Spheres of Influence: Ventures and Visions in Educational Development*

3-6 July, 2002
The University of Western Australia
Perth, Western Australia

Abstract

Is there an 'ideal' approach for academic development?

Anna Reid, Macquarie University, Australia

In the pursuit of the "university of quality", institutions have focused some of their attention on academic development. Some institutions favour a top down approach, where department heads are responsible for ensuring the quality of their unit through some form of department development program. Other institutions have established centralised units mostly responsible for the production of generic workshops and formal developmental programs. Yet other institutions favour the ripple effect that focuses on using interested department members to mentor others. In this paper, I explore another model. This model offers support for all levels of the academic community, making use of the individual professional experiences of the academic developer, academic research that supports quality in teaching, learning and research, and the universities' and faculties' strategic plans and directions. This paper explores the current climate of academic development in Australia and takes the view that real changes in the quality of academic work cannot take place unless an integrated conceptual change model is supported by individual institutions.

Key words:
Orientations for academic development; Disciplinary differences; Conceptual change

Anna Reid is a senior lecturer in the Centre for Professional development. She has focused on the areas of learning and teaching in higher education where she has been involved with the development of formal and informal professional development experiences for academic staff members; research in the field of higher education specialising in conceptions of teaching and learning, group work, work- based learning, flexible learning, assessment and evaluation, environmental sustainability and internationalisation; and academic leadership where she has worked with several university wide committees and implemented/evaluated strategic initiatives within faculties.

Contact: Anna Reid, email: Anna.Reid@mq.edu.au