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EdSquad
Background
The Faculty of Science EdSquad was formed in 2003, in response to the need for a group of people to coordinate, facilitate and drive educational policy and initiatives within the Faculty. EdSquad acts as a bridge for communication between academics, support staff and the Dean. They regularily collaborate with Learning & Teaching @ UNSW and the Associate Deans (Education) from the other Faculties at UNSW to pilot and implement major educational projects whilst ensuring initiatives are in line with Faculty and University policy and priorities. EdSquad Members
The current EdSquad members are:
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Noel Whitaker: Associate Dean (Education)
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Michelle Kofod: Education Technology Coordinator
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Will Rifkin: Director, Science Communication Program
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Rosanne Quinnell: Faculty of Science Learning and Teaching Fellow
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Chong Eng Tay: Project Officer (Education)
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Bianco Lino: Research Assistant
Previous members:
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Helen Dalton: Project Officer (Education) was a significant part of EdSquad during 2004 - 2006. Helen can now be found at the Learning and Teaching @ UNSW.
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Sally James: Project Officer (Education) 2003 - 2004. A founding member of EdSquad and involved in the instigation and development of many of EdSquad's projects. Sally is now at the University of Tasmania
Organisational Structure
The roles of the EdSquad within the context of the Faculty of Science, overall University policy, and the many projects and initiatives taking place both within and outside the Faculty are represented in the figure below.
Strategies
EdSquad
- Members have complementary strengths and experience in the improvement of learning and teaching in higher education. All have an interest and involvement in learning and teaching developments; their individual roles are varied and involve participation in numerous activities and projects outside their EdSquad responsibilities, thus providing opportunities for collaboration and coordination.
- Meets weekly to plan initiatives and inform each other of the educational projects that they are involved in.
- Develops and organises workshops, clinics and events that bring together academics, educational developers and other relevant staff. Ongoing monitoring and reflection is undertaken of all EdSquad activities.
- Have the support and commitment of the Dean of the Faculty of Science, LT@UNSW and the DVC (Education) and ensures initiatives are in line with Faculty and University policy and priorities.
- Have established strong links with the University Support Units (e.g., Learning Centre, EDTeC, Library and Careers and Employment). Involvement in this UNSW network provides invaluable information, feedback and support.
- Develops and coordinates educational networks: establish communities of dedicated scientists interested in learning and teaching e.g., Science Learning and Teaching Interest Group (SLATIG) and the Sydney-basin Network of University Science Educators (SNUSE).
EdSquad Projects
EdSquad is responsible for the development, implementation and evaluation of numerous faculty based initiatives. For example:
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Defining and mapping science specific graduate attributes
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Secondary School Enrichment Program.
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University and Interuniversity collaborations – including SLATIG, SNUSE and the
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Professional Development – including the Tutor training
Further details on these can be seen under Projects. Achievements
Awards:
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Carrick Citation Award 2006 - EdSquad were awarded a Carrick Citation Award for their Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning as part of the 2006 Australian Awards for University Teaching. The award was given to: Dr Noel Whitaker, Dr Will Rifkin, Dr Helen Dalton, Ms Michelle Kofod - For providing leadership through a collaborative approach to development and implementation of policy curriculum change, and best practices in teaching assessment, evaluation and Professional development.
Presentations
Conference Presentations:
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Rifkin, W., Whitaker, N., Kofod, M., James, S., and Dalton, H. (2005)Lecturers as Faculty based educational developers: Experiences of the Science EdSquad at UNSW. HERDSA Conference Proceeding
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Rifkin, W., Kofod, M., Whitaker, N., and Dalton, H., (2006)Regional Collaboration on SoTL in a Discipline Area (Working Session) International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (ISSOTL) Washington DC Nov 2006
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Whitaker, N., Dalton, H., Kofod, M., and Rifkin, W., (2006) Content Centred to Student Development Centred Learning: a Multifaceted Approach. International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (ISSOTL) Washington DC Nov 2006
Conferences Coordination
- ISSOTL 2007 Conference, Sydney Australia: held at the University of New South Wales. Kathy Takayama(BABS) held the position of Conference Chair and the Faculty of Science EdSquad was a major supporter for this conference withNoel Whitaker and Michelle Kofod participating in the ISSOTL conference committee and Will Rifkin assisting in the Commons@ISSOTL. Michelle Kofod (along with Jan McLean (LT@UNSW )) have also taken over the position of Australasian Countries Regional Co-VPs for ISSOTL until July 2008.
- COMBIO 07 Education Workshops: On the 22nd September 2007, as the precursor to the ComBio2007, the ComBio2007 - Education Workshops were held and chaired by Dr Noel Whitaker, University of New South Wales and Dr Charlotte Taylor, University of Sydney. National speakers from a variety of institutions presented their work from a variety of disciplines including: Medicine, Biotechnology, Biology, and Biochemistry and Molecular biology. A summary of the sessions written by Michelle Kofod which appeared in the Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
EdSquad Annual Reports
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