Achievements & Highlights
Carolyn Rickett awarded 2011 Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning
Avondale congratulates Carolyn Rickett, Senior Lecturer, School of Humanities & Creative Arts on being selected to receive a 2011 Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning as part of the Australian Government's Australian Awards for University Teaching (AAUT) program managed by the Australian Learning and Teaching Council.Carolyn's Citation reads as follows: "For inspiring and innovative teaching methods that enable Communication students to develop confidence and participate in authentic learning experiences".
Carolyn will receive her Citation at a special national Citations and Awards ceremony to be held on 16 August 2011 at the Sydney Opera House.
Additionally, the prize includes Avondale College of Higher Education receiving $10,000 to be used specifically for advancing Carolyn's career, providing additional resources to support her teaching and assisting her to disseminate good practice in learning and teaching.
In 2010 Carolyn and Judith Beveridge (Guest Lecturer, School of Humanities & Creative Arts) received an Avondale Learning and Teaching Excellence Team Award for enhancing student learning in the Communication program (writing strand) by innovative curriculum approaches so that the theoretical is linked to authentic learning contexts. One key strategy in their approach has included developing strong links with industry and high profile experts so that students can directly access this level of expertise, collaboration and relationship
Updated Vision, Mission, Values and Graduate Attributes to be included in Avondale's Strategic Plan (August, 2010)
August 2010
A revised Avondale Strategic Plan has been drafted and feedback is being collated from relevant stakeholders. This document includes revised statements for Vision, Mission, Values and Graduate Attributes.
The revised Vision statement is proposed to read:
To be the preferred Christian private university in Australia.
The revised Mission statement is proposed to read:
To foster a Christian learning community that is founded on quality research-based higher education and prepares students for lives of service.
The revised Values statement is proposed to include five values, ie:
1. Nurture - Avondale seeks to encourage members of its learning community to realise their full potential, and to live full and joyful lives. In achieving this goal Avondale enhances social skills, values friendships and supports family relationships. It seeks to provide the guidance and nurture that will enable its students to respond intelligently to their own needs and to the needs of others.
2. Spirituality - Avondale values spirituality and believes that nothing is of greater significance than each person's relationship to God as Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer. Avondale invites all its staff and students to respond positively to God's invitation to commune with Him in prayer, worship, meditation, fellowship, study of the Bible and Sabbath rest.
3. Balance - Avondale values the sustainability of the earth and its people and believes that this can be achieved through balance. Learning to live a balanced life is based on living temperately and Avondale encourages this by providing a balanced program of spiritual growth, intellectual development, cultural enrichment, physical activity, relaxation and recreation. This program sustains Avondale's human resources. a balanced approach to budgeting and infrastructure management sustains Avondale's physical resources and the environment.
4. Excellence - Avondale accepts the challenge of discovering and sharing truth, of striving for excellence, and of fostering a creativity that blends individuality, wisdom and healthy self-evaluation. It promotes excellence in the higher education it offers, in the quality of the infrastructure it develops, and in the academic support services it provides.
5. Service - Avondale's motto, For a Greater Vision of World Needs challenges its learning community to a more informed understanding of humanitarian needs and responses, and to a greater commitment to fulfilling the needs of those less fortunate and in need of human care and support both in Australia and overseas.
The revised Graduate Attributes for Avondale graduates from coursework higher degrees are:
1. Are equipped to reflect creatively on the interface between Adventist Christian values and home, workplace and community.
2. Possess high ethical standards including an orientation to service
3. Are committed to human and environmental sustainability
4. Possess excellent and relevant professional employability skills
5. Enjoy a sense of individual worth
6. Lead confidently in their communities and workplaces
7. Possess relevant technology skills
8. Possess scholarly qualities and enthusiasm for their future lives and learning
9. Understand and respect cultural differences in people
10. Transfer their acquired knowledge to a variety of contexts
Launch of Avondale Sessional Teachers' Handbook (July 2010)
July 2010
This handbook provides advice and strategies for teaching at Avondale and was prepared specifically for Avondale teachers who are employed on a sessional, casual or short term basis. It provides a broad framework that can be used by sessional teachers to plan their teaching and to reflect on the role they play in supporting and influencing student learning. As well, it offers practical advice and strategies for the classroom. Insert link here
Inaugural Learning & Teaching Showcase - Semester 1 (May 2010)
27 May, 2010
On Thursday 27th May the Vice-President (Learning & Teaching) convened a Learning & Teaching Showcase in Lecture Theatre 2 on the Lake Macquarie Campus. Staff and/or students from across each of the six faculties featured in sharing vignettes of current or recent Learning & Teaching initiatives. These included:
- Vignette 1 (Arts) Daniel Reynaud & Maria NorthcoteDeveloping online learning and practice-based research - a state-of-theArts conversation
- Vignette 2 (Business) Lyn Daff & Michael BrownDeveloping a Budgeting application in Escel - a personal demonstration.
- Vignette 3 (Education) Jason HinzeUsing challenges to impart pedagogical knowledge in secondary education - a personal reflection.
- Vignette 4 (Nursing) Alison SmedleyEnhancing student clinical decision making skills - a clinical workshop strategy explained.
- Vignette 5 (Science) Kevin deBerg, sophie Lassila & Amanda KempPublishing an investigative biochemistry student project on Alcohol - our experience
- Vitnette 6 (Theology) Murray HouseProviding in-sermon and in-bible study feedback to students - what works and why
Updated Learning & Teaching-related policies (September 2010)
September 2010
Avondale's Learning and Teaching Committee has undertaken significant policy development work resulting in new or updated Learning & Teaching-related policies being recommended to Academic Board, including:
NEW POLICIES
Study Tour Unit Policy [A.38]
UPDATED POLICIES
Academic Integrity Policy [A.01]
Admission to Undergraduate Courses [A.02]
Advanced Standing and Credit Transfer [A.03]
Course and Unit Approval Procedure [A.08]
Examinations Policy [A.11]
Verification of Credentials and Qualifications [A.29]
Student:
Code of Conduct for Library Users [S.08]
Privacy Policy (Higher Ed)[G.05 S.04] (VET) [VS.10]
Student Grievance and Appeals Policy [Higher Ed S.03 G.21] [VET VS.01]
VET:
Fair Treatment of Students Policy (VET) [VG.01]
Review Procedures for Re-credit of FEE-HELP Balance (VET) [VG.01]
VET Provider Guidelines [VS.04]
UPDATED TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR)
Academic Board TOR [SC.01]
Academic Committee Organisation Chart
Academic IT Committee TOR [SC.20] (replaced ICT Subcommittee TOR)
Faculty Learning & Teaching Committee TOR [SC.05b]
More information
Further information is available by contacting the Office of the Vice-President (Learning & Teaching) by email: heather.butcher@avondale.edu.au or by telephone: +61 2 4980 2310.
