Comparing views on education
(L-R): Associate Professor D. Nurahimah Mohd. Yusoff; Professor Maznah Hussain; Dr Matthew Piscioneri.
Malaysian and Australian education researchers had the opportunity to collaborate on classroom teaching during a visit earlier this month.
The Faculties of Arts and Business and Economics, as well as the Library Learning Skills Unit and the Campus Community Division, contributed their expertise.
The seven researchers from the Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) Leadership Development Program Scheme (LEADS) group were on a research trip for on their current project, 'Enhancing large class teaching using student-centred learning approach in higher education: A comparative study'.
Based at UUM's School of Education and Modern Languages, the group comprised Professor Nurahimah Mohd Yusoff, DVC Professor Abdul Malek Abdul Karim, Professor Maznah Hussain, Associate Professor Ahmad Jelani Shaari, Dr Rafisah Osman, Dr Norhashima Abdul Aziz and Dr Hamida Bee Bi Abdul Karim.
The highlight of their visit was a joint Monash and UUM mini-symposium, 'Student-centred learning: contemporary Malaysian and Australian perspectives' at Clayton campus. The LEADS group took the stage for the first half, presenting a case study of student-centred learning in Malaysia, assessing 21st-century learning using digital tools, and the current issues and challenges in learning and teaching in Malaysian education.
Monash presenters, including Dr Sarah Pasfield-Neofitou of the Faculty of Arts, Associate Professor Kevin Tant of the Faculty of Business and Economics, Dr Lynette Pretorious of the Library Learning Skills Unit, and Marta Spes-Skrbis and Jim Koutsuokos, both of the Campus Community Division, had their turns to in the second half. They introduced some key learning and teaching facilities and technologies at the University, such as Moodle and STARLab. They also spoke on student-centred learning online, engagement outside the classroom, and issues with problem-based learning in blended learning environments.
School of Media, Film and Journalism lecturer Dr Matthew Piscioneri, who coordinated the visit, said it was extremely fruitful.
“We were very excited to have the UUM group visit us in Australia,” Dr Piscioneri said.
“UUM is Malaysia’s leading business and management tertiary institution and has an international reputation for excellence in the field of advanced teaching methods and strategies in a range of different disciplines.
"It was an eye-opening opportunity to exchange ideas, learn from our peers, and think about key strategies for addressing our current and future education environments."
The LEADS group also visited the Peninsula campus and met problem-based learning expert practitioner Dr Fiona Newton.
For more information about the visit and the mini-symposium, contact Dr Piscioneri on 9905 5069 or email matthew.piscioneri@monash.edu. A recording of part of the symposium can be accessed at the UStream channel.