Learning.Futures Implementation at the Faculty of Science: A Personal Narrative
Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to describe my experience as a Lecturer in Higher Education, implementing blended learning at the Faculty of Science at a metropolitan University in Sydney, Australia. Since 2015, I have built a strong relationship with 45 academics across the Faculty with a positive impact on the application of the University Model of Learning and the Blended Learning strategy, improving the overall learning experience across undergraduate and postgraduate courses. My colleagues have successfully integrated technological tools into existing curricula and teaching contexts. Significant aspects of the success of this initiative included the provision of high-quality learning design, empowerment of academics to experiment, academic development via workshops, one-on-one support, and the development of resources to facilitate blended and online learning. The intervention has a strong focus on the student learning experience by developing effective subject learning outcomes, using flipped and active learning, designing authentic assessments and providing students with timely and meaningful feedback. The implementation used evidence-based practices and provided an opportunity to develop research partnerships within academics that lead to research outputs. I hope sharing the experience with colleagues can inspire them to successfully implement effective learning design that has a positive impact on academics and students.