1 new Vietnam Diploma; 6 program Discontinuances; and AQF amendment of 2 Graduate Diplomas and 1 Honours program! Courses were opened up as School electives, while the number of Bachelor degree courses was reduced overall in line with the parameters set in 2012. Staff won prestigious teaching awards, including one national OLT Citation, one RMIT Vietnam award, four RMIT University Melbourne awards and one commendation. Proposals have been submitted for national OLT funded projects. We were successful in funding bids for EU-Mobility (via School International), LTIF, RVPDF, PDF, Global Learning by Design, and VE Development projects. Online courses included VE and postgraduate with College support. Publications continued for the Belonging team, and there were many wonderful examples of an inclusive teaching philosophy in action. All programs in the School explored integrated scholarship and the concept of larger / studio courses. Professional development initiatives spanned global learning by design at the School L&T forum and the Program Managers Retreat; connected studio and Google + workshops; Part B course guide workshops for MC2015 developed from an LTIF project; and teaching and assessment in the studio model with our Visiting International Professor from UAL. Articulation agreements were renewed including offshore, through VE and HE collaboration and the School international portfolio. Employability was a special focus, with numerous University-supported initiatives across the School (see pp.10-12) There is always room for improvement in Quality in the external surveys, in relation to the national field. External survey results are not yet available for 2014. In 2013, for example, the national survey of 2012 graduates showed our HE domestic GTS down very slightly (by less than 1%): HE domestic GTS 67.8% and INTON GTS 71.0%. Monitoring of trends in PAR data is essential at program level, with action plans for improving. RMIT internal surveys (CES, SES) in 2014 provide more recent data (see below), with most trending up.

CES = RMIT Course Experience Survey (individual course level) GTS = Good Teaching Scale SES = RMIT Student Experience Survey (program level) OSI = Overall Satisfaction Index

VE CES

GTS: 85.0% (2012), 82.6% (2013), 85.9% (2014)

OSI: 80.8% (2012), 77.9% (2013), 80.1% (2014)

HE CES

GTS: 71.0% (2012), 73.1% (2013), 77.4% (2014)

OSI: 70.7% (2012), 73.1% (2013), 78.1% (2014)

VE SES

GTS: 81.3% (2012), 79.3% (2013), 78.0% (2014)

OSI: 79.5% (2012), 79.7% (2013), 75.6% (2014)

HE SES

GTS: 58.8% (2012), 56.2% (2013), 60.3% (2014)

OSI: 72.2% (2012), 70.3% (2013), 70.2% (2014)




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2. PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT MC2015 Program Amendments approved in 2014 for 10 Bachelor degrees, and work is underway for

delivery of the new program structures in 2015.

o Leo Berkeley, Program Managers and Teams, Ruth Moeller, Pam Trannore, Martyn Hook, Fiona Peterson, Diana Stonefield, Marianne Sison, Lisa French, Peter Ling, Laurene Vaughan, Bronwyn Clarke, Suzana Janko, Dalida Elias

o The amendments also include offshore

delivery in multiple locations, and accelerated plans for two programs.

o Transitions for MC2015 required a huge team effort including both academic and professional staff.

o Minors in Journalism, Communication and

Advertising (offered to the College of Business) were also addressed, within the raft of program changes.

o Preliminary work has been done for Vietnam delivery of the BComm Advertising (Tim Costigan, Julie Bilby, Peter Ling).

Masters New programs, major changes, and amendment approved in 2014 for 2015 delivery. Work is

underway planning for delivery of the new and changed programs next year.

o Fiona Peterson, Diana Stonefield, Program Managers and Teams, Ruth Moeller, Pam Trannore, Martyn Hook, Marianne Sison, Laurene Vaughan, Bronwyn Clarke, Peter Ling, Lisa French, Suzana Janko

o Major changes to three Masters programs (M Comm Design, M Advertising, M Communication existing Masters changed to 2 years)

o New 2-year programs approved M Animation, Games & Interactivity, and M Design Futures.

o New program in development M Writing and Publishing.

o Discontinuances of all 18-month Masters programs (including OUA); and Grad Dip Graphic Design and Grad Dip Public Relations.

o Amendment to M Media

New Diploma of Design (Digital Media) in Vietnam approved for Vietnam, commencing Semester 1, 2015 (Don Gordon Vietnam, Adam Nash, Laurene Vaughan, Ruth Moeller, Leo Berkeley)

AQF compliance for B Media and Communication (Honours), Grad Dip Journalism, Grad Dip Editing and Publishing (Ruth Moeller with Program Managers/teams)




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3. TEACHING AWARDS The following staff member received a national Office for Learning and Teaching Citation Award in 2014: For sustained excellence in fostering independent, discovery-based learning in media and communication with a diverse cohort through student centred curriculum, assessment and feedback strategies.

Allan Thomas

Dr Foula Kopanidis (third from left), Mr Allan James Thomas (second from right), among other representatives from RMIT at the awards ceremony in Melbourne recently.

RMIT

The following staff received University Teaching Awards in 2014:

Vietnam Teaching Awards: For excellence in learning and teaching Professional Communication program

Linda Nguyen

Teaching Excellence Priority area High impact strategies for progression, retention and attainment, Higher Education For teaching strategies that impact on progression, retention and attainment in the Journalism Program by inspiring enthusiasm for journalism theory and practice among first-year students.

Josie Vine

Outstanding Sessional Teaching Award, Higher Education For commitment to supporting creative writing students to develop their distinctive voice, work at the craft of writing, and find life-long joy in creating stories.

Toni Jordan

Program award Flexible Learning and Teaching For embedding flexibility into educational resources, teaching methods and literacy skills to support the diverse needs of students learning about the music industry.

Shelley Brunt

Program award Postgraduate Education For enhancing the research training experience and improving the research outcomes of Creative Writing HDR candidates, by implementing and leading a community of peer-to-peer learners.

Craig Batty

AND THE FOLLOWING STAFF RECEIVED A COMMENDATION: Teaching Excellence Early Career Teacher / Trainer of the Year, Vocational Education For the innovation and successful implementation of the iBelong Photography taster program, alongside their commitment to teaching photography within the School of Media and Communication (VE).

Jessie DiBlasi and Janelle Low




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4. GRANTS VE Development Grant The Global Screenwriter, The Global Teacher Applied research and training project designed to develop expertise in contextualising units of competency and creating training resources with a global focus Noel Maloney $15,000 Mobility projects through the School International portfolio 2014: Stephen Skok: Battambang Study Tour - $21,500 Awarded: 10 student scholarships ($20,000); 1 project facilitation ($1500) Bruce Berryman: Interdisciplinary Communication Project - $21500 Awarded: 10 student scholarships ($20,000); 1 project facilitation ($1500) Alex Wake: ACICIS Short-term study in Indonesia (Journalism) ($20,000) Awarded: 10 student scholarships ($20,000) Alex Wake: Journalism Internship - Myanmar, Cambodia, Timor Leste ($13,500) Awarded: 6 student scholarships ($12,000); 1 project facilitation ($1500) Successful 2014 external grant applications EU-Australia Joint Mobility Grant through School International As highlighted in the School International report (Marianne Sison): with University of the Arts London (UAL) London College of Communication, the Danish School of Media and Journalism, and QUT, we as Australian Lead secured a grant to fund student and staff mobility between London, Melbourne, Copenhagen and Brisbane based on interactive design. Australian Academic Lead: Laurene Vaughan 180,000 euro for the project across four institutions




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2014 National category 1 research grant full proposal submitted for 2015 Office for Learning and Teaching

