Your opportunity to observe teaching [and teachers] in action

About the teacher:

Christopher Agius is a lecturer in the Department of Chiropractic, Faculty of Medicine, Health & Human Sciences.

About the class:
CHIR3105 Chiropractic Science 5 is a 2- hour SGTA (small group teaching activity) tutorial. The class size is between 40-60 students with four tutors plus a lead.
Content of the class: Refining psychomotor skills in spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) applied to thoracic and lumbar spine.
Flow of the class:
1- Revise indications for application of SMT using small group multimedia interactive presentation.
2 – Individual practice with structured tutor feedback and student reflection.
3 – Whole group reflection on challenges and solutions.
4 – Student practice on a variety of body types with self reflection of performance, tutors monitor procedures.

Observation opportunities available:
There is a maximum of 2 observers for each class.

The observation experience

Before the class:

• Please contact Christopher before attending the class to arrange a brief discussion on class expectations – this can be via zoom or in person. Email christopher.agius@mq.edu.au
• Download the observation Reflection Sheet
• Read the CHIR3105 Unit Guide to get a feel for the class and the students.
• View the CHIR3105 iLearn site to see how the pre-tutorial class expectations are laid out (in the weekly section of iLearn).

During the class:

• Tutors will introduce you as an observer and you are encouraged to interact with the students.
• General feedback about the class would be welcome, particularly are the instructions clear and concise instructions, ideas to improve workflow and reflective practice.
• Consider the prompts on the Reflection Sheet as you observe the class.

After the class:

Please contact Christopher after the class to reflect on your experience of observing the class and to provide any feedback. Email christopher.agius@mq.edu.au

About the teacher:
Dr Alissa Beath is an academic in the School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Health & Human Sciences. View Alissa’s profile. Alissa is also a Teaching Excellence Award winner in the 2021 Vice Chancellor’s Learning & Teaching Awards and in this TECHE post talks with Agnes Bosanquet and Penny van Bergen about what psychology can tell us about teaching in higher education. Alissa also shares some tips for supporting students to overcome their fear of statistics in this TECHE post.

About the class:
STAT1103 Introduction to Psychological Design and Statistics is a 1-hour in-person tutorial class (only in-person students), presented with Powerpoint slides using the lectern and projector. It involves small group conversations and peer-to-peer exercises.

Observation opportunities available:
There is a maximum of 1 observer for each class.

The observation experience

Before the class:

• Download the observation Reflection Sheet
• Read the STAT1103 Unit Guide to get a feel for the class and the students.
• View the STAT1103 iLearn site to see how the pre-tutorial class expectations are laid out (in the weekly section of iLearn).

During the class:

• Introduce yourself to Alissa at the start of class. The room isn’t particularly big (capacity 24 and at this point, 24 students registered) so if it’s a full class on the day, ideally sit out of the way so that one of the desk-and-chair spaces isn’t taken up.
• Alissa would value any feedback about student participation and engagement, class management or general feedback.
• Consider the prompts on the Reflection Sheet as you observe the class.

After the class:

Please contact Alissa after the class to reflect on your experience of observing the class and to provide any feedback. Email alissa.beath@mq.edu.au

About the teacher:
Dr Harry Blatterer is an academic in the Macquarie School of Social Sciences / Sociology, Faculty of Arts. View Harry’s profile.

About the class:
SOCI2010 Theorising Societies is a 2-hour online seminar comprised of OUA (Open University Australia) students as well as MQ students enrolled in online/flexible and on-campus modes. Online mode ensures inclusion of students who often do not get the chance to engage in live discussions. Attendance alone is not assessed, and classes are small (about 7-10 participants).

The format is straightforward: we discuss difficult original texts in ‘classical’ sociology, and seek to fathom their relevance to contemporary experience. It’s quite a challenge, because students very rarely have the opportunity to engage with original and often difficult texts. So, it’s a collective sense-making exercise, that only works if everyone prepares (listens to the lectures or reads the lecture notes, does the readings etc.).

