UNE will be hosting its first Virtual Learning and Teaching Symposium next month. This all-day, fully online event will be held on Thursday 30th July. “The symposium is an great opportunity for the UNE community to come together and share innovative practice in these challenging times”, said LaTT Director, Professor Steven Warburton.

The symposium will be built around three key themes: Designed for Online, Alternative Assessment, and Supporting Student Success. A range of UNE presenters will explore the challenges and opportunities of moving to fully online delivery. “The sudden shift to fully online meant that colleagues had to quickly adapt to business as unusual”, said Program Director, Academic Development, Mitch Parkes, “This symposium gives UNE colleagues the opportunity to share some unique solutions to the challenges they faced”. 

There will also be a number of external speakers at the symposium presenting on a range of topics, such as online learning design, work integrated learning and learning analytics. “By presenting a range of ideas and strategies from inside and outside of UNE, one of the aims of the symposium is to have colleagues explore and reflect on their current teaching practice and think about what things they might do differently in the future”, says Steven.

As part of the symposium, there will be the opportunity to explore a range of learning technologies. This includes Pedestal 3D (for the display and manipulation of three-dimensional content), and UNE’s Second Life space – Australis 4 Learning, which boasts, among other things, six schools, several playgrounds, a staff room, laboratory and a library.

The symposium is part of UNE’s focus on the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. “An event like this is a good way to showcase quality teaching practices at UNE”, said Provost & Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor Todd Walker, “I encourage all staff to register for this symposium”.

The Learning and Teaching Symposium website with the symposium schedule and information on presenters will be opening soon. Staff will be able to register their attendance through this website. Attendance will be free, and staff can attend all or any number of sessions that they wish.