Global employability and creative practice pedagogy futures (full proposal) The aim of this project is to develop leadership capacity for innovation and distinctiveness, through creative practice, for the future world of work. This will be achieved by fostering agility, creativity and connectedness as employability skills, in a professionally networked learning model developed with industry, for systematic and scalable implementation across institutional and national borders. Project Leader: Fiona Peterson (RMIT) Project Team: Louise McWhinnie (University of Technology Sydney), Graham Forsyth (University of New South Wales), Noel Frankham (University of Tasmania), Rick Bennett (RMIT Vietnam), Susan Orr and Chris Follows (University of the Arts London) $344,607 2014 National category 1 research grant expression of interest submitted Office for Learning and Teaching EOI for 2016 Academic-Employer Co-created Assessment for the Creative Industries The aim of this project is to develop a framework and protocols for academic-employer co-created assessment in the creative industry disciplines. Assessment tasks will be embedded at key strategic points in whole of program lifecycles. The project will build reciprocal and collaborative relationships between employers, industry and professional bodies and higher education institutions, educators, and students. Project Leader: Bronwyn Clarke (RMIT) Project Team: Rachel Wilson, Terry Johal, Natalie Araujo (RMIT), Sue Trinidad (Curtin University), Angela Carbone (Monash University) and Martin Harris (UTas) (budget not submitted with EOI) Application submitted, unsuccessful Office for Learning and Teaching Open-Source Studio: a lightweight platform for virtual studio critiques in design education Using participant action research and an agile approach to software development, this project aimed to develop an open-source platform for web-based studio critique sessions, aka crit sessions, in design learning and teaching in the higher education sector. Project Leader: Brad Haylock Project Team: Jeremy Yuille (RMIT), Deb Polsen (QUT) and Steve Kelley (UniSA)




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2014 externally funded project Office for Learning and Teaching

Developing graduate employability through partnerships with industry and professional organisations The framework developed will map the key influences on graduate employability as experienced by students, graduates, employers, employer representatives and teachers. Project Leader: Margaret Jollands (RMIT) Project Team: Angela Carbone, Monash University, Bronwyn Clarke, Danilla Grando, Margaret Hamilton, Sophia Xenos (RMIT) $250,800 (income to School of Media and Communication $7,585) 2014 RMIT funded projects LTIF Global at home: At home in the global A framework for embedding global competencies across the curriculum at home Project Leaders: Bronwyn Clarke and Rachel Wilson LTIF $125,238 AND HEPPP Funding of $55,000 for 2014 AND Property Services $39,000 for additional work in Atelier space Vietnam Program Development Fund (RVPDF) Bachelor of Communication (Advertising) Tim Costigan, Vietnam $29,770 Development of Collaborative Delivery of Foundation and Capstone Courses within the Professional Communication Program Bruce Berryman $15,360 Program Development Fund (PDF) Global Excellence: Connected Studios. Online development of the MC130 Master of Advertising program

Peter Ling $50,000

2014 Building 9 Level 1 refurbishment of facilities: Radio Theatre




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Successful 2014 RMIT grant applications LTIF The Language of Design Development and dissemination of a model and resources to support a lexicon for design. Project Leaders: Adam Nash, Laurene Vaughan and Ruth Moeller $45,798 Global Learning by Design Virtual WIL and Employability for the Creative Industries This project is focused on exploring virtual WIL in the Digital Media degree, in both Melbourne and Vietnam. Project Leaders: Laurene Vaughan and Leo Berkeley $19,000 Learning & Teaching for Sustainability: Teaching Fellowship

Designing future designers: Pedagogy of building capacity in designing for complex social and environmental issues The proposal builds on a course piloted with final year Communication Design students in 1st semester 2014. Developed in partnership with Oxfams Design for Change program, students designed communication strategies to engage Australian youth on climate change and food security. Teaching Fellow: Yoko Akama VCE funding

Development of prototype for connected studio model Project Leaders: Marius Foley, Blair Wilde RMIT Vietnam Program Development Fund (RVPDF) application (under review) Collaborative program development between Vietnam and Melbourne

Project Leader: Tim Costigan, Vietnam $40,925




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5. PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS Journal Articles

Arajo, N., Carlin, D., Clarke, B., Morieson, L., Lukas, K., & Wilson, R. (2014). Belonging in the first year: A creative discipline cohort case study. The International Journal of the First Year in Higher Education, 5(2). Available online at: https://fyhejournal.com/article/view/240 (last accessed 7 December 2014).

Arajo, N., Clarke, B., Morieson, L., Lukas, K., & Wilson, R. (2015). Disconnections and connections in the first year experience: The case of the Belonging Project. The Journal of Higher Education.