In the past, I have set 4-5 questions to be discussed amongst students in break-out sessions, before re-convening full-class discussion. I am now trialling a more ‘free flowing’ style. Rather than focussing on getting through the whole reading, I think it might be more valuable to discuss issues and ideas as they arise and to let the discussion develop a little more naturally. The aim is to find a good balance between free flow and text-focus.

Observation opportunities available:
There is a maximum of 2 observers for the class. The Zoom link will be sent to you once you register.

The observation experience

Before the class:

• Read the SOCI2010 Unit Guide to get a feel for the class and the students.
• View the SOCI23010 unit iLearn site.
• Please contact Harry and he will send you the lecture notes and the relevant reading via email. harry.blatterer@mq.edu.au
• Download the observation Reflection Sheet
• Harry will be available for a chat before class (3:40pm) to discuss expectations, provide background to the unit, etc.

During the class:

• As an observer you are encouraged to engage at your comfort level; you should feel free to engage fully as discussants and conversation partners.
• Consider the prompts on the Reflection Sheet as you observe the class.

Harry would like feedback on:

• appropriateness of teaching format to the discussion aim: gain a first way into, and a sense of, the main arguments proposed by the authors we discuss
• classroom dynamics and participant inclusion
• personal teaching style and presentation (delivery of content/guidance of discussion, etc.)
• … and anything at all that the observer may observe (since we all have our blind spots).

After the class:

Please contact Harry after the class to reflect on your experience of observing the class and to provide any feedback. Email harry.blatterer@mq.edu.au

About the teacher:
Kevin Brooks is an Associate Professor in the School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences. View Kevin’s profile. Kevin is a 2020 winner of a Vice-Chancellor Student Nominated Award as well as recipient of a 2021 AAUT Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning.

About the class:

PSYU2247 is a 2-hour “old school” lecture delivered on campus. The lecture topics are Colour Perception (04/04/2023), Depth Perception (02/05/2023), and Face perception (23/05/2023).

Observation opportunities available:
There is a maximum of 10 observers for the class.

The observation experience

Before the class:

• Download the observation Reflection Sheet.
• Read the PSYU2247 Unit Guide to get a feel for the class and the students.
• View the PSYU2247 iLearn site and briefly review the content for the week and read the tutorial outline notes on iLearn.

During the class:

• Consider the prompts on the Reflection Sheet as you observe the class.
• Kevin is interested in receiving any general feedback on the class.

After the class:

If you would like to contact Kevin after the class to reflect on your experience of observing the class or to provide any feedback, please email kevin.brooks@mq.edu.au.

About the teacher:
Dr Irina Dedova is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Chiropractic, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences. View Irina’s profile.

About the class:

ANAT2003 Anatomy of Head, Neck and Trunk is a 2-hour practical class delivered on campus. Observers are invited to attend for the first hour.

This is a hands-on practical session on the gross anatomy of the head/neck regions.
The class is conducted in ANAT WET LABS (level 2, 11WW) using bones, models and human tissue specimens.

Observation opportunities available:
There is a maximum of 1 observer for the class.

The observation experience

Before the class:

• Contact Irina before the class to organise a brief zoom chat to discuss the expectations (both observers and observant) and exchange any other relevant information. Email irina.dedova@mq.edu.au
• Download the observation Reflection Sheet.
• Read the ANAT2003 Unit Guide to get a feel for the class and the students.
• View the ANAT2003 iLearn site and briefly review the content for the week and read the tutorial outline notes on iLearn.

IMPORTANT:
1. Please be aware that you will be exposed to specimens generated from human remains;
2. You will be required to go through a F2F laboratory induction prior to attending;
3. No electronic devices are allowed in the lab;
4. You will be provided with a disposable lab coat.

During the class:

• You will be introduced to the class as an observer.
• Consider the prompts on the Reflection Sheet as you observe the class.
• Irina is interested in receiving any general feedback on the class.

After the class:

Please contact Irina after the class to reflect on your experience of observing the class and to provide any feedback, ideas or thoughts. This could be via a post-class zoom debrief or via an email or in person. Email irina.dedova@mq.edu.au

About the teacher:
Mike Doumit is a Lecturer in the Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences. View Mike’s profile.

