Teaching andLearning Academy
Teaching and Learning
Academy at Deakin
Teaching Capability
Framework
The Deakin T&L
Academy
Teaching and Learning
Academy at Deakin
Teaching Capability
Framework
T&L Academy
Programs
Teaching and Learning Academy Programs
The Deakin Teaching and Learning Academy is a community for all staff who teach and/or support teaching and learning at Deakin, to build capability in teaching practice, scholarship and leadership. The Academy supports staff from across the university to build connections, develop their careers and be recognised for their practice. The Academy runs regular programs and events to support teaching practice, including: the DeakinHE Fellowship Program; the Peer Supported Teaching Practice program; support for institutional and national awards; programs to support SoTL and discipline-based education research; leadership development for emerging leaders in T&L; and support for the education-focused community at Deakin.
On the Shoulders of Giants
A conversation series with leaders in teaching and learning
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This regular conversation series is designed to inspire and inform teaching and learning practice in Higher Education. In 2023 our theme was the diverse ways leadership in teaching and learning occurs in Higher Education and our first guest conversationalist was John Biggs. In 2024 we focused on ways we connect with students, communities and each other. Peter Felten launched the Series with a wide-ranging conversation on ways connection impacts students. This conversation series visits big picture ideas as well as specific learning strategies, our audience (within Deakin and beyond) values the informal conversation style and interactions between guest, host and themselves. | ‘How exciting to hear from one of my idols in T&L [John Biggs]. I am so glad that Deakin has brought such an eminent scholar in. Liz Johnson was such an amazing moderator.’ ‘I enjoyed listening to the flowing dialogue narrative that took place’ ‘…short, sharp, engaging’ |
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This regular conversation series is designed to inspire and inform teaching and learning practice in Higher Education. In 2023 our theme was the diverse ways leadership in teaching and learning occurs in Higher Education and our first guest conversationalist was John Biggs. In 2024 we focused on ways we connect with students, communities and each other. Peter Felten launched the Series with a wide-ranging conversation on ways connection impacts students.
This conversation series visits big picture ideas as well as specific learning strategies, our audience (within Deakin and beyond) values the informal conversation style and interactions between guest, host and themselves.
‘How exciting to hear from one of my idols in T&L [John Biggs]. I am so glad that Deakin has brought such an eminent scholar in. Liz Johnson was such an amazing moderator.’
‘I enjoyed listening to the flowing dialogue narrative that took place’
‘…short, sharp, engaging’
Delivering the Deakin accredited Advance HE Fellowship program
Recognising Deakin’s excellent practitioners via an international standards framework
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| Celebrating 350 Fellows (2024) Deakin University supports those who teach and those who support teaching and learning with the opportunity to achieve the internationally-recognised and standardised Advance HE Fellowship Award. Deakin is accredited by Advance HE to support and assess Deakin applicants across Associate Fellow, Fellow (via a reflective, written pathway or via a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education) and Senior Fellow categories. DeakinHE Fellowships are funded by the University for Deakin academic and professional staff. While a rigorous process, Deakin staff enjoy the opportunity to identify and reflect on their own philosophies, strategies and leadership of learning. | ‘The program encouraged me to delve deeper into the scholarship surrounding feedback and prompted a thorough reflection on how I assess and provide feedback to learners.’ ‘I particularly liked the information provided in the UK Professional Standards Framework for teaching and supporting learning in higher education. I will continue to refer to it in my professional practice.’ |
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Celebrating 350 Fellows (2024)
Deakin University supports those who teach and those who support teaching and learning with the opportunity to achieve the internationally-recognised and standardised Advance HE Fellowship Award. Deakin is accredited by Advance HE to support and assess Deakin applicants across Associate Fellow, Fellow (via a reflective, written pathway or via a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education) and Senior Fellow categories. DeakinHE Fellowships are funded by the University for Deakin academic and professional staff. While a rigorous process, Deakin staff enjoy the opportunity to identify and reflect on their own philosophies, strategies and leadership of learning.
‘The program encouraged me to delve deeper into the scholarship surrounding feedback and prompted a thorough reflection on how I assess and provide feedback to learners.’
‘I particularly liked the information provided in the UK Professional Standards Framework for teaching and supporting learning in higher education. I will continue to refer to it in my professional practice.’
