Education and Training (past quotes in a PDF file)

Formerly The Big Fix
Dear colleagues
In August 2011, the Digital Media Unit commenced intensive work on a project to review and redevelop the Curtin public website ... To date, the Web Improvement Project (formerly called The Big Fix) has undertaken work in the areas of:
Project management
1. Established a Reference Group comprising stakeholders from across the University who will facilitate the overall progress of the project and report to the Marketing Exectuive [sic] Group.  The Reference Group has met 3 times since it's initiation ...
Digital quality assurance
1. Developed a Content Strategy guide for the creation of a clear content plan for any area's web pages within the University.
2. Developed a proposed overarching Digital Communications Governance framework, including consistent and defined web management roles and responsibilities.
3. Developed a proposed Web Publishing Lifecycle guide to assist in the management and maintenance of all web content.
4. Established a Metadata Working Group to review and establish best-practice metadata standards for Curtin going forward.
5. Established an Analytics Working Group to review and develop an analytics strategy and establish best-practice analytics standards for Curtin
Web templates
1. Commenced development of web template designs inline with the various brand identities as outlined in the Brand Hierarchy framework.
Curtin Web Improvement Project Update (read the whole email). Thanks to Bill who comments: 'Can you believe this? It's only to redesign a web site! Curtin University had developed the use of weasel words to an art form, and this is one of their finest efforts'.

Intermingling and interacting across learning precincts - Brisbane Girls Grammar

'The Creative Arts Faculty is about fostering creative capacity which is everybody's business ... Not all students become exceptional scholars ... but all are nourished in the context of exceptional scholarship to grow as exceptional scholars in their learning ... The conventions of the classroom and curriculum serve as points of departure for experimental and experiential learning for our students in the arts who interact and intermingle across the learning precincts ... These are precincts not bound by walls or desks but include collaborative teaching and learning practices, conferencing, seminars, tutorials as well as traditional teacher driven delivery of knowledge, process and application ... Self-responsibility within a closely guided teacher-student framework ... The Faculty aspires to be a creative learning movement, a learning community with shared learning precincts where constructs of curriculum, roles and responsibilities organise the learning principles and practices and the desired outcomes.' Fostering creative capacity, Director of Creative Arts, Brisbane Girls Grammar Gazette, Spring 2011. Thanks to Rob Howe. Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney.

'The Faculty's 2011-2015 Strategic Plan sets out a vision for the future which will deliver outcomes aligned to the University's strategic directions for 2011-15. Our core purpose is excellence; in education, research and service, achieved through a shared culture of mutual accountability. Growth, innovation and renewal in our programs, pedagogy and services are the key to enable the Faculty to adapt and thrive in the changing internal and external higher education environment. The directions outlined will sustain the Veterinary School's century of leadership, international competitiveness and impact.

A consultative process for development of this plan enabled reflection on our purpose, achievements, challenges and opportunities and renewed our commitment to shared leadership.'

'The overarching goal of the Curriculum Renewal Program is to enhance students' engagement, learning experiences and outcomes through reviewing and renewing Macquarie curricula.' Macquarie University

'I had the opportunity to share with Aspirant Principal Leaders on Tuesday morning some information relevant to the improved data trend at Mont Albert Primary School over the last two years. This was a fabulous opportunity to enlighten others within Eastern Metropolitan Region about the superb efforts of all staff at Mont Albert Primary School and their commendable efforts to improve student outcomes and learning, setting high expectations for all. Leadership and School Climate are critical in driving the quality of student well-being hence student engagement. Research in a wide variety of organisations, including those in the education sector, demonstrates that four key elements of Empathy, Clarity, Engagement and Learning underpin the quality of any team environment.' Mont Albert Primary School Bulletin, Principals Update, 27 October 2011. Thanks to anonymous.

'A decision has been made that, at this point in time, periods of non-invitation will not be imposed by the Metropolitan West School Sport Board in relation to the use of compulsory swimwear.' From a letter telling a schoolgirl that a ban on taking part in inter-school competition because she wore togs that were not approved, had been overturned. Courier Mail, 9 June, 2011. Thanks to Barrie Gorton

'Principal Pauline Turner said the school sincerely apologised for the ''oversight in database management'' ... The Geelong College, one of the nation's most exclusive private schools, wrote to state schools in the local area requesting a ''gift for our anniversary year''.' 'Private school's request a bit rich', The Age, 8 June 2011.

'Core to the future of Deakin is the advancement of learning excellence and the student experience which is flexible, engaged and e-rich, and responds to the goals of ‘jobs for the future' and ‘education where you are'.

