SESSION 2A

Dimity Jane Wehr, Caroline Lunt, Kimberley Duncan & Joshua Dymock, Macquarie University International College
Engage, Empower and Evolve: using a teaching philosophy to create innovative curriculum

Abstract
Curriculum development can be influenced by many factors, including institutional strategies, accreditation requirements, the needs of the cohort and the mode of delivery. At Macquarie University International College (MUIC), our approach was ‘big picture’, encouraging those who were running the project to consider their assumptions around learning and teaching. By writing individual teaching philosophies and using these to develop an institution-wide learning and teaching philosophy, we developed a set of underlying principles that have guided our curriculum redevelopment project.

This session will look at how you can use your own personal teaching philosophy, or a broader learning and teaching vision, for a range of different purposes. This includes reflecting on your own teaching practice, developing curricula that better suit the needs of your institution, and designing and delivering professional staff development.

Bio
Macquarie University International College is part of Macquarie University and offers pathway programs to international and domestic students.

Dimity Jane Wehr is a Senior Learning Designer at MUIC and is currently project-managing MUIC’s Curriculum Redevelopment Project. She previously worked as a Learning Designer at Curtin University.

Caroline Lunt is the Academic Language and Learning Coordinator at MUIC and is currently helping to facilitate the Curriculum Redevelopment Project. Prior to this, she taught at both MUIC and the Macquarie University English Language Centre. Kimberley Duncan is the Program Manager for the Diplomas of Media & Communication, Engineering & Information Technology at MUIC. She has a background in teaching both Biology and English as a Second Language.

Joshua Dymock is the Manager of the Learning Skills Unit at Macquarie University. He was previously the Manager of Academic Language and Learning at MUIC and prior to that worked as a Lecturer in Academic Language and Learning at Charles Darwin University.