Focus on SoTL: The Big Tent
Deakin embraces a definition of SoTL to include multiple perspectives
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The Deakin Teaching and Learning Academy holds that the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SOTL) is both the scholarly practice of teachers and teaching and learning research. This philosophy is enacted by:
- the development of short professional development programs focusing on key aspects of evidence-based teaching and learning
- Resource development and short programs focusing on scholarly research
In 2023, a multiple-seminar short program on teaching and learning research was supported by a co-authored, open resource with Deakin Library explaining SoTL research methods in plain English.
A new multiple-seminar short program for Deakin teaching-focused academics presents six big ideas in higher education pedagogy (and where they fit when designing a program) will be launched in 2025.
Share and Grow
Developing leadership capabilities in teaching and learning for academics in critical curriculum leadership role: Associate Heads of School/Directors of Teaching and Learning.
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A partnership between the Deakin Teaching and Learning Academy and People and Culture, Share and Grow is designed for Associate Heads of School (Teaching and Learning) and Directors of Teaching and Learning. The Program gatherings facilitate discussion and problem-solving on higher education challenges and opportunities with particular focus on Deakin’s curriculum context now and into the future. This is a well-attended program and indicative of the relevance of curriculum leadership programs for this leadership cohort. | Topics that participants enjoyed included: ‘Discussion of sticky problems’ and ‘Growing future leaders’. The development of a community is a key goal of this program, when asked what was most valuable, one participant responded: ‘Hearing from others’. |
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A partnership between the Deakin Teaching and Learning Academy and People and Culture, Share and Grow is designed for Associate Heads of School (Teaching and Learning) and Directors of Teaching and Learning.
The Program gatherings facilitate discussion and problem-solving on higher education challenges and opportunities with particular focus on Deakin’s curriculum context now and into the future.
This is a well-attended program and indicative of the relevance of curriculum leadership programs for this leadership cohort.
Topics that participants enjoyed included:
‘Discussion of sticky problems’ and ‘Growing future leaders’.
The development of a community is a key goal of this program, when asked what was most valuable, one participant responded:
‘Hearing from others’.
The Reflective Peer Teaching Development (RPTD) Program
Enhancing practice through peer-supported reflection on teaching and learning
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Launched in 2024, the Reflective Peer Teaching Development (RPTD) program is designed to support Deakin educators in enhancing their teaching through structured peer observation, guided reflection, and targeted professional learning. Voluntary and confidential, the program offers a practical, collaborative approach to improving teaching practice in alignment with Deakin’s learning and teaching frameworks. Beginning in Week 1 of the trimester, participants are paired to observe and provide feedback on each other’s teaching, focusing on a chosen area of practice—such as assessment design, student engagement, or online learning. Guided templates structure the observation and feedback process, encouraging purposeful discussions that directly support professional growth. In parallel, participants engage in expert-led Master Classes tailored to their development priorities. These interactive sessions cover key areas such as authentic assessment, inclusive pedagogy, active learning strategies, and the integration of digital tools—providing practical insights that educators can apply in their own teaching. The RPTD program offers a flexible and focused pathway for academic development, helping educators refine their teaching, build capability, and apply evidence-informed strategies in their learning environments. | ‘It has been a fantastic program, and I look forward to signing up again next year.’ |
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Launched in 2024, the Reflective Peer Teaching Development (RPTD) program is designed to support Deakin educators in enhancing their teaching through structured peer observation, guided reflection, and targeted professional learning. Voluntary and confidential, the program offers a practical, collaborative approach to improving teaching practice in alignment with Deakin’s learning and teaching frameworks.
Beginning in Week 1 of the trimester, participants are paired to observe and provide feedback on each other’s teaching, focusing on a chosen area of practice—such as assessment design, student engagement, or online learning. Guided templates structure the observation and feedback process, encouraging purposeful discussions that directly support professional growth.
In parallel, participants engage in expert-led Master Classes tailored to their development priorities. These interactive sessions cover key areas such as authentic assessment, inclusive pedagogy, active learning strategies, and the integration of digital tools—providing practical insights that educators can apply in their own teaching.
The RPTD program offers a flexible and focused pathway for academic development, helping educators refine their teaching, build capability, and apply evidence-informed strategies in their learning environments.
‘It has been a fantastic program, and I look forward to signing up again next year.’
Education-focused Academics at Deakin
Building community for education-focused academics
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The Academy hosts a community for education-focused academics designed to build community, capability and careers. Through this community, education-focused academics are supported to build their capability in teaching practice, to collaborate on university-wide teaching excellence projects and to build their scholarship.
In 2024, planning for this community has drawn on the outcomes of a Deakin-wide re-thinking of the University’s new career structure for teaching and learning academics, and importantly, has focused on the voices of the newly appointed education-focused academics many of whom are moving from sessional roles to ongoing appointments. While the Academy has developed one higher education pedagogy program for this cohort of practitioners to launch in 2025, this is a Community of Practice whose members will be lead and provide advice to the University as this new role is implemented and expanded.
Support for Vice-Chancellor’s Awards and Australian Awards for University Teaching Awards
Recognising excellence in teaching and learning
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The Teaching Capability Team provides a range of resources, workshops and peer support to help educators apply for teaching excellence awards.
The annual Vice-Chancellor’s Awards celebrate staff who have significantly advanced Deakin University’s strategic goals. Workshops and one-on-one support are offered to help staff develop their award applications. The Australian Awards for University Teaching recognise outstanding contribution to student learning and innovative practice. Comprehensive support and mentoring are provided to help nominees present their case throughout the application process.
Teaching and Learning Conference
Sharing our practice
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| The annual Teaching and Learning conference is an opportunity for educators at Deakin to connect with each other and share their teaching and learning practice. In particular, our goal is to shine a light on innovative and excellent practice from across all faculties. Held in November each year, the conference opens with a nationally recognised guest speaker. Academic and professional staff educators from across faculties and divisions are encouraged to submit abstracts, with a particular focus on emerging voices, including students. A rigorous peer review follows to select a diverse and engaging program for the day. The atmosphere is always celebratory in recognition of the innovative and evidence-based teaching practice at Deakin. | ‘…how talented my Deakin colleagues are’
‘Deakin is a great place to belong, doing incredible work…’ ‘I will seek to listen more, and create an environment where others are encouraged to find their voice’ ‘Be more curious’ |
2023 conference: Engaging and empowering our staff, students, and communities | Keynote speaker Narelle Lemon
2024 conference: Student Success | Keynote speaker: Sarah O’Shea
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The annual Teaching and Learning conference is an opportunity for educators at Deakin to connect with each other and share their teaching and learning practice. In particular, our goal is to shine a light on innovative and excellent practice from across all faculties.
Held in November each year, the conference opens with a nationally recognised guest speaker. Academic and professional staff educators from across faculties and divisions are encouraged to submit abstracts, with a particular focus on emerging voices, including students. A rigorous peer review follows to select a diverse and engaging program for the day. The atmosphere is always celebratory in recognition of the innovative and evidence-based teaching practice at Deakin.
‘…how talented my Deakin colleagues are’
‘Deakin is a great place to belong, doing incredible work…’
‘I will seek to listen more, and create an environment where others are encouraged to find their voice’
‘Be more curious’
2023 conference: Engaging and empowering our staff, students, and communities | Keynote speaker Narelle Lemon
2024 conference: Student Success | Keynote speaker: Sarah O’Shea
Education-focused Academic Program
Supporting Academic career development
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| This program aims to support Education-focused Academics (EFAs) in their career development, specifically providing a focus on the topics of scholarship, research and promotions at Deakin. This network of Deakin’s Teaching and Learning future leaders provides opportunity to share teaching and learning practice, and to meet and collaborate with Teaching and Learning peers University wide. | ‘Stepping away from the daily demands of the workplace allowed me to reflect on my teaching practices, gain fresh insights from colleagues and step into the new year with a positive and proactive motivation to do the best for my students and the EFA/TS community. Sharing experiences, challenges, and successes gave me deeper appreciation for the impact we, as educators, can have on each other.‘ Melissa Haley, Faculty of Arts and Education, School of Education |
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This program aims to support Education-focused Academics (EFAs) in their career development, specifically providing a focus on the topics of scholarship, research and promotions at Deakin. This network of Deakin’s Teaching and Learning future leaders provides opportunity to share teaching and learning practice, and to meet and collaborate with Teaching and Learning peers University wide.
‘Stepping away from the daily demands of the workplace allowed me to reflect on my teaching practices, gain fresh insights from colleagues and step into the new year with a positive and proactive motivation to do the best for my students and the EFA/TS community. Sharing experiences, challenges, and successes gave me deeper appreciation for the impact we, as educators, can have on each other.‘
Melissa Haley, Faculty of Arts and Education, School of Education
Teaching Capability Framework
Teaching and Learning Academy
