Background/overview
There is significant need to recognize and support high quality teaching in Australian Higher Education. In order to highlight the value of Australian Higher Education, it is important to draw on, support and give recognition to the personal commitment to high quality teaching and learning of the people who teach in higher education (Australian Government, 2015). Quality teaching in higher education is integral in student outcomes, with the promotion of quality teaching leading to capacity building, empowerment and in staff satisfaction (Institutional Management in Higher Education, 2012). However, contemporary Higher Education reforms in Australia have potentially led to a focus on the management of teaching rather than the practice of teaching (Patfield et al., 2021), and a focus on quantitative data to measure and indicate the success and quality of undergraduate programs (Wauffen, Andrews, & Roberts 2020).
Presentation aim
The presentation aim is to highlight quality teaching practices currently underway in the School of Allied Health, Sports and Exercise Science (SAHESS) in way that is new and innovative, through a platform not traditionally used for this purpose. Instagram reels can be a valuable platform for story telling (Tarigan, Sawalmeh, & Stavani, 2021), and have been utilized in SAHESS to collate a quick snapshot of good teaching practices and student experiences.
Methods
All subjects in SAHESS underwent a health check examining:
*The number of enrolments
*SuES feedback
*Grade distribution
*Fail rates
*Alignment with assessment policy
A number of subjects were identified that performed strongly across all these categories. With advice from the CSU media team and approval from Head of School and Course Directors/Discipline Leads, The Associate Head of School Learning and Teaching worked with subjects conveners, academics and students to collate an Instagram reel that provided insight into:
*The style of subject delivery
*Student experiences
*The nature of assessment items
*Key teaching practices
Results
A number of reels were developed that provided the opportunity to:
*Compliment comprehensive presentations to provide insight into how these subjects are taught (i.e. PD sessions with staff)
*Promotion of the school to potential staff and workforce
*As stand along ways in which to quickly convey good teaching practices to other lecturers & give lecturers ideas in which to help their teaching
*As a way to celebrate the amazing SAHESS staff
Discussion
Recognizing teaching excellence can aid with retention, assist in rewarding good work, contribute to promotion and improve student learning (Hammer et al., 2010). It was noted as part of this project, even in the initial stages of informing academics that particular subjects were ‘performing well’ this was met with significant gratitude and appreciation.
Conclusion
We contend that utilizing innovative and new ways of recognizing good teaching may be one of many strategies to contribute to the broader well-being a sense of appreciation of academic staff.