Conference Paper

Arajo, N., Clarke, B., & Wilson, R. (2014). The global at home, at home in the global. In Proceedings of Philosophy of Education Society of Australasia (PESA) Conference, Hamilton, New Zealand, 22-25 November.

Report

Wilson, R., Clarke, B., Carlin, D., Arajo, N., Lukas, K., & Shand, L. 2013-14 Report: Focus on the Interdisciplinary Experience, RMIT University.

Presentation

Shelley Brunt (Music Industries) was an L&T presenter and mentor at the University of Western Sydney. 6. WIL, Mobility and Employability Through the International portfolio of the School and highlighted on the RMIT website, thirteen BComm (Journalism) students achieved placements in Indonesia, Japan and South Korea, supported by the Australia Japan Foundation (AJF), the Australia-Korea Foundation (AKF) and the Australian Consortium for "In-Country" Indonesian Studies (ACICIS). (Marianne Sison, Alex Wake, Antonio Castillo).

The VE cluster has negotiated professional partnerships such as Limelight Studios in Shanghai, together with ongoing successful study tours such as the Battambang Study Tour (Stephen Skok).

The LTIF and Mobility funded project Global at Home: At Home in the Global has been supported by Learning and Teaching and International areas. A case study has been developed on the International Communication Project course, which involved Vietnam and Melbourne students and industry (leaders Bronwyn Clarke, Rachel Wilson). Interventions were designed to help students develop intercultural skills and knowledge, through phased experiences At Home in local contexts. A further Mobility grant will extend this work in 2015.

A Category 1 research grant full proposal, and another expression of interest, have been submitted to the national Office for Learning and Teaching for Innovation and Development, focused on employability skills (both under review see Grants section).

Journalism students going on exchange in 2015




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VE initiatives include development of a practical, skills based elective taught by VE teachers into HE (Diploma of Photo Imaging in BComm Design); and successful shared community projects e.g. students working with SLV on Somali refugee stories / Screenwriting collaborative short films One Minute to Go. A HE and VE initiative is development of industry partnered opportunities for students e.g. the WrICE Project. A 3-way partnership was developed with Affirm Press, Writers Victoria and RMIT to create a WRAP award. Commercial opportunities were encouraged for current VE students within RMIT in their field of training e.g. Editing course materials were developed for the Department of Defence.

Through the Learning and Teaching Committee, in collaboration with the University Career Development and Employment area, numerous School Cluster activities in 2014 have included:

a) Workshop Delivery: Bachelor of Communication (Journalism) - Writing Resumes and Cover Letters, Alex Wake (2 workshops) School of Media and Communications - New Student Induction Session, CD&E Services and Resources

Overview, Wendy Little Associate Degree in Professional Writing and Editing 2nd Year, Writing Resumes Cover letters and Key

Selection Criteria, Liz Steele Advanced Diploma of Professional Screenwriting, COMM7314 Work as an independent screenwriter,

Career Planning Workshop, Cameron Clarke Bachelor of Arts (Creative Writing), COMM2399 The Business of Writing, Employability and Career

Planning Workshop, Ronnie Scott/Bonny Cassidy Associate Degree in Professional Writing and Editing, Group interview workshops, Liz Steele (4

workshops)

b) Mentoring: 18 mentor/mentee matches, Alumni Mentoring Program 5 mentor/mentee matches, Pride Mentoring Program 6 mentor/mentee matches, Global Mentoring Program 3 Melbourne based Journalism students have participated in the Global Ambassador Mentoring session

with Robert Thomson, CEO of NewsCorp, New York. 2 more sessions scheduled to take place in early and mid-2015

c) Employer Engagement:

Entrepreneurship Week Creative Industries Panel Launch into Entrepreneurship seminar Grant Ready - exploring grants available