About the class:

PHTY8107 Physiotherapy Practice C is a 2-hour tutorial delivered on campus. Students have been practicing clinical reasoning skills and treatment techniques specific to respiratory physiotherapy. In this tutorial, the students are presented with some case studies to apply their reasoning and treatments to.
The tutor will be facilitating small group discussions, leading whole group discussions and providing feedback to students on their treatment skills when they start practicing.

Observation opportunities available:
There is a maximum of 2 observers for the class.

The observation experience

Before the class:

• Contact Mike before the class. Email michael.doumit@mq.edu.au
• Download the observation Reflection Sheet
• Read the PHTY8107 Unit Guide to get a feel for the class and the students.
• View the PHTY8107 iLearn site and briefly review the content for the week and read the tutorial outline notes on iLearn.

During the class:

• Feel free to interact with students at a basic, polite level so your presence is not awkward.
• Consider the prompts on the Reflection Sheet as you observe the class.

Mike has indicated that he would like general feedback on running a tutorial class where students are split into multiple small groups for task practice including the ability to keep students on task and ability to provide clear and concise instruction for students to follow – so please consider that as you observe the class.

After the class:

Please contact Mike after the class to reflect on your experience of observing the class and to provide any feedback. If you are observing the 10am-12pm, you could stay and chat straight after. If you are observing the 8am-10am, then it would be best to email Mike and set up brief Teams meeting. Email michael.doumit@mq.edu.au

About the teacher:
Aron Downie is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Chiropractic, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences. View Aron’s profile.

About the class:

CHIR3105 Chiropractic Science is a 2-hour lecture delivered on campus. It’s a traditional lecture format with some class interaction.

The topic for the 5 May lecture is Cervical spine manipulation: managing risk. This is an important topic within the discipline, but students typically do not do well answering to this content in final theory examination.

This is a content heavy lecture with elements of epidemiology, pathophysiology and strategies to minimise risk of adverse events related to cervical spine manipulation. The risk management strategies are then practiced in the tutorial setting.

Observation opportunities available:
There is no limit on the number of observers as the class is in a large theatre.

The observation experience

Before the class:

• Contact Aron before the class to receive the lecture slides and readings before observing. Email aron.downie@mq.edu.au. Aron is happy to speak/Zoom before the lecture – or you can book a time using this link: https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/f59c25225702436da8f4b214e06f93e4@mq.edu.au?anonymous&ep=pcard
• Download the observation Reflection Sheet
• Read the CHIR3105 Unit Guide to get a feel for the class and the students.
• View the CHIR3105 iLearn site and review/download the content for the week 9 lecture.

During the class:

• Consider the prompts on the Reflection Sheet as you observe the class.
• You may interact with the class and ask questions if you wish.
• You may be introduced as an observer at the start of the lecture.

Aron has indicated that he would appreciate feedback and ideas related to active learning of the lecture content – so please consider that as you observe the class.

After the class:

Please contact Aron after the class to reflect on your experience of observing the class and to provide any feedback. Email aron.downie@mq.edu.au

About the teacher:
Dr Kelly Gray is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Health Sciences and Course Director for the Doctor of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences. Kelly, as part of a team from Health Sciences, FMHHS, was awarded a Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning in the 2021 Australian awards for University Teaching (AAUT). View Kelly’s profile.

See also these TECHE articles featuring Kelly: 

• Spotlight on practice: Filling condoms with frozen peas…and other ideas for learning – Kelly Gray
• In focus: iLearn workbooks.
• I’m a self-professed H5P enthusiast

About the class:
PHTY8206 Health and Wellbeing Across the Lifespan B focusses on physiotherapy role in Chronic and Complex Care/ Illness. In this practical class we will be exploring management of Cancer Care and Dementia. This face to face practical class will include case based activities and may also involve the use of real time polling, padlet etc to drive discussion.

Observation opportunities available:
There is a maximum of 2 observers for the class.

The observation experience

Before the class:

• Contact Kelly before the class to gain access to the pre-tutorial work via iLearn.
• Download the observation Reflection Sheet
• Read the PHTY8206 Unit Guide to get a feel for the class and the students.

