As noted in last week’s story on Macquarie’s Learning and Teaching strategy, the University is focused on creating a connected culture where we all work together towards the best outcomes for both students and staff.

Sharing our collective teaching knowledge and experience can help achieve this goal, and upcoming improvements to iLearn will allow staff to share and access this knowledge more easily.

An integral part of the Learning Commons Project, Opening iLearn will see parts of iLearn units being made available for viewing by internal academic and professional staff from December.

This change will offer benefits to a wide range of staff. Program leaders will be able to find interdisciplinary examples to help students connect the dots between their units and other units. Unit convenors will have a wealth of fresh ideas and inspiration at their fingertips, and be able to find better ways of working that don’t require reinventing the wheel. And professional staff members will have a greater understanding of our learning environment and be better able to answer student enquiries.

Professor Sherman Young, Pro Vice-Chancellor Learning and Teaching, says Opening iLearn is all about enabling colleagues to connect.

“There’s a tremendous amount of fantastic learning material created and delivered by Macquarie staff,” he says. “In improving our sharing of best practice, we are finding new ways to learn from each other and finding more opportunities for collaboration.”

What will you be able to access in iLearn?
From December, staff will be able to see the main content in iLearn units, such as topics, Powerpoint slides and instructions to students. In other words, you’ll get a good idea of the content that is being covered in each unit and what tasks students are required to do.

The content will be read-only and you won’t be able to see any student contributions, such as responses to forum questions and assignments, or any other information related to students.

What does this mean for unit convenors?
Unit convenors aren’t required to take any additional action. Faculties will circulate detailed information about how Opening iLearn will work, including FAQs. In the meantime, faculty staff can contact their Associate Dean of Learning and Teaching if they have any questions:

• Faculty of Arts: Dr. Peter Keegan, peter.keegan@mq.edu.au, W6A 236, Ext. 8819
• Faculty of Business and Economics: Dr Leigh Wood, leigh.wood@mq.edu.au, E4A 714, Ext. 4756
• Faculty of Human Sciences: Dr. Mitch Parsell, mitch.parsell@mq.edu.au, W6A 701, Ext. 1040
• Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences: Professor Cath Dean, catherine.dean@mq.edu.au F10, Ext. 6620
• Faculty of Science and Engineering: Dr James Downes, james.downes@mq.edu.au, E6B 710, Ext. 8900