Leadership Week Choosing the Road Less Travelled seminar Linkedin seminar

VE Somali stories




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Global Careers Week Job Ready seminar - How international students can gain a career start in Australia IELTS Test Preparation workshop Korean Job Fair Graduan Careers Fair Internship and job search strategies for international students seminar Study and post study visa options for international students seminar Internship opportunities for communications students. Includes sourcing and selecting students for

employers o DGM Creative Cast o Artisan caramel producer

d) Career Health Check: Distribution of CHC information to Honours level students in B. Media and Communication (Hons) program students via Adrian Miles

e) Consultation: Meeting with Adam Nash Program Manager-Bachelor of Design (Digital Media) regarding needs for the

future around WIL and other CD&E support. Consulting with Jenny Weight Program Manager M Media regarding CD&E support to the development of

the new course COMM2681 Media Career Development for Semester 1, 2015 Liaising with Shelley Brunt/Brian Morris re careers assistance with the BA Music Industry & BComm

Media degree. Meeting with Cameron Clarke in VE re careers support. Meeting with David Carlin and his team in BA Creative Writing re career support.

f) Professional Development: Alex Syndikas (BA Photography) and Natalie Araujo (Belonging Project) attended DevelopMe workshop

run by Career Development Learning on How to prepare your student to be locally and globally work ready within your established curriculum

g) Targeted Emails: 20 targeted email requests have been received by external employers offering employment opportunities to

Media and Communication students

h) RMIT LEAD Program: 18 Media & Communications students received LEAD certificate in 2014. Students actively involved in RMIT Link Arts & Culture (LEAD accredited Program) and held voluntary

positions such as Project Manager of Visible Ink, Managing Editor of Visible Ink, Editor/Grants Manager, President of Arts Council, and President of GORE Journal.

3 Student Staff Consultative Committee (SSCC) representatives




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7. Student Experience / Inclusion Initiatives The Belonging Project has worked extensively over the past three years to embed and expand the iBelong Project within the School. The program aims to introduce students to the possibilities of tertiary study and of working in the creative industries.

In VE, Photo Imaging and Screen and Media staff work with the Equity and Diversity unit to run I Belong in Creative Industries which is a five day program for Years 9 and 10 SNAP secondary school students from Mount Erin Secondary College and Thomastown Secondary College. Using the School's industry standard equipment and software, students explore photography and video making, drawing on the City of Melbourne as their inspiration. In December we had the second round for the year of iBelong opportunities for students to gain experience of the Communication degree programs

Jessie DiBlasi and Janelle Low, teachers in VE, received a commendation in this year's teaching awards for the innovation and successful implementation of the iBelong Photography taster program, alongside their commitment to teaching photography within the School of Media and Communication.

In HE Creative Writing, for example, Jessica Wilkinson has also developed the Cohort Day Out model and first year assessments with the Belonging Project, to assist diverse student groups. This has been documented as best practice and disseminated through the International Journal of First Year Higher Education. The Belonging Project Model has informed many of the MC2015 program developments. This has also been disseminated in the International Journal of First Year Higher Education, focusing on social inclusion of students from diverse backgrounds.

Josie Vine in HE Journalism won a University Teaching Award. She has been working with the Study and Learning Centre to develop a set of resources to better assist growing diversity within the program. This was initiated from the work the Journalism program undertook with Knowing your Cohort workshops that Ruth Moller, Terry Johal and Bronwyn Clarke have been running for many programs as part of MC2015 curriculum changes. This was also developed from the First Things First LTIF framework project to inform curriculum design to better support pathways of students at any entry point into a program from diverse backgrounds, including disadvantaged, VE to HE, undergraduate, and into industry.

An indigenous student will complete the BComm (Media) program this year after a long period of study in challenging circumstances. Paul Ritchard, Rachel Wilson and Shelley Brunt have worked to support this student within their studies through to successful completion this year, which is a credit to the student, the program team and the curriculum design.

8. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Ruth Moeller Ruth, our Senior Learning and Teaching Adviser from the College, makes a huge difference across the School. We would very much like to acknowledge her role in professional development and so many of our L&T Achievements (and to clone her).

School L&T forum: global by design Are our students ready for work or further study in international settings? How does technology help? How does this work in studio teaching? This was a team effort, planned by Fiona Peterson, facilitated by Lisa French, and interactive presentations by Lisa Dethridge, Terry Johal, Bronwyn Clarke and Adam Nash.

