Student Engagement (STEP 2010) Process
STEP 2010 was the University's project for the implementation of its revised Teaching and Learning Framework. The Framework was approved by Academic Board in June 2007.
The new Framework encapsulates the core concept of experiential learning as a means of increasing student engagement and assisting UniSA to distinguish itself in an increasingly competitive market. The Framework continues the centrality of the Graduate Qualities but seeks to improve the quality and quantity of student engagement through three components of experiential learning:
- Teaching-research nexus
- Practice based learning
- Service learning
The intention has been to shift the central focus of UniSA's approach to teaching and learning from what staff do, to what students do. This approach is based on research that indicates student who are undertaking active learning tasks perform better, enjoy their studies more and rate their overall satisfaction more highly.
The University committed $5.7million to realising the new framework over two
years. The majority of these funds were injected directly into schools or
groups of schools to fund program development and curriculum renewal.
Evaluation Reports
A template for school based evaluation reports is now available and should be completed within six months of the final allocation of STEP 2010 funds.
Resources
The Learning and Teaching Unit website contains resources which explain the three main mechanisms for student engagement and strategies for the implementation of each of these in programs.