The LSTM Professional Certificate in Supporting Learning is a short course designed to enhance the teaching skills of LSTM staff. Participants meet up for a weekly lunchtime session over seven weeks to learn about approaches to planning, delivering, assessing and evaluating teaching. The Certificate is externally recognized by the Staff and Educational Development Association (SEDA), a leading organisation for promoting innovation and good practice in higher education, both in the UK and internationally.
The February 2014 course culminated earlier this week with each participant delivering a short assessed micro teaching session to their colleagues on a topic of their choice. The sessions covered a wide range of topics, including determining the sex of a mosquito, the requirements for yellow fever vaccination and the comparative merits of sunscreen products. Participants also learnt how to apply a sling to a broken arm and to introduce themselves both in Polish and in Malayalam.
At a celebratory lunch to mark the end of the course, LSTM’s Director of Education, Dr Sue Assinder presented the ‘Sue Purnell Prize’ to Jacob Riveron, a graduate from the October 2013 course. This prize was set up to honour Sue Purnell, who designed and delivered the first course in June 2012 but sadly died later that year.
Dr Assinder said: “The values that Sue Purnell set and lived by were around the development of communities in which individuals learned from and supported each other and she was passionate about equality and diversity. Therefore, the prize is awarded to the participant from each course that, in the opinion of the tutors and fellow participants, has made the greatest contribution to the learning of their peers”.
The Director of Studies, Carol Maynard, added: “Jacob is a worthy winner of the Sue Purnell prize. He was a really collegiate course member providing support and help to others particularly during the micro teaching assessment. Throughout the course he demonstrated changes to practice as a result of engaging more with knowledge of diversity and inclusiveness in teaching and learning. Jacob's micro teaching was exemplary and a number of other participants commented on what they had learned from observing him”.
The next course will begin on 7th October 2014 and is open to all staff involved in delivering teaching in LSTM.