Peer-assisted teaching gets funding boost
Associate Professor Angela Carbone (left) and Dr Jo-Anne Kelder
The Monash-developed Peer Assisted Teaching Scheme (PATS) has received new federal government funding.
Dr Jo-Anne Kelder, lecturer in learning and teaching quality at the University of Tasmania, was recently awarded an Office of Learning and Teaching extension grant to adapt and extend PATS for varying contexts, needs and desired outcomes.
A key goal of Dr Kelder’s project is the creation of a guide to implementing PATS, which will feature case studies from all five of the project’s partner universities: the University of Tasmania, Swinburne University, the University of Newcastle, the University of the Sunshine Coast and Victoria University.
Associate Professor Angela Carbone, from the Office of the Pro Vice-Provost (Learning and Teaching), developed the original pilot program in 2009 and will be an adviser on the project team.
“I am looking forward to helping shape the next generation of PATS, as well as tailoring the scheme for the needs of other institutions throughout Australia,” Associate Professor Carbone said.
PATS aims to inform and equip academics with skills and strategies to reinvigorate their teaching programs. It also provides opportunities for teachers to share ideas, discuss improvements and develop future educational innovations.
“This scheme is a practical, enjoyable way to engage teachers in improving teaching and curriculum. Collectively we are pushing the PATS concept to its limits and are going to distil our collective knowledge into a practical guide for other institutions,” Dr Kelder said.
Also part of Dr Kelder’s grant is a PATS workshop at the 12th annual conference of the International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, to be held in Melbourne from 27-30 October 2015.
Associate Professor Carbone and her team are supporting this event, which is jointly hosted by Monash University and RMIT.
For more information please visit the PATS website.