2014 Building 9 Level 1 refurbishment of facilities: Deans Screens




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L&T Leadership Annual Retreat: 15/16 May Integrated scholarship and global learning by design was the umbrella theme of this years Program Managers Retreat (again a team effort, planned and facilitated by Fiona Peterson with the other School Executives and Program Managers).

The Retreat and the earlier global by design L&T forum built on the program changes just approved in HE, as well as the program enhancements underway in VE.

Progress was made in interpreting what integrated scholarship is and could be in our programs. Colleagues had a firmer base to develop the integrated scholarship concept on the ground for 24 cp/studio courses, including the international/online studio, capstone and online WIL ideas. Some great examples were put forward to combine these activities, such as a global publishing house. These aspects are highlighted in the implementation phase of MC2015.

Online Learning and Teaching The Connected Studios project has continued this year with Marius Foley as the e-learning group convenor, with support from Karen Carter and members across the School. Karen Carter has also worked to resolve BlackBoard functionality issues and prepared issues papers for the School.

Pilots have included a number of postgraduate courses including Professional Practice, with contributions by course coordinator Kerin Elsum.

In VE, two fully online courses were implemented successfully in Dip PWE (Bus): Editing (120 hr unit) and Working as a Freelancer (30 hr unit).

Presentations on the Connected Studios project were popular, with over 70 people attending.

Further workshops have been held on using Google+ led by Marius Foley again with strong engagement of staff.

LTIF outputs: First thing first: transition and transformation workshops Bronwyn Clarke, Terry Johal and Ruth Moeller ran workshops and provided templates on the framework developed from last years LTIF to assist undergraduate programs with Part B course guide MC2015 developments.

The Belonging Project Rachel Wilson and Bronwyn Clarke, on behalf of the Belonging Project, participated in the RMIT video submission for the NAFSA - an international education conference in the USA in May this year where there were 10,000 attendees. The theme of the video submission was: Promoting pathways to global competence. Specifically, How do our global connections enhance the learning experience at our institution for a broad numbers of students, even those who cannot study abroad?

Peer Partnerships Suzie Zezula and Eddie Javier are the enthusiastic School champions for the Universitys Peer Partnership program, which encourages colleagues to engage in peer mentoring for their teaching. A breakfast meeting was held for staff and we hope to build further partnerships in 2014, following the successful pilots so far. Peer Partnerships are an excellent way to share and develop good practice.

In addition, four staff in the School are University Peer Reviewers of Teaching (Lisa French, Leo Berkeley, Clare Renner and Fiona Peterson).

http://www.rmit.edu.au/redirect?URL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DL%255FYpave2Sy0%26feature%3Dyoutu.behttp://www.rmit.edu.au/redirect?URL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DL%255FYpave2Sy0%26feature%3Dyoutu.be




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Sessional Thank You afternoon tea December marked a huge thank you to our sessional teaching staff, hosted by Leo Berkeley. Interactive professional development snapshots were provided by Ruth Moeller from the College, Amy Saunders from the Library, and Barbara Morgan from the Study and Learning Centre.

We have a large number of sessional staff and appreciate all the work in program teams throughout the year. Thanks to the College for all their initiatives over the last 18 months to support sessional staff in collaboration with the School.

Visiting International Professor Learning and Teaching Fiona Peterson hosted a Visiting International Professor in the School, from November 10-12, 2014. Professor Susan Orr, Dean of Learning, Teaching and Enhancement at the University of the Arts London, met the School Executive and University leaders. Susan worked with Fiona Peterson on a learning and teaching research project, which included meetings in Sydney with project partners at UNSW and UTS.