During the class:

• You will be introduced to the class as an observer. No other commitment required.
• Consider the prompts on the Reflection Sheet as you observe the class.
• Kelly has indicated that they will be updating material in this space this session, so would like to get feedback on the general flow of the class, the ability to engage students and anything else – so please consider that as you observe the class.

After the class:

Please contact Kelly after the class to reflect on your experience of observing the class and to provide any feedback. Kelly is very open to receiving feedback and is happy to meet at a scheduled time after the classes, though this may need to be a different day to the class. Email kelly.gray@mq.edu.au

About the teacher:
Dr Prashan Karunaratne is an academic in the Department of Actuarial Studies and Business Analytics, Macquarie Business School. View Prashan’s profile. Prashan was a 2021 winner of a Vice Chancellor’s Learning & Teaching Student Nominated Award and part of an FoSE Team that won a 2022 Vice Chancellor’s Educational Leader Award.

About the class:

• MQBS3010 Agility and Excellence in Business is a faculty-wide inter-disciplinary capstone unit for the Bachelor of Commerce.
• The seminar runs for 2 hours on campus.
• The students are from 12 different majors, and depending on the week, there could be students from FSE as well.
• Active learning approaches are employed – students are performing scaffolded activities during the class, which help them build their assessment artefacts.
• Learning technologies used – Padlet for design thinking.

Observation opportunities available:
There is a maximum of 4 observers for the class.

The observation experience

Before the class:

• Email Prashan before the class prashan.karunaratne@mq.edu.au
• Download the observation Reflection Sheet
• View the MQBS3010 iLearn site.
• Read the MQBS3010 Unit Guide to get a feel for the class and the students.

During the class:

• You may be asked to introduce yourself to the class.
• Given the nature of the class, you are more than welcome to participate in the team activities!
• Consider the prompts on the Reflection Sheet as you observe the class.
• Prashan has indicated that he would welcome any feedback on any aspect of the class.
• Be open! This class is different!

After the class:

Please contact Prashan after the class to reflect on your experience of observing the class and to provide any feedback and lessons learnt. Optional catch up over a beverage to discuss further. Email prashan.karunaratne@mq.edu.au

About the teacher:
Nandini Krishna Kumar is an academic in the Department of Accounting and Corporate Governance, Macquarie Business School. View Nandini’s profile.

About the class:
ACCG8121 Managerial Accounting is a 2 hour practical class delivered on campus.

A new initiative for quizzes is being trialled. Students will have 15 min to complete quiz on paper and will then be given limited time to submit answers online for automatic grading and feedback. This reduces the risk of plagiarism as well as prepares them for the on-campus final exam. The students will use Excel tools in groups to to gain an understanding of concepts in a practical setting.

Observation opportunities available:

There is a maximum of 2 observers for the class.

The observation experience

Before the class:

• Please contact Nandini before attending the class to have a conversation about what to expect in the class and so you can be provided with access to the iLearn site.
• Download the observation Reflection Sheet
• Read the ACCG8121 Unit Guide to get a feel for the class and the students.

During the class:

• You will be introduced as a visitor.
• Consider the prompts on the Reflection Sheet as you observe the class.

Nandini would appreciate some feedback in these areas, so consider that too as you observe the class:

• are the instructions clear and concise instructions
• student participation and engagement
• active learning
• Ideas about delivery modes
• lesson structure
• use of quizzes

After the class:

Please contact Nandini after the class to reflect on your experience of observing the class and to provide any feedback. Email nandini.kumar@mq.edu.au

About the teacher:

Nicole Matthews is an Associate Professor in the Department of Media, Communications, Creative Arts, Language and Literature, Faculty of Arts. View Nicole’s profile.

About the class:

MMCC2060 Health, Bodies, Media has a 1-hour weekly lecture live on Zoom. It is an interactive style lecture including popular media video examples, use of the chatbox and verbal discussion with those students in attendance.

Observation opportunities available:
There is a maximum of 5 observers for the class. The Zoom link will be sent to you once you register.

The observation experience

Before the class:

• Download the observation Reflection Sheet
• Read the MMCC2060 Unit Guide and visit MMCC2060 iLearn space to get a feel for the class and the students.
• Please contact Nicole by email so you can chat before going along to the class to discuss what will be happening in the class. nicole.matthews@mq.edu.au

During the class:

• You will be introduced as a visitor and you could perhaps say what you are interested in observing.
• Consider the prompts on the Reflection Sheet as you observe the class.

