dr lalit goel, phd, fieee director, undergraduate education (projects) 27 march 2013

THE NTU EDUCATION:

BUILDING A CULTURE OF LEARNING AND TEACHING IN

A RESEARCH INTENSIVE UNIVERSITY

Dr Lalit Goel, PhD, FIEEEDirector, Undergraduate Education (Projects)27 March 2013

• NTU Educational Map

• New Curriculum & Programmes

• Enhancement of Campus Environment TR+, Learning Hub and Informal Learning Spaces eLearning Platform and Initiatives

• Excellence in Learning and Teaching Holistic Evaluation of Teaching Performance Rewards for Teaching Excellence Development of Delivery and Teaching Skills

• Academic Advising & Career Guidance

The NTU Education: Building a Culture of Learning and Teaching

Content of Presentation


Introduction

The Blue Ribbon Commission (BRC) was convened in 2007 to review and revamp undergraduate education, and implementation plans were in place and launched in 2009

Objectives

Identify the desired attributes of graduates

Review all aspects of undergraduate education

Recommend changes to better prepare graduates

for work in the 21st century


NTU Educational Map

NTU Education is dedicated to creating knowledge to meet the global challenges of the 21st century and nurturing innovative and socially responsible leaders to shape the future of Singapore, Asia and beyond


Desired Attributes of NTU Graduates


WHAT?

CurriculumQuality of the undergraduate curriculum:

• a broad-based flexible foundation • diverse in content • chances for exchange programmes and service learning

StudentsQuality intake of students:• both academic and non-

academic aspectsQuality of student experience: • Through various means of

support• Facilitate learning

(within & beyond the formal curriculum)

Campus Environment Physical Infrastructure

– a conducive learning and living environment , Campus Masterplan Projects :

• upgrading of existing facilities • building of new learning hub & hostels

FacultyQuality of Faculty:

• quality recruitment of faculty (excellent teaching & research competencies)

• continuous support & professional development for the Faculty

WHATare some factors that would help bring about the

desired attributes of an NTU graduate?


Academic Culture •Recruiting of Quality Faculty

•Balancing the Distribution of Faculty workload

•Holistic Appraisal of Faculty

•Professional Development of Faculty

Academic Advising & Career Guidance

•Formalising Academic Advising

•Enhancing Career Services & Placement

•Creating a one-stop Service Support Centre

Student Life •Implementation of a Formal •Freshman Orientation Programme

•Developing Residential Education Experience

•Strengthening Pastoral Care and Counselling Service

•Building a Township Campus •Encouraging Student Representation, Involvement & Accountability

Curriculum Structure & Programmes

•Revamping the Curriculum Structure

•Introducing New Interdisciplinary •Content & New Programmes •Fostering Learning Beyond the Classroom

•Increasing Variety and Choices of Overseas Experience

Excellence in Learning & Teaching•Fostering Excellence & Encouraging Innovation in Teaching

•Setting up of Teaching Excellence Academy

•Increasing Effectiveness in Learning, Inculcating Self-Directed Learning

•Building Physical Infrastructure for Pedagogical Changes

•Using IT to cater to the Net Generation

BRC RECOMMENDATIONS

HOW?


NTU Educational Map

NTU Education is dedicated to creating knowledge to meet the global challenges of the 21st century and nurturing innovative and socially responsible leaders to shape the future of Singapore, Asia and beyond


Curriculum Structure & Programmes

Special Programmes

NewCurriculumStructure

Curriculum Structure

&Programmes

New Programmes

The NEW Curriculum Structure

Curriculum Updates

• New Broad-based Curriculum with at least 30% of breadth courses with effect from AY2011/12

• 20% reduction of curriculum content

• Increase in General Education Requirement

• Core Courses (12 AUs) – Communication Skills, Singapore Studies and Environmental Sustainability

• Prescribed Electives (15 AUs) – Science, Technology and Society (STS), Business and Management (BM), Art, Humanities and Social Sciences (AHSS) and Liberal Studies (LS)

• Unrestricted Electives (15-30 AUs)

• Flexibility to read one or more of the 35 minors

Introduction

New Programs in AY2012 – 14

To exploit our comparative advantage and expertise in specific disciplinary areas and add diversity, new programs in niche areas are being offered:

Bachelor of Science in Earth

and Environmental

Sciences

• Scheduled for launch in AY2014/15

• Multi-disciplinary program that examines the earth, atmosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere

Minor in Earth Science and

Environmental Sustainability

• Scheduled for launch in AY2013/14

• New Minor offered to all students

Bachelor of Artsin History

• Launched in AY 2012/13

• Includes Global Asia, World History, Inter-disciplinary History of Science, Technology, Medicine, Business and the Environment

Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy

and Global Affairs

• Launched in AY2013

• Interdisciplinary program that combines politics and international relations, public policy and public administration

Introduction

Special Programmes

• To attract top students with intellectually challenging programmes

• To nurture leaders and thinkers of the 21st century

• Launched in August 2011• Ranked #1 Engineering programme in 2012• Integrated multidisciplinary programme in

engineering and business• B. Engineering Science & MSc (Technology

Management)

Renaissance Engineering Programme (REP)

• Named after Nobel Laureate, Prof Chen-Ning Yang• Core Curriculum in Science and Mathematics• Designed for exceptional students with a deep

passion in science and engineering for the high-technology world of the 21st century

C N Yang Scholars Programme

• To stretch the intellectual limits of top students in all majors

• To nurture leaders and thinkers of the 21st century

Special Programmes

University Scholars Programme (USP)

• Launched in August 2012 for students across all Colleges• To empower student’s intellectual development through a

unique scholars curriculum with interdisciplinary courses:• deep immersion in the core ideas that underpin major

disciplines• forging connections across many disciplines and ideas• draw on unique strengths of various Colleges, Schools &

Research Centres and Institutes


Infrastructure

& Facilities

State-of-the-Art

TR+

Self-Learning

Spaces

Learning Hubs

Campus-wide

video recording

of Lectures

eLearning

Platform &

Initiatives

Multi-tiered Teaching Awards

Programmes

for Teaching

the Teachers

Holistic Teaching Appraisal Teaching

Excellence Academy (TEA)Excellence in

Learning &

Teaching

• 93 Tutorial Rooms (TRs) reconfigured:

- Equipped with LCD screens, wireless network, whiteboard-mounted walls and AV facilities

- Students sit in clusters of six

- Facilitate collaborative learning and enhance communication among students

IntroductionIntroductionAdditional Features: Campus Environment –

Teaching and Learning Facilities: State-of-the-Art TR+

Excellence in Learning and Teaching

IntroductionIntroductionAdditional Features: Campus Environment –

Teaching and Learning Facilities: Learning Hub South

Due for completion in early 2014 at a cost of approximately

$45mil incorporating latest AV and full wireless connectivity

Features

New enhanced tutorial rooms for collaborative learning

Accessible 24/7 as informal learning spaces for discussions, self and project group study

600sqm set aside for Writing and Communication Centre

Library outpost Café and retail space Rooftop garden and student

activity space

Note : Planning for a new Learning Hub at the North Spine has started


Introduction

• Informal learning spaces are located in libraries, reading rooms, open spaces, atrium, near food courts and canteens, Student Activities Center, Global Lounge, Learning Pod, enclosed corridors, etc.

• Most of these spaces are open 24/7


Self-Study Spaces in North and South Academic Complexes

• Comprehensive platform of tools that enable eLearning

Collaborative and participatory learning (LAMS, acuConference, eUreka, iNTUract); clickers issued to all first year students from AY2009/10

Assessment of learning (Respondus, Respondus Lock Down Browser)

eContent (edveNTUre, LAMS, acuStudio)

Course management and communication (edveNTUre, Blackboard Mobile Learn, aNTUna Connect, acuConference)

Academic integrity (Turnitin, iThenticate)

• Support, guidance and encouragement for the use of the tools

• edUtorium programmes provide a comprehensive range of courses on the use of the tools and pedagogical implementation

IntroductionIntroductionIntroductionAdditional Features: eLearning Platform and Initiatives


Teaching Excellence Academy (TEA)

• Pro-tem committee formed, supported by Centre for Excellence in Learning & Teaching (CELT)