Susan led three seminars in the School, jointly hosted by the Learning and Teaching Committee with the Centre for Communication, Politics and Culture:

a) MC2015 Creative Practice Studio Assessment Plans Seminar for Program Managers (or nominees) planning for the MC2015 launch with Visiting International Professor Susan Orr, who shared her insights on assessment scholarship in the Creative Arts. The aim of the session was to provide feedback on MC2015 integrated scholarship assessment plans.

b) The binary patchwork: teaching and learning in art and design Susan surfaced the rich territory of creative practice teaching and learning by casting a light on the decisions lecturers and students make daily when they embark on the co- production of a creative education. It is an art and design truth that it is all about the work. Susan broadened a definition of the work to include our creative teaching work.

c) Publishing/scholarship of teaching and learning The development in her research interests (all situated within the umbrella of creative practice pedagogy) has necessitated the deployment of a range of methodological approaches, which she discussed briefly. The key question she asked was: what are you curious about in your teaching and how would this curiosity propel your pedagogic enquiry?

International Visitors International visiting Professors engaged with students and staff in the Media cluster (e.g. Professor Vitone from St Edwards, Texas; and Professor Jason Stanyek from the University of Oxford, UK).

A study tour on L&T innovation was hosted by Fiona Peterson for Catriona Tedford, at the request of Professor Craig Mahoney, Vice Chancellor, University of the West of Scotland.




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National Office for Learning and Teaching Research Project A significant way to end the year was the National Forum held at RMIT on 27 November 2014, sponsored by the OLT funded project Developing graduate employability through partnerships with industry and professional organisations. The National Forum included keynotes Professor Geoff Scott and Dr Ruth Bridgstock; interactive sessions with recent graduates and a student; and panel discussion by representatives of industry accreditation bodies and professional associations.

Earlier in 2014 the project had an Industry Breakfast Forum to assist project institutional partners RMIT, Monash and USQ in developing a graduate employability strategy.

This Forum captured perceptions, ideas and knowledge of the key issues on producing work ready graduates from the industry perspectives. Media and Communication was one of the Disciplines represented at this breakfast.

Total funding for this OLT project is $250,800 (leader Margaret Jollands, RMIT). Bronwyn Clarke, Media and Communication, is a team member. The aim of the project is to develop ways for students to best improve their generic skills and their teachers to fully understand the employer and client (in the case of self-employment) needs and expectations. 9. DEVELOPMENT OF PROCESSES

The process developed by the School in collaboration with the Academic Registrars Group (ARG), for Course Advisory Committees and Program Assessment Boards, has been successful. We are reflecting on the strengths and opportunities for continuous improvement (Bernadette Mazzarella, Romy Kelly, Suzana Janko, 2014).

Selection processes supported by Bronwyn Clarke continued to evolve a huge thanks to Bronwyn. The M Communication and M Advertising are now supported by the Universitys central admissions team.

VE in the School has worked with ODVE in 2014 on the possibility of trimester delivery. This has led to the Dip PWE (Bus) being part of a 2015 ARG pilot for rolling admissions and enrolments (PWE team/professional staff).

Romy Kelly has developed a visual method for reporting on student feedback issues and patterns, based on Student Staff Consultative Committee minutes. This will be helpful for the Schools annual report on SSCCs and will inform Closing the Loop with students at the first SSCC meeting in each program in 2015. Bernadette, Romy and ARG have also unpacked the new Grade Amendment Procedure for the School.

The Discovery phase for the Global WIL Project In-Place occurred with Program Managers and WIL course coordinators in 2014, in preparation for deployment in 2015. Suzana Janko has liaised with the University project team. We acknowledge the role of Suzana and all our professional staff, in supporting learning and teaching across the School.

A special thanks to all Program Managers, Course Coordinators, Teaching Staff, Professional Staff, and the School Learning and Teaching Committee.

Our student and staff achievements are also highlighted in: School staff bulletins and the Media and Comm Briefing newsletter.

http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=ox4xs0slrxxehttp://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=y0d8kfbudqcmz

Ruth MoellerSchool L&T forum: global by designL&T Leadership Annual Retreat: 15/16 MayOnline Learning and TeachingLTIF outputs: First thing first: transition and transformation workshopsThe Belonging ProjectPeer PartnershipsSessional Thank You afternoon teaVisiting International Professor Learning and Teachinga) MC2015 Creative Practice Studio Assessment Plansb) The binary patchwork: teaching and learning in art and designc) Publishing/scholarship of teaching and learningInternational VisitorsNational Office for Learning and Teaching Research Project

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