1. Scholarship of Teaching & Learning Symposium Anne Tierney & Morven Shearer University of Glasgow & University of St Andrews 7 th December 2009

2. The remit: Talk about your work so far on fostering networking events for PhD students and post docs…. … the whole event is about collaborations, and what motivates people to do SoTL projects.. and what prevents them.

3. Why pursue SoTL collaborations (I)? External drivers: CPD (reward & recognition) Engagement with literature that informs and improves pedagogical practice At University of Glasgow – UTs are required to engage in SoTL QAA enhancement themes HEA (Centre of Bioscience)

4. Why pursue SoTL collaborations (II)? Internal drivers: Approaching teaching in HE as a profession Satisfaction of improving student experiences Collaboration with colleagues and students

5. Opportunities for SOTL Classroom action research Student feedback GTA feedback Technology Efficiency Funding

6. Collaborations: why & who? Requirement of some funding bodies Identifying a common problem & then working to find a common (flexible) solution Sharing throughout the sector Contacts made through events, conferences, shared experience Student interns

7. HEA Bioscience Rep Funding Two priorities:- Responding to individual disciplines Increasing individual and departmental engagement with the Centre for Bioscience.

8. The project: Networking events designed to encourage participation of PhD students and postdoctoral fellows with the Centre for Bioscience, and promote engagement and innovation in teaching and learning development.

9. To increase GTAs inquiries into opportunities for teaching in HE Also, addressing a need The reason: Anne (Glasgow), Morven (St Andrews) and Joy (Aberdeen) Experience, discussions, previous work Collaborators

10. GTAs: access resources, and opportunity to earn HEA associate status HEA: contact with new colleagues – fresh ideas and approaches Reflects and promotes the co- operative nature of the HE teaching sector Benefits:

11. Two national events: Glasgow & Manchester in 2010 Buy in from HEA Centre and staff in other institutions (GCAL & Manchester) Pre-event questionnaire Try to uncover issues of importance to GTAs GTA intern to help with activity development The Plan: