The University’s first Teaching Forum brought together staff motivated by a desire to learn about, share and celebrate the best of education at Cambridge.
Geneticists and historians, lecturers and librarians, staff from departments and tutors from Colleges all rubbed shoulders yesterday at the University’s inaugural Teaching Forum.
The forum – a new annual event – has been designed to provide a stimulating environment where those who teach and support education at Cambridge can share ideas, learn about innovative approaches to teaching, and discuss wider higher education issues.
Professor Graham Virgo, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education, and Robert Cashman, Cambridge University Students Union Education Officer, opened the forum with a talk on how great teaching is recognised and celebrated across the University and Colleges.
Other talks were given by a range of University teaching staff, including those from the Department of Physics, Faculty of Education, Department of Plant Sciences and Computer Laboratory. Some of the subjects covered included students’ transitions to studying at Cambridge, innovative uses of learning technologies, wellbeing and learning, inclusive teaching, and measuring learning gain.
The event was considered a success, with many positive observations from those who attended. Delegates described the day as “inspiring”, “a great opportunity to talk about teaching” and “a significant step in putting Cambridge on the teaching map”. There were many similar responses during the event on Twitter.
The Teaching Forum is one of several recent initiatives set up and run by the Centre for Teaching and Learning.
The centre was launched earlier this year to provide a strategic focus for educational enhancement at Cambridge. It draws together support and advice on training, professional development, funding and best practice – all of which can be accessed via a new website. It organises teaching fora and networks, and celebrates the many examples of outstanding teaching that contribute to the student experience at the University.
Planning is underway for the next annual Directors of Teaching event to take place in September – this year focusing on examination and assessment – and networking groups organised around themes such as school-to-university transition, knowledge and skills development, diversity in the curriculum and presentation skills.
Professor Virgo said: “We are delighted that the collegiate University’s first Teaching Forum was such a great success. The collegiate University takes excellence in teaching and learning very seriously, and the forum provided an ideal opportunity to exchange best practice and ideas about what makes a great educational experience for our students.”
Staff who are interested in learning more about the work of the Centre for Teaching and Learning can email enquiries@cctl.cam.ac.uk and visit http://www.cctl.cam.ac.uk/.