What are your thoughts? image source public domain image: pixabay

Dear colleagues,

We hope you are having a joyful and relaxing summer.  We have been following the conversations on Twitter and other social media channels and professional networks with great interest and we couldn’t resist a recent call by our colleague Ian Wilson.

Prof. Sally Brown, image source http://sally-brown.net/wp-content/uploads/sally-2015.jpg

Ian, suggested a few days ago that it would be useful to organise an #LTHEchat to discuss ideas around the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF). Prof. Sally Brown was suggested via Twitter to lead this with Prof. Phil Race.

Prof. Phil Race, image source http://phil-race.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/phil-2015.jpg

Prof. Sally Brown with Ruth Pickford recently initiated with colleagues an open exchange about the TEF, please see http://sally-brown.net/2015/07/teasing-out-the-nuances-of-the-teaching-excellence-framework/ which we would like to continue via a special #LTHEchat to engage the wider academic community.

Sally (with help from Phil Race) with ideas derived from discussions on the SEDA, HEDG and ANTF mail base networks which were discussed by the NTF discussion on TEF convened by Ian Scott at Oxford Brookes has devised eight potential dimensions for a TEF. These can be used by a university to review the extent to which it provides a Teaching Excellence Framework. The idea is that using the grid below, HEIs can self rate against the eight dimensions, which Sally proposes are:

1. The HEI recognises and rewards excellent teaching e.g. by supporting HEA Fellowship accreditation, appointing Teacher Fellows, offering Professorships for L&T, and valuing academic leadership

2. Students are involved in assuring and enhancing teaching at all stages from curriculum design through teaching to evaluation, there are robust systems for training, supporting, valuing and making good use of student representatives.

3. All New-to-HE staff are trained and supported through their early years of teaching (linked to probation) including GTAs, sessional and fractional staff , and career-wide CPD is provided for all who teach and take up is monitored

4. Students are satisfied with their learning experiences as indicated by a basket of measures, one of which will be NSS outcomes

5. Outcomes for students are excellent as indicated by retention and successful degree achievements and students are employed in graduate professions within three years of graduation

6. Quality assurance measures result in QAA & PSRB confidence

7. Assessment is fit-for-purpose, appropriate to subject and level and is integrated with learning, with robust moderation in place to assure standards

8. The HEI demonstrates a commitment to inclusivity and redressing all kinds of disadvantage, particularly in terms of Widening Participation and Fair Access.

Here is the link to Prof Sally Brown’s website: http://sally-brown.net/2015/08/casting-my-newly-beady-eye-on-tef/

If you are new to tweetchats, please access the following slideshare and get in touch with us via Twitter using the hashtag #LTHEchat

We hope you will be around on the 26th of August and able to join us at 8pm UK time for a lively discussion. Please feel free to share this invite with further colleagues who would be interested.

The #LTHEchat team

Update

Here is the storify of the archived tweets from the tweetchat https://storify.com/LTHEchat/lthechat-extra-on-the-teaching-excellence-framewor