Nicole would be interested to receive feedback on the following:

• A participation mark has just reintroduced (marked indirectly via students’ summary of their in person contributions). How might that impact the students’ experience in tutorials?
• The material discussed is quite challenging. How do you think the degree of difficulty of the material is being managed?
• The Zoom lectures are quite interactive. Do you have any feedback on this format?

After the class:

At the end of the class, Nicole would appreciate some verbal or written feedback. Email nicole.matthews@mq.edu.au

About the teacher:

Nicole Matthews is an Associate Professor in the Department of Media, Communications, Creative Arts, Language and Literature, Faculty of Arts. View Nicole’s profile.

About the class:

MMCC2060 Health, Bodies, Media has a 1-hour weekly tutorial delivered on campus.

Observation opportunities available:
There is a maximum of 2 observers for the class.

The observation experience

Before the class:

• Download the observation Reflection Sheet
• Read the MMCC2060 Unit Guide and visit MMCC2060 iLearn space to get a feel for the class and the students.
• Please contact Nicole by email so you can chat before going along to the class to discuss what will be happening in the class. nicole.matthews@mq.edu.au

During the class:

• You will be introduced as a visitor and you could perhaps say what you are interested in observing.
• Consider the prompts on the Reflection Sheet as you observe the class.

Nicole would be interested to receive feedback on the following:

• A participation mark has just reintroduced (marked indirectly via students’ summary of their in person contributions). How might that impact the students’ experience in tutorials?
• The material discussed is quite challenging. How do you think the degree of difficulty of the material is being managed?

After the class:

At the end of the class, Nicole would appreciate some verbal or written feedback. Email nicole.matthews@mq.edu.au

About the teacher:
Dr Jasna Novak Milic is an academic in the Department of Media, Communications, Creative Arts, Language and Literature, Faculty of Arts. View Jasna’s profile. See also this TECHE post in which Jasna talks about her teaching: Spotlight on practice: Zooming in on strategies to teach in the classroom and online *simultaneously*.

About the class:
CROA1010 Croatian Studies 1 is a two-hour tutorial/practical class run in HyFlex mode, that is, in-person with some students joining online, and others opting for asynchronous option.

The unit is designed for those with little or no previous knowledge of Croatian. The unit includes material on general cultural aspects of life in Croatia and provides a thorough grounding in the basic structures of the language, working towards Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) level A1.

The class is delivered in a blended synchronous mode with a zoom-in-class (‘double zooming’) and with unit content presented as interactive H5P slides.

As an observer you could join the class on campus or online via Zoom; or both, on different occasions, to experience different delivery modes.

Observation opportunities available:
There is a maximum of 2 observers for the class. The Zoom link will be sent to you once you register.

The observation experience

Before the class:

• Download the observation Reflection Sheet
• Read the CROA1010 Unit Guide and visit CROA1010 iLearn space to get a feel for the class and the students.

During the class:

• You can expect to be asked to briefly introduce yourself. You can participate in class if you want to but are not expected to.
• Consider the prompts on the Reflection Sheet as you observe the class.
• Jasna is interested to learn how observers experience HyFlex learning and the interactive content that is available to students so please consider that as you observe the class.

After the class:

At the end of the class, Jasna would appreciate some verbal or written feedback, especially in regard to HyFlex with zoom-in-room delivery and use of interactive H5P and other interactive elements. Stay after the end of the class or email Jasna (jasna.novakmilic@mq.edu.au)

About the teacher:
Michael Proctor is an Associate Professor in the Department of Linguistics, Faculty of Medicine, Health & Human Sciences. View Michael’s profile.

About the class:
SPHL3308 Speech Production is a 2-hour on campus seminar delivered in flipped mode: students engage with readings, watch recorded lectures and attend workshop tutorials before attending Friday Seminars, which are organised as interactive Q&A/review sessions to consolidate learning materials for the week. There will be some students joining online.

Observation opportunities available:
There is a maximum of 2 observers for the on campus class.