• Edex Grant (FY 12) - $100,000 (for proposals on innovative teaching & learning)

• April 2013 – Budget has been increased to $250,000

• Objectives:

To advocate and celebrate excellence in teaching

To provide leadership, support and encouragement (innovation scholarship and research in education)

To advise the University management on teaching-related issues

To provide mentoring and support for all faculty members

To promote the exchange of best teaching practices and successful innovations amongst faculty members


Holistic Teaching Appraisal & Emphasis

• New Student Feedback on Teaching form launched in AY 2011/12:- Two elective questions (for different pedagogical emphases)- Core questions (for student-centred and active learning)

• New Teaching Appraisal Scheme to be launched in AY2012/13: - Holistic evaluation based on

Student Feedback on Teaching (40%) Peer Review on Teaching (20%) Teaching Portfolio * Academic Advising and Mentoring*

• Equal Weighting on Teaching & Research in Performance Appraisal

• Teaching Ability a Key Requirement in Appointments, Promotion & Tenure

* this may vary from College to College


Rewards for Excellence in Teaching

New Nanyang Education Awards for Excellence in Teaching have been launched in AY2012/13:

Multi-tiered awards at School, College and University level

In addition to trophy, certificate and cash award, recipient will be given grants to fund projects or conference

attendance relevant to research in teaching

Unequivocal signal of the importance of teaching in NTU

College and University Award winners will be inducted as Fellows into the Teaching Excellence Academy


Professional Development – Teaching the Teachers

Foundations in University Learning and Teaching (FULT)

• All new junior faculty to undertake the FULT within a year of joining the University, beginning with those who joined from January 2012

• Aim : to give new faculty a “kick-start” to teaching at NTU

• 4 Core modules (3-hour each): Communication and Presentation Effective Teaching Strategies Curriculum Planning and Design Learning Assessment

• 8 follow-up extension modules, 2 from each of the core modules above

edUtorium Learning and Teaching Courses

• Approximately 150-170 individual learning and teaching courses (on 65 – 70 topics) per semester, grouped under 5 areas :

Communication and presentation Effective teaching strategies Curriculum planning and design Learning Assessment Technology Tools for Learning


School-based Workshops / Individual Coaching

• Collaboration with Schools (18 workshops per year)

• Individual consultations

initial consultation with faculty, class attendance, follow-up discussions, assistance with course design, teaching strategies, and assessment design

The “University Teaching for Teaching Assistants” course aims to: Prepare graduate students for their roles as

teaching assistants Introduce principles of teaching for future careers as

faculty

This comprises 4 core modules (communication in teaching & eLearning strategies and one micro-teaching session that is peer reviewed and graded by facilitator) + 4 elective modules

University Teaching for Teaching Assistants


Academic Integrity & Advising

Academic Integrity

Academic Advising

• NTU is a member of the Centre for Academic Integrity

• Easy access to the academic integrity policy on NTU’s website

• Appointment of a Student Academic Integrity Officer (SAIO) for each school to ensure compliance and handle cases of academic misconduct

• From AY2011/12, undergraduates read educational modules on academic integrity and sit for compulsory quizzes in the following areas:-

Year 1 – Basics of academic integrity & Plagiarism Year 2 – Ethics & Academic Honesty Year 3 – Intellectual Property Year 4 – Research Integrity

• Implementation of a formal Academic Advising system since August 2010

• No. of student counselors to be increased (student welfare)

Career Guidance & Placement

Career and Attachment Office

• The Career and Attachment Office (CAO) offers career advisory and development services, focusing on (1) Employer Relations and Recruitment & (2) Employers’ Connectivity with students

Operates on a tripartite basis (CAO–faculty–industrial corporations)

Places students directly for overseas work/research attachments

Facilitates placement of scholars with top companies

• Recruitment activities & Connectivity events include:-

Career Fairs, Advertisements and Editorials Recruitment Talks, Walk-in Campus interviews Networking Events , Alumni Mentors’ Networking Sessions

For your time and patience

dr lalit goel, phd, fieee director, undergraduate education (projects) 27 march 2013

Documents

culture of learning

conducive learning

service learning chances

curriculum quality

teaching introduction

revamp undergraduate

undergraduate curriculum

century slide