Applications for Postgraduate Assistantships in Teaching and Curriculum Development and Teaching-Led Research Projects

Drawing upon its Learning and Teaching Performance Fund allocation, the Faculty of Arts invites applications from academic staff, postdoctoral scholars and postgraduate students for the following teaching assistantships and development grants.

1. Postgraduate Assistantships in Teaching and Curriculum Development

The Faculty is offering up to sixteen assistantships, worth approximately $10,000 each, to students who have recently completed or are currently enrolled in a postgraduate research degree. The project description should include a teaching component, but must also show how the project will provide the student with experience in curriculum design (which can include developing assessment models, handbooks and on-line resources as well as teaching materials) and with professional development as an academic teacher. Each project will be supervised by one or more members of academic staff acting in the role of mentor. The teaching component of projects should provide an opportunity for postgraduate students to give at least one lecture or formal presentation. The curriculum component may involve the development of new units, the revision or refreshing of the curriculum in a major or minor sequence, the development of new or redeveloped assessment tasks across a number of units, the development of student learning resources or significant participation in a larger curriculum review being undertaken by a section or school. All of the funds must be expended upon support for the student and cannot be used as teaching relief for academic staff.

Each assistantship will provide a taxable salary equivalent to a 12-month 0.2 Level A appointment (Step 8). For completed students, who possess a doctoral qualification, the assistantship will provide a taxable salary equivalent to a 10-month 0.2 Level A appointment (Step 3). It is expected that most teaching assistants will work for a period of between one semester (at 0.8) and six months (at 0.4). After tax, they will receive approximately $8,000.

The aim of the assistantships is to provide postgraduate students with a period of intensive focus upon teaching and curriculum development, ideally covering all or part of one semester. The Faculty will consider applications on behalf of students who have completed Masters or PhD degrees in 2005 or 2006, as well as students who are currently enrolled in postgraduate research projects.

The terms of each assistantship will be negotiated with successful candidates, but those who hold research scholarships will be expected to suspend their award and all currently-enrolled students who have not yet submitted their theses will be expected to either intermit or shift to part-time candidature for the duration of the project.

Of particular interest are projects that will:

• enhance the depth and breadth of learning experiences for our students;
• lead to a greater differentiation of major and minor sequences within disciplines;
• develop or enhance new or existing cross-school and interdisciplinary units and sequences;
• explore new forms of assessment, problem-based and collaborative learning experiences or ways of providing feedback to students
• strengthen Honours and postgraduate pathways and enhance the transition of undergraduate students into Honours and postgraduate work;
• develop internship programs or other initiatives relevant to student employability and vocational outcomes;
• lead to curriculum rejuvenation and redirection; or
• generate or augment ethical writing and anti-plagiarism programs.

Projects outside of these areas or that combine more than one of these goals will also be considered. Projects that offer outcomes to other schools and the Faculty as a whole are particularly welcome, as are projects that will generate a potential publication outcome for the student. Each project must be completed by 31 October 2007.

Applications for the postgraduate teaching and curriculum assistantships should be made by school undergraduate, honours and/or postgraduate coursework coordinators. They should describe, in no more than two pages:

1. the aims and teaching and curriculum development components of the project and how they will help meet the teaching and curriculum objectives of the discipline or section and the school
2. a timeline and expected outcomes for the project
3. the funding requested, including an indication of the period for which the student will be employed
4. the name, degree and research progress of the postgraduate student, along with a statement showing how the project will enhance their professional development and goals as an academic teacher or in another vocation, and the name(s) of the academic mentor(s).

Each application should also include a statement of support from the student's main supervisor, including an indication that the period of time to be spent on the proposed project will not jeopardise their progress towards completion of the degree, and an endorsement from the School Postgraduate Research Coordinator.

Applications should be submitted to mark.peel@arts.monash.edu.au by Friday 17 November 2006.

2. Teaching-led Research Projects

The Faculty will fund at least six and up to twelve projects in the broad area of teaching-led research, with successful applicants receiving between $5,000 and $15,000. Applicants for this funding can be members of academic staff (with a strong preference for Level A and Level B staff), postdoctoral scholars (with a strong preference for Monash graduates) and postgraduate students whose research involves teaching, pedagogy or curriculum.

Projects should be designed either to deliver both specific curriculum and teaching innovation in a particular discipline or School and recommendations for faculty-wide outcomes or initiatives, or as broad studies of faculty-wide teaching and student issues. Projects that could generate a research publication are especially welcome. Projects will need to be completed by the end of 2007, except in the case where a period of funding can support a postgraduate research project that may be completed in 2008.

With the proviso that they generate some recommendations or material that is relevant to the faculty as a whole, projects can focus upon specific curriculum and learning issues in a particular discipline or interdisciplinary area. Alternatively, project they can focus on broader issues, such as those listed below:

• enhancing student learning experiences, student satisfaction and our understanding of the factors that foster student engagement and enjoyment in specific disciplines or more broadly;
• examining forms of assessment and ways of giving feedback to students;
• strengthening Honours and postgraduate pathways and enhancing student preparation for and transition into Honours and postgraduate work;
• enhancing the Faculty's activities in orientation, transition and pastoral support;
• exploring the use of internship programs and other initiatives relevant to student employability and vocational outcomes;
• developing ethical writing and anti-plagiarism programs;
• enhancing Honours supervision and the development of strong Honours programs, especially in emerging areas and newer campuses

Funds can be used in any way that supports research, including research assistance, teaching relief, a taxable stipend for postgraduate students who do not already hold a scholarship, or a fractional appointment for completed doctoral or Masters candidates.

Applications for the teaching-led research projects should describe, in no more than two pages:

1. the objectives of the project in terms of the discipline or section, the School and the Faculty
2. a description of how the project will be carried out, with a timeline and expected outcomes
3. if the applicant is a member of academic staff or a postdoctoral scholar, a short description of the applicant's track record and interest in relation to teaching-based research and curriculum development
4. if the applicant is a postgraduate student, a description of the degree for which the student is a candidate, the progress made towards completion of that degree, and the place of this component in the broader project
5. the amount of funding requested, and how it will be spent

Members of academic staff and postdoctoral scholars should include a letter of support for the project from a Head of School. Postgraduate applicants should include a letter of support for the project from their main supervisor.

Applications should be submitted to mark.peel@arts.monash.edu.au by Friday 17 November 2006.

Mark Peel
Associate Dean (Teaching)
Faculty of Arts