2007 Annual report (PDF 8.1 Mb) - University of Melbourne

LEARNING &
teACHING
undergraduate students in 2007, there will
be a focus in 2008 on identifying graduatelevel
opportunities.
A detailed report on student exchanges is
set out in the International section of this
report on page 53.
The University has long supported the
study of languages through a series of
financial incentives to faculties. Although
the position and popularity of languages in
the Melbourne Model curriculum remains
uncertain, the University will introduce a
range of incentives to improve performance
in this regard. A new form of the Diploma
of Languages will be introduced from
2008. The final 50 points of the Diploma of
Languages will be exempt from HECS fees.
Enhance the quality of the
student experience through
improved services, IT and
physical infrastructure.
Student Portal/ E-Learning
Strategic priorities
> Implement online student portal
> Ensure ithat all first-year subjects are
available on LMS by end of the year
> Develop programs to support academic
staff in the innovative use of online
technologies
> Report on faculty progress in integrating
the University’s revised e-learning
strategy within core components of
undergraduate curriculum
Achievements
The provision of consistent and seamless
technologies and the infrastructure to
support learning is critical to the delivery
of an outstanding student experience
and to strengthening students’ sense of
community. This area remains a major
University activity and challenge.
The online student portal providing students
with ready access to email, timetables,
online learning tools, academic advice
and programs, library accounts and other
essential University services was officially
launched in March 2007. The student
portal forms part of the broader Student
System Project which will provide further
improvements in IT services to students
and staff as it is progressively implemented
during 2008.
A number of hardware and software
upgrades to the University’s Learning
Management System (LMS) during 2007
ensured that all first-year subjects were
available on the LMS by the end of 2007.
The next development within the LMS will
involve development of an e-portfolio tool,
an electronic tool which allows students to
compile and access information pertaining
to a broad range of activities, including
academic and non-academic achievements,
and to store this information for personal
or professional purposes. E-portfolios will
be piloted in selected undergraduate and
postgraduate degrees in 2008.
While refinement of the revised
e-learning strategy is still underway, there
has been substantial progress in 2007 in
supporting academic staff to develop online
coursework. Under the University’s new e-
learning policy (see pxxx) all undergraduate
subjects will have an online presence on the
LMS in 2008, and all postgraduate subjects
by 2010. E-learning is a crucial aspect of
all degrees, ensuring that students are well
equipped for life-long learning using online
and other technologies.
Infrastructure
Strategic priorities
> Ensure that learning and teaching capital
works priorities are aligned with the
Learning and Teaching Plan and reflected
in the University’s Masterplan
> Ensure that all high-use areas will have
wireless connection by the end of 2007
> Ensure that student hub/resource centre
is ready for the introduction of the
Melbourne Model
> Review and implement Academic Board
policy on infrastructure for postgraduate
students
Achievements
In 2007 the University continued intensive
planning and development for the necessary
student centres, classroom and laboratory
changes to support the implementation of
the Melbourne Model.
Indoor and outdoor social and informal
study spaces, including cafes, based
around a clustering of disciplines are an
essential part of the Melbourne Experience
of the future. The aim is to create warm
and welcoming spaces with 24/7 access,
where students have ready access to
information and services and opportunities
to relax and congregate with fellow
students. The spaces will be designed
to encourage students to spend more
time on campus, and to nurture a sense
of community among students as they
progress through their degree.
Design and development for the first
learning precinct, the Eastern Precinct,
is complete, with construction to be
completed late in 2008. The project
involves the redevelopment of three
existing sites: the ERC Library; the Frank
Tate Building; and the Plaza Conference
Centre to create the Eastern Resource
Centre, the Frank Tate Learning Centre and
the Science Student Centre.
The Science Student Centre will be integrated
within a learning precinct which combines
libraries, online resources and a series of
attractive, useful and flexible learning spaces
designed to accommodate students’ different
schedules and learning styles.
Meanwhile, redevelopment of the former
Chemistry West Lecture Theatre into a
distinctive, collaborative learning space was
completed in early 2007. This state-of-theart
teaching space is suitable for conducting
a large class but may be transformed into
separate teaching spaces, or pods. Its
facilities include data projectors, visualisers,
plasma screens, VCR/DVD players, PA
system, pod PCs and instructor PCs. Such
facilities will encourage staff to embrace the
range of possibilities for effective learning
in these spaces, particularly in relation to
large-group teaching.
Other improvements to the University’s
physical infrastructure to support learning
have included increased wireless internet
access on campus, and redevelopment of
the existing Engineering Library to create
two collaborative learning classrooms,
a student centre and student learning
lounges. Redevelopment of parts of the
Walter Boas building will partially address
the shortfall in office accommodation for
research higher degree students.
Outlook
In 2008 the University will welcome
the first student intake into the six new
Melbourne Model undergraduate degrees.
Ensuring a world class educational
Melbourne Experience for these students
and for all our students is a key objective
in 2008. There will be a particular focus on
monitoring transition and cohort experience
initiatives in the New Generation degrees.
The University will continue to provide
an international Melbourne Experience,
ensuring cultural diversity is as an integral
part of the cohort experience, and
increasing opportunities for students to
undertake study overseas.
Improvement of the quality of learning
and teaching across all faculties is an
ongoing, fundamental objective. The
University will monitor the satisfaction
of our undergraduate students as they
undertake cross-disciplinary subjects in
collaborative learning environments and
we will encourage them to gain a better
understanding of learning outcomes through
initiatives linking graduate attributes to
student understanding and assessment.
The University will respond to student
feedback, especially in relation to the
Course Experience Questionnaire.
To realise the full potential of the Melbourne
Model we will build more innovative
learning spaces and commence the next
stage in the development of the network of
precinct ‘learning centres’.
The University of Melbourne Annual Report 2007 41