Thank you for making this year’s conference a real celebration of learning, teaching and scholarship. Over 80 staff registered for day one of the Educator Scholar Conference and almost 70 for the Student Panel session. Here is a snap shot of some of the feedback that we received:

‘I found [it] really insightful - in particular the keynote and workshop [for senior leaders]. Gave us lots to think about as an institution and a school.’

‘Great job with the conference. I attended both the contract cheating session and the student panel today. Very interesting!’

The conference focus covered three main themes:

  • Integrity: SoTL that enhances academic integrity;
  • Excellence: SoTL that demonstrates a commitment to excellence in learning and teaching;
  • Design principles: SoTL that demonstrates the creation of effective learning environments, particularly new online spaces.

We would like to acknowledge Father Mariusz Grezch, University Chaplain who led us in Prayer, Associate Professor Clive Walley, National Director Indigenous Education, who provided the Acknowledgement of Country, and Professor Francis Campbell, Vice Chancellor for his warm welcome and for officially opening the Conference.

Keynote - ‘Contract Cheating: What is it and what can we do about it?’

Associate Professor Cath Ellis, Associate Dean (Education) UNSW provided the keynote, providing insight into the risks associated with contract cheating for our students and for our institution more broadly. Cath also led a workshop for 30 senior leaders, taking a deeper look into what can be done within our spheres of control about contract cheating. Click the links below for the collection of short videos from the keynote:

  1. The state of academic integrity in Australia (5:22)
  2. The contract cheating study (8:07)
  3. What can academics do to support ethical scholarship (11:44)
  4. TEQSA and contract cheating (4:30)
  5. The business of contract cheating (10:28)
  6. Protecting our students from contract cheating companies (6:01)

Presentations by Notre Dame Staff

We acknowledge and thank our nine teams of colleagues who were selected to showcase their Research in Progress or Scholarship of Teaching, and Learning (SoTL) projects.

ESC Prize Winners

Congratulations to Linda Bellen, Liz McKenna & Lauren Stephenson who received the Educator Scholar Conference Award for the ‘Project demonstrating the best representation of the conference theme/sub-theme: Excellence’.

Celebrating Excellence in Learning and Teaching at Notre Dame - Video Reflections

We have had 112 hits to date on our video reflection compilations of:

2020 winners of the VC Award for Promoting Excellence in Learning and Teaching (PELT) talk about what winning a PETL award means to them:

  • David Wong, School of Business
  • Lara Pratt, School of Law
  • Michael Wan, School of Medicine

2019 Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) seed grant recipients talk about their approach to SOTL and their projects:

  • Thuan Thai, Greg Hine, Linda Bellen & Rachelle Glynn, School of Education
  • Ashley Cripps, Jenny Conlon & Carmen Papaluca, School of Health Sciences
  • Linda Bellen, Liz McKenna & Lauren Stephenson, School of Education

Student Panel - What some students told us we can do to better support their learning

The conference culminated in the Panel: The key message: Students want clear, frequent and consistent communication about their education and that we understand the barriers and facilitators to mental well-being. And while not all of them have enjoyed the online learning experience during COVID, many want increased flexibility in delivery and teaching pedagogies and strategies and access to multi-media to support their learning. Thank you to:

  • Angela Irsania, School of Arts & Sciences
  • Daniel Elias, School of Philosophy & Theology
  • David Stokes, School of Law
  • Heath Cauchi, School of Business
  • Natasha Berthold, School of Health Sciences
  • Thomas Desmond, School of Arts & Sciences
  • Vladimir Matovic, School of Business

Thank you also to Rommie Masarei, Executive Director Admissions and Student Administration, who facilitated the session.

Click this link to a 20 minute video edited to help you watch and hear their crucial thoughts. Alternatively view the Student Panel transcript here.

View this link which summarises the key takeaways about the student learning experience during the switch to online learning in 2020. LTO resources have been mapped against some of the student feedback which staff can access for support. Students were thrilled to be asked if their views had been captured accurately!.

Hosted by the Learning and Teaching Office.