IMAC Education

Professor Ian Macdonald

Teaching

Victoria University

My role at VU does not involve direct teaching, though I do get to "teach" when running staff development workshops.

The University of New England

As Director of the Teaching and Learning Centre my role was primarily adminstrative, with only the rare foray into teaching as an invited speaker to other programs. My particular area of contribution is usually metacognitive control of learning.

I was able to maintain some direct teaching engagement with students via the UNE Colleges, where I ran the Academic Support Persons training and network (later year students providing academic support in the colleges), and volunteered an evening each week working directly with students in Earle Page College (where I was a member of the Senior Common room) helping them with their study approaches: the “Tues2Study” session – a 2-3 hour study block in the dining room where all the ASPs attend, and students have the opportunity to work collaboratively and get assistance. This input is highly valued by the students, who are often alarmingly adrift in their understanding of what is required, and short of basic learning skills to cope. The focus is on building learning communities, as well as specific skill development. We saw an increase in the academic performance of these students since the Tues2Study program commenced, and my colleague (Dr Robyn Muldoon) and I presented a paper on this initiative at Retention 2008: the International Conference on Student Retention in San Diego in May 2008. This work ensured I stayed in touch with the needs of students, and had a direct line to their experiences with the university. It was also personally very rewarding.

Curtin University of Technology.

My role was exclusively administrative, though I engaged in some "teaching" through the professional development of staff at Shell's Learning Centre, and when visiting the Miri Campus of Curtin Malaysia.

RMIT International University Vietnam

I was, for the first time, not directly teaching students. My "teaching" was entirely staff development. Most of the RMIT Vietnam academic staff have little previous teaching experience, and none have formal qualifications in teaching. A good part of my time was spent working with staff in reflective practice groups to develop an awareness of student-centred learning, and ways to teach for it.

Swinburne University

Although my role was primarily staff development I liked to teach into the subjects I work with if at all possible.

School of Information Technology subjects (2001)

HIT1051 Software Development 1. Java based programming and software development.

HIT2016 Database 1. Introduction to databases.

I also work closely with these subjects without taking a group.

HIT1052 Software Development 2.

HIT2024 Introduction to Human-Computer Interaction.

During my period as first year engineering coordinator (1999, 2000) I taught the following subjects at different times:

HET124 Energy and Motion. Essentially Physics based, with some engineering thermodynamics.

HEF1000 Professional Engineering. Introduction to engineering design, and communications.

HES 1230 Materials and Processes. Basic materials engineering.

HET1125: Mechanics of Structures. Fundamental civil engineering statics and structures.

HET184: Electronic Systems. Basic electro-mag physics with AC circuits, digital electronics, and amplifiers.

HET1005: First Year Engineering Project. (Subject convenor). Team based, in a range of disciplines.

Monash University

Depending on the requirements of the Monash University Education Faculty I have taught:

M.Ed. Studies: GED1805 Cognitive Psychology, Learning and Teaching. (Taught with Prof. R. T. White).

B.Ed. Studies: GED1603 Psychology of Learning and Instruction. (Lecturer in charge).

B.Ed. Studies: GED4602 Studies of Learning and Teaching. (Taught with Assoc. Prof. John Loughran).

Dip. Ed. (Full time): Teaching and Learning (TAL) Tutor, and session presenter in the areas of my expertise (organisation, and research into student learning).

B.A./B.Ed. & B.Sc./B.Ed. double degree: GED1010 How Learners Learn (lecturer in charge and designer of the subject).

Certificate of Teaching for Quality Learning. A Professional Certificate course, and Masters degree subject, for secondary teachers wishing to upgrade their skills. This is closely linked to PEEL. (Developed and taught with Dr Ian Mitchell).

Certificate of School Administration (Centre for Continuing Education): Study skills component.

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