The observation experience

Before the class:

• Please contact Michael before attending: he will be able to provide information about the unit and plans for the class you would like to attend.
• Read the SPHL3308 Unit Guide to get a feel for the class and the students.
• View the SPHL3308 iLearn site
• Download the observation Reflection Sheet

During the class:

• Consider the prompts on the Reflection Sheet as you observe the class.
• Michael has indicated he would like to receive feedback on teaching materials, class dynamics, pedagogy and anything else that might help to enhance the learning experience – so consider that too as you observe the class.

After the class:

Please contact Michael after the class to reflect on your experience of observing the class and to provide any feedback. Email michael.proctor@mq.edu.au

About the teacher:
Dr Jennifer Ruskin is an academic in the Department of Management, Macquarie Business School. View Jennifer’s profile.

About the class:
PROF3000 Professional Practice Placement 2 is a 2-hour seminar delivered on campus.

While enrolled in PROF3000, students are completing an extended placement (~6 months) with an organisation. Seminars are a time for students to reflect on what they’re learning at their placement, exchange ideas about how to address any challenges they’re facing and consider what skills they’re developing that can be applied in the classroom and/or in their careers. Industry guest speakers often join for part of the seminar.

Observation opportunities available:
There is a maximum of 2 observers for the class.

The observation experience

Before the class:

• Please get in touch with Jennifer if you’re planning to observe (jennifer.ruskin@mq.edu.au)
• Download the observation Reflection Sheet
• View the PROF3000 iLearn site
• Read the PROF3000 Unit Guide to get a feel for the class and the students.

During the class:

• As it’s a small class, you’ll have a chance to introduce yourself and interact if you like.
• Consider the prompts on the Reflection Sheet as you observe the class.
• Jennifer is interested in receiving general feedback on the class and any feedback on activity design or discussion.

After the class:

Please contact Jennifer after the class to reflect on your experience of observing the class and to provide any feedback or ideas. Email jennifer.ruskin@mq.edu.au

Yes, indeed. We’d like to encourage observers to look outside their own faculty. You don’t need to be familiar with the subject matter in order to observe the class. It’s all about observing different approaches to learning and teaching.

The ‘Open for Observation’ program can also be used within the department/faculty/school for peer review and to promote collegial conversations about teaching.

Please register first. There are a limited number of places available for each class time based on what the teacher has advised is manageable for them and their class, so as not to cause unnecessary disruption to the class. Please only attend a class that you have registered for. Bookings are open up until close of business the day prior to the class (unless fully booked out).

If you are not able to attend a class that you have registered for, please contact professional.learning@mq.edu.au and we will cancel your booking and make the space available for someone else to book.

The reflection prompts are for you to use during your observation to help you to think about and reflect on the experience to get the most out of it. These prompts are suggestions only, and how you use them is up to you. You could consider sharing some of your reflections with the observee!

As a courtesy to the teacher and the students, and so as not to disrupt the class, it is recommended that you stay for the duration of the class. If there is an urgent reason why you need to leave, just politely advise the teacher.

However, there are some 3-hour classes where the teacher has specifically advised that it would be perfectly acceptable to leave before the end of the class. This has been indicated in the class information where this applies.

Please respect the wishes of the teacher about how much contact they would like, and when. We have checked with all the teachers, and have provided information about their preferences under each teacher’s name in the descriptions above. The booking system will automatically let them know who is attending their class. Please note that some teachers have indicated that they would like you to contact them before the class, perhaps to provide information about what to expect in the class.

Please be mindful that teaching staff are often tied up immediately at the end of a class with speaking to students, or they may need to rush off to another class.

When you register for a class, you will receive a booking confirmation email. If the class is online, the Zoom link will be included in that email.

These teachers have volunteered to open up their classes to allow you to have a unique insight into their teaching practices, so you can get ideas and reflect on your own teaching. Some staff have indicated that they would like to receive feedback on a specific aspect of their teaching, or if they are trying something new. Please be guided by their preferences, as outlined above, for each teacher and please take care to provide feedback only when requested.

Consider sharing some of your reflections with the observee teacher and if you enjoyed the observation experience, let them know!