NICE HANDBOOK – Academic training of Career ... - Nice-network.eu

Figure 1. Average competences of staff in the areas of activities (N = 35) Figure 2. Average competences of staff in knowledge and understanding (N =35)Designing and planning of learning activities6,1The subject material5,9Designing a programme of study5,8Using appropriate methods forteaching and learning in the subject area6,0Teaching and/or supporting student learningAssessment and giving feedback to learnersDeveloping effective environments for studentsDeveloping student support and guidanceIntegration of scholarship, research andprofessionals activities with teaching5,5Evaluation of own practiceand professional development5,71 2 3 4 5 6 76,06,26,16,5Using appropriate methods of teachingand learning at the level of programmeKnowledge of how students learn, bothgenerally and in the speciic subjectThe use of appropriate learning technologiesUsing methods for evaluatingthe effectiveness of teachingEvaluating implications of quality assuranceand enhancement for professional practice5,35,25,55,95,81 2 3 4 5 6 7NICE HandbookLastly, a large majority of 83% are required to engage with research in their current positionwith most often 40-50% of the time allocated to such activities. Three quarters of the respondentsstate that they are currently involved in research projects or other income generation.The faculty members seem to produce about 2-3 articles, books or chapters a year in general.There is an equal split between those written in English for international audience and thosewritten in the native language intended for local dissemination. Few faculty members are extremelyproductive in terms of research but most seem to publish one study a year in a peerreviewed journal, if we look at those traditional research outlets specifically.Self-evaluation of teaching confidenceFigures 1-3 show the estimated teaching confidence in three main categories used in the UKstandards for higher education teachers. In general, the faculty members rate themselves inthe high confidence range of the scale developed for this study. First, if we take a look at thepart called ‘Areas of Activity’ in the standards (see figure 1), it does not come as a surprisethat the CGC educators feel most confident in the core activities of teaching that involve directcontact with students; such as designing learning activities, supporting students, guiding andgiving feedback through assessment. Their confidence is relatively lower in the designing ofstudy programmes, integration of research and teaching, and evaluation of their own practice.In the second part that focuses on knowledge and understanding (see figure 2), the staff feelmost confident in their knowledge about using appropriate methods for the subject matter,for the level of the programme and how students learn. Confidence in their knowledge of thesubject area is also rated relatively high, but when it comes to the use of appropriate learningtechnology and evaluation of the effectiveness of teaching they seem to feel less confident.In the third part, questions about adherence to professional values were grouped together (seefigure 3). It is clear that the faculty again are confident about their adherence to professionalvalues related to respecting the individual, diversity, and working towards equal opportunity.They also feel confident with their commitment to continued education, but less confidentin their adherence to values related to complex issues such as incorporation of research intoprofessional practice and the development of learning communities.Figure 3. Average competences of staff in regards to professional values (N = 34)Showing respect for individual learners 6,5Commitment to incorporating process & outputs ofresearch, scholarship and/or professional practiceCommitment to the developmentof learning communitiesCommitment to encouraging participation in highereducation, diversity and equal opportunitiesCommitment to continuing professionaldevelopment and evaluation of practice5,55,86,06,21 2 3 4 5 6 7Academic Training Approaches132 133