Ron Oliver is Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning), Edith Cowan University with a portfolio that includes learning and teaching and library services. He is responsible for quality assurance for teaching and learning, including curriculum development, curriculum review, and teaching and course evaluation. Since 2003 he has been Chair of the ECU Academic Board and academic staff representative on the University Council.
Ron is a leader in the Australian higher education sector in learning technologies. He has won a number of awards and recognition at the local, national and international level for teaching excellence and for his research and development activities in learning and teaching. He is regularly invited to deliver plenary and keynote addresses at national and international conferences in the field of elearning and learning technologies. Ron is an Associate Fellow of the Carrick Institute for Learning in Teaching in Higher Education.
Abstract
Designing learning environments for first year students.
Professor Ron Oliver
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning)
Edith Cowan University
Students in their first year at university are often presented with learning environments that are unfamiliar and difficult. Teachers need to deal with diverse cohorts and difficult curricula in administratively challenging settings. At the same time students need to deal with independent learning under such hazardous conditions as large classes, few friends and little individual support. This presentation will explore the forms of sustainable learning environments that teachers can design and deliver to cater for the many needs of first year students.