Chief Information Officer

A key outcome of the recent review of the Information Technology Services Division, this new leadership position will be responsible for the development and implementation of Deakin's information management and technology strategy, including provision of ICT services and the new learning managements system, Desire2Learn. The post will be advertised shortly.

Director, Strategic Intelligence and Planning

Responding to the need for enhanced evidence-based decision-making, the Strategic Intelligence and Planning Unit will broaden its contribution to the development of the University. The current position will be extended to include scenario development, benchmarking and futuristic studies, and real time information dissemination'. An email to Deakin University staff from the Vice Chancellor. Thanks to Colin Long.

‘Following a period of consultation and discussion with X in the context of future operational IT requirements and the strategic IT challenges ahead, we have decided together to restructure the IT team and appoint a new IT Manager. The new appointment will free X up to focus on areas of particular interest and passion; namely on the technical challenges at an infrastructure and network level which are significant and critical to achieving the vision for the School. Having X being able to focus on these matters in particular is a bonus for the School and he will be a key enabler of our IT strategy implementation in addition to providing strong support for the IT Manager…' From a Melbourne school. Thanks to anonymous.

'The aim of the program, and its success, will be measured by the degree to which it can expose an additional dimension to the famous lives "flattened" or distorted through the prism of other mass media, and to which it can express the fullest meaning of being alive in Australia through the "ordinary" stories of our citizens. The program will look beyond the formulae of stylised conflict, easy paradigms of well-being, the postures and personae by which daily lives are usually represented in most fictional and factual (including news and current affairs) representations of modern society. While not seeking to impose a spurious resolution or completion onto complex issues, the program will seek to elicit the ways in which different individuals are able to give meaning to their lives.' ABC's Australian Story program. Thanks to David Seargeant who showed this to a friend, an English teacher, who couldn't give David a simple interpretation of it. 'But he reckons it will make great material for his year 12 students to analyse.'

'The Question: Should learning design duties be added to traditional subject librarian tasks?
The Role: A learning designer, in the context that I am thinking about the role, most resembles a course project manager. The learning designer works directly in the learning management system (LMS) to develop the course skeleton to which the faculty member adds the flesh of content and assignments. The course skeleton includes course modules, with areas for learning outcomes, deliverables, discussions etc.'

The learning designer manages the loading of course content into the LMS, such as question banks, digitized articles, and links to streaming media. Actual design work is minimal, and does not involve any html, and is centered mostly around partnering with the faculty member to translate their teaching goals and desired content/assignments into an established course design methodology. Librarians as Learning Designers? Joshua Kim, Inside Higher Ed, 8 April 2010.

'2. Enhancing our Performance Culture

QUT (Queensland University of Technology) is committed to implementing an effective process of Performance Planning and Review (PPR) for all staff, detailing the links between the achievement of individual, division/departmental/faculty/school and organisational objectives and initiatives. The performance management process is participative and provides a framework for reviewing, developing and recognising work performance as well as formulating a development plan.

Awareness of the PPR process is critical for both staff and their supervisors to contribute to QUT 's performance culture. An understanding of the processes and policies enables positive outcomes for both individuals and for the University.' Thanks to anonymous.

Flexible delivery unit from the executive management committee's vision

'Hi All

Moving into a contestable environment provides the Institute with an opportunity to be responsive and provide ‘One stop shop' for recognition services, flexible delivery, off campus studies and identified gap training.   

With this in mind the Executive Management Committee has approved the creation of a new unit called Flexible Delivery. The vision is for this unit to provide students with opportunities to have their complete flexible delivery needs met in one place.  The creation of Flexible Delivery Unit will see the combining of all RPL, Rapid Recognition, and Off Campus delivery functions across the Institute. 

This new unit falls within the Organisational Development division of the institute and X has been appointed as Manager of the Unit.

I am sure you will provide every support during the transition as the unit is established.' Email from a TAFE senior manager to employees. Thanks to Sean.

Consultants to enhance service delivery in uni.
‘On Monday, 4 April, a new Human Resources service delivery model will be put into place. The new model provides a ‘centre-lead' consultancy service, with Client-based Consultants nominated to support Client Groups across the University.

The Consultants will deliver HR advice, and provide support and problem solving across a range of HR issues to staff in the Client Group, usually through managers and supervisors, to assist them in achieving their goals and objectives.  A Consultant will be available to each Client Group as a first point of contact for HRS, unless the client has a specific need, for example a Worker's Compensation enquiry or an immediate payroll issue...

The Consultants will enhance the service delivery from the central HRS teams but will not replace it. The roles and responsibilities of staff in the central teams will remain as “business as usual”.' An email from Dr Janis Shaw, General Manager of the Charles Darwin University's Office of Human Resource Services. Thanks to anonymous.

(past quotes in a PDF file)

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