Academic development units and the improvement of teaching

A survey of those educational development practices which directors of educational (academic) development units in Australia found most effective in their institutions for the improvement of teaching was conducted in late 1983. The responses are presented and discussed.Academic staff are one of the targets of educational development. A series of interviews with 100 academic staff of the University of Queensland at about the same time confirmed that the approaches taken by units for improving teaching are approved of by staff. In particular staff recognised and valued the connection between evaluation and development.The staff development programme at the University of Queensland responded to the expressed needs of staff for specific developmental activities. It is described as one example of a systematic approach to staff development with emphasis on formal workshops/seminar sessions and evaluation of teaching. Practicalities and problems are discussed.This article is derived from an invited paper to the conference, Tertiary Teaching. Techniques for Improvement - The Australian Experience, University of Western Australia, 18 May 1984.