Block Model guide launched at HERDSA

A new guide titled Designing learning for intensives modes of study is being launched this week at the Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA) annual conference.

Established in 1972, HERDSA promotes the development of higher education policy, practice and the study of teaching and learning, along with encouraging research on teaching and learning and building strong academic communities.

The new guide was written by VU’s Dr Gayani Samarawickrema (Senior Lecturer Connected Learning), Kaye Cleary (Associate Director, Improving Learning and Teaching), Professor Sally Male (Director Teaching and Learning Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering and IT at University of Melbourne) and Trish McCluskey, (former VU academic and Higher Education Consultant).

The Guide builds on the authors’ collective research and direct experience through an OLT project on intensive modes of teaching in 2016, and in leading and supporting an institution-wide move to Block Model teaching which was introduced to VU in 2018. The Guide highlights high-impact strategies that have been road-tested in practice.

“We wrote the guide during the height of COVID-19, which forced us to collaborate extensively and exclusively over Zoom and adapt to other challenges. We are proud of the result and we hope that this guide will provide the essential foundation for those starting on the journey to intensive mode learning,” said VU’s Kaye Cleary.

This Guide offers “sound advice for practical reflection and scholarly investigation and shares some sensible and effective ideas for immediate use by academics, educators, learning designers and institution administrators”.

There are sections on preparing for intensive modes of study, effective learning and teaching strategies, and assessment and evaluation, followed by a summary of risks and lessons learned. The Guide is complemented by practice case studies from Australian universities, and profiles VU’s unique First Year College as a case study.

Designing Learning for Intensive Modes of Study will be launched at 3pm on Tuesday, 28 June by Emeritus Professor Denise Chalmers.