Training and Accrediting Third-level Teachers Some Concerns from a Devil’s Advocate

Devil’s Advocate A person who expresses a contentious opinion in order to provoke debate or test the strength of the opposing argument COD

Some Principles Teaching is a (the?) core business of a College Teaching is the creation and sustaining of an effective environment for learning Teaching and learning are complex activities Teachers need to be trained Teacher training programmes need to be accredited

“The test for universities is, essentially, their readiness to mobilise the enormous talent at their disposal” Irish universities need to: Review and appraise policies/practices etc with reference to national directions Appraise the quality of their teaching and set standards Broaden and enlarge student intake Adopt more flexible teaching Increase sale of services to international market Skilbeck

Teacher Training – For Whom? Postgraduate Teaching Assistants Newly appointed academic staff Experienced academic staff Academic administrators Support staff Bureaucrats Politicians

Postgraduate Teaching Assistants Front-line teachers in universities Teach the higher order skills No research-teaching nexus Training usually neglected Underpaid with low status Other priorities But – the USA experience

Newly Appointed Academic Staff Most common target for formal training Voluntary or mandatory courses in UK & Australia Courses generally too short in Ireland But – lack of support for adequate courses But – extreme pressures in early years But – research the priority

Experienced Academic Staff Strong influence on Departmental cultures Experience = entrenched good or bad habits Ongoing professional development rather than courses?

Academic Administrators Why don’t Heads of Department come to these workshops? Academic management is part of the learning environment Out of touch with research into teaching and learning in HE Management development virually non- existent

Support Staff Some actually teach formally Many influence the learning environment - Subject Librarians - Technical Officers - Administrators

Bureaucrats and Politicians Many have had bad experiences at College Instrumental view of education Naïve and unrealistic funding Guidelines Underestimate the work and resources needed to bring about reforms Unaware of research into teaching and learning

Three Major Concerns Increasing pressure on newly appointed academic staff Status and funding of academic staff development in the Republic Entrenched conservatism of Third-level institutions - management - unions - structures (eg promotion policies)

Accreditation Necessary for professionalisation? A premature concern or a driver for reform? ILT membership welcome but temporary solution Should not be left to Trainers’ Network or Teachers’ Council Should be academics’ initiative

Where From Here? Identify problems and issues Prioritise - start with the young ones? - change structures and policies? Commitment, commitment, commitment Resources